Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To feel so sad for Christmas past me

5 replies

sandrapinchedmysandwich · 14/12/2023 22:07

I experienced parental alienation with my adult dd. Things now with us couldn't be better but when she was a tween and teen she was manipulated by her dad, lived with him and things were very strained for years. Now an adult and now he can't control her anymore, he has treated her poorly and she has nothing to do with him now and hasn't for a few years.

We were both victims of this man. Dd has apologised for how she was with me and I have told her over and over again it's not her fault, she has nothing to apologise for. But for some reason this year I am so sad for my former self. I don't know why its hit me more this year.

The things going round in my head are

The year she asked me to help her wrap an expensive present for her dad but hadn't got me anything at all.

The years she wouldn't come for Christmas then the year she did and was going to stay until the 27th. I got all her favourite things in but soon after she got her presents on Christmas day she said she was going back to her dads and I had to look at all those treats in the fridge to remind me. I then found the Christmas card I got her on the floor which she had trodden on, on her way out. That year I considered suicide as I felt she was never going to come back to me

The year she bought her dad's girlfriend a beautiful gift set and addressed it to mum (ex dh encouraged her to call this woman mum). I got a cheap book still with the £1.99 sticker on.

The year ex dh called me on loudspeaker telling me I was surplus to requirements now. Dd had a new mum and they were a family. Dd was in the background giggling at this.

I don't even know what answers or replies I want to this. I know that dd has huge regret for this now. She was a child. None of this is her fault. But how do I forget? Its hit me more this year than the subsequent years when dd and I were rebuilding our relationship.

OP posts:
DiscerningDiana · 14/12/2023 22:13

Oh OP I am so sorry you had to go through this. It sounds like a delayed grief of sorts, you’re only now coming to terms with the pain you went through at the time. You rightly are not blaming your daughter in any way so I would suggest allowing yourself to remember and feel the pain as a way to hopefully move forward. Ideally with a counsellor in the new year but that’s not always easy to access I know. I’m so glad you have your relationship back with your daughter now.

Screwyouloopylou · 14/12/2023 22:17

I don’t think it’s something that you’ll ever forget, you were obviously treated appallingly and that is bound to have a devastating effect on you. Do you have any close friends that you could have a good one to one with over a bottle of wine to discuss everything that’s happened in the past? As this may help if it’s something you’ve been keeping to yourself all these years. Also, hopefully karma has/will bite your ex in the behind as he sounds like a nasty piece of work

goMe46 · 14/12/2023 22:23

Wow...why are some people so cruel to others and they know they are doing it ,and to drag a child in too....
I've been through similar manipulation from my child's dad. Be really kind to yourself and stay strong. You can heal.

sandrapinchedmysandwich · 14/12/2023 22:25

Yes I think I can get counselling through work as my company is large and big on mental wellbeing. I have been toying with that for a while.

I am lucky to have a few good friends who know about this and who are kind. They don't have children though so don't really get the impact it had.

OP posts:
sandrapinchedmysandwich · 14/12/2023 22:28

The Karma is that he has lost his dd through his own behaviour. He won't be at her wedding, meet his grandchildren or know about other big things in her life. All the things I was so very afraid of myself for years

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page