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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Feeling sad for my son. AIBU?

107 replies

User4847484982 · 25/08/2023 08:01

NC for this.
So I come from a very small family, it was only my mum and two grandparents, both have passed away now. I have very close and good relationship with my mum, she lives in mainland Europe.
And then I met my DP. He has quite a big family, both parents and 3 siblings, all of whom have a children of their own. His parents and sister lives outside of the UK, his 2 brothers are in London. Despite of this his family is absolutely the worst, according to DP. They are not close at all, they have their problems, which I’m not gonna go into, they just kinda like a bunch of strangers to each other.
His mum and sister is lovely tho and we always have a small chat when DP calls them, he sends them pictures of our DS.
So now our DS comes into the picture. He’s 3. And there are days when I feel incredibly sad for him, that he won’t have any of the “normal family stuff”. From my side he has only grandma and from his dads side…well no one really. And sadly none of them really cares about him too. His grandma lives too far, his grandpa is an a*, his uncles and their kids don’t care about him and basically are strangers to him. Even when he was born all we got was and WhatsApp message saying Congratulations.
My DS will never have a joy of big family gatherings, playing with his uncles, his cousins, his grandparents, visits, days out, nothing. I’m just feeling so incredibly sad that he will grow up and potentially look back at his life like there was no one there basically, only me and his dad.
And I shed many many tears about this, looking at his sweet innocent face and knowing that so many things he won’t experience because of this. And somehow sometimes I feel that it’s my fault, why did I choose this man to have a family with.

AIBU for feeling the way I’m feeling?

OP posts:
JusthereforXmas · 25/08/2023 13:28

I grew up just me and my mam and I had a FANTASTIC childhood, it fell apart when other people got involved (step family).

if you are a good loving mam then YOU are enough.

Comedycook · 25/08/2023 13:33

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Uncalled for

Viviennemary · 25/08/2023 13:36

Relatives can be an absolute pain. Not everybody has a great experience. Some are awful.

SerenityNowInsanityLater · 25/08/2023 13:40

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Devonshirelass · 25/08/2023 14:08

With all kindness, you need to get a grip. I grew up with just my parents and brother (who regarded me as his annoying little sister and who I had little contact with even as a child) and it was fine! I was happy with just mum and dad. I knew no different so why would it bother me?

OleMioSole · 26/08/2023 15:02

BalletBob · 25/08/2023 11:04

I think this is very unfair. Of course there are lots of benefits and joys that come with having a large, close-knit and healthy wider family. That doesn't mean that people who have smaller families are automatically unhappy, but it's completely reasonable and understandable for OP to feel that she wishes her child could benefit from some of the positives of a big, happy family. And it's also a reasonable consideration when you're choosing a partner to start a family with. It's sensible to think about practicalities and bigger picture stuff. It's obviously too late for that now, but clearly it's coming from a place of concern for her son. She's not a monster for having that thought.

I really hate when people try and invalidate the feelings and experiences of others by pointing out that they are "lucky" in comparison to someone else, in this case children in "abusive, violent homes". It's not a race to the bottom. There's always someone - probably millions of people - much worse off, but we are still allowed to feel negative emotions about our own situations. Everybody does.

Are you aware of what AIBU stands for?

Comedycook · 26/08/2023 17:24

BalletBob · 25/08/2023 11:04

I think this is very unfair. Of course there are lots of benefits and joys that come with having a large, close-knit and healthy wider family. That doesn't mean that people who have smaller families are automatically unhappy, but it's completely reasonable and understandable for OP to feel that she wishes her child could benefit from some of the positives of a big, happy family. And it's also a reasonable consideration when you're choosing a partner to start a family with. It's sensible to think about practicalities and bigger picture stuff. It's obviously too late for that now, but clearly it's coming from a place of concern for her son. She's not a monster for having that thought.

I really hate when people try and invalidate the feelings and experiences of others by pointing out that they are "lucky" in comparison to someone else, in this case children in "abusive, violent homes". It's not a race to the bottom. There's always someone - probably millions of people - much worse off, but we are still allowed to feel negative emotions about our own situations. Everybody does.

Totally agree with this. Trying to convince the op that having a big family is an awful thing and she's lucky is really disingenuous. Having wider, extended family can be really a positive, life enhancing thing.

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