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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To cut off aunt and other family members TW sexual abuse

10 replies

Treehogger · 15/12/2023 09:47

NC for this. I’ve posted before about my family’s involvement with an abusive ex but it’s spiralled.

for context and background, I was in a 5 year on and off relationship from 18 years old with a family friend who was 15 years older.

i didn’t see it until near the end of the relationship but after police, solicitors and friends support I’ve realised it was abuse; physically, sexually, emotionally and mentally.

the physical and sexual abuse I recognised as it started as I drifted from him. He raped me. I didn’t report it as it was my word against his but I went to the doctor and she examined me, saw the bruises and documented it so I knew I would have record of it.

i eventually got away with the help of police.

fast forward a few years later and I find out my uncle is now working for this man and it was kept a secret from me. I didn’t know until I pulled upto my grandmothers and my ex’s car was there (was uncle was driving it) I took a panic attack and went home.

i cut ties with my uncle because of this and earlier this year wouldn’t invite him to my son’s christening, much to my grandmothers and a few aunts annoyance.

My ex died there a few weeks ago. I was relieved. I can stop looking over my shoulder.

thank you if you’re still reading! So to the crux of the matter - my aunt had a thing for my ex when she was younger. I had a feeling she would go to the funeral. I didn’t want her going without knowing all the info so I rang her and said listen he done this to me and she paused and said…that’s your perception. I was stunned. I said he’s a rapist. And she said she forgave him and I should too (she’s turned religious since her husband left her). He said to me directly when everything kicked off that he felt so remorse and didn’t have a conscience - that was straight from the horses mouth.

i also since found out since we broke up that he had slept with underage girls in the past. I said this to my aunt and she said the age of consent is just law (wtf??) and in some religious societies consent is based on a woman’s menstrual cycle starting.

I know this has taken a bit of a turn but I can’t get it out of my head. I don’t want my son around this woman. I know I have no right to say she can’t or can go to a funeral etc but I feel betrayed and I also feel that her views are so dangerous and this is not something I want my son around.

My DH and I are having our wedding party in June (we’re already married officially) and I don’t want her or my uncle there. I don’t want to see my aunt over Christmas as I don’t think I’d feel comfortable or be able to hold my tongue but I know if I do that, I’ll be the worst in the world from my granny’s family.

AIBU to cut her off completely even if I lose more family?

OP posts:
Treehogger · 15/12/2023 09:50

*no remorse

OP posts:
Keeva2017 · 15/12/2023 09:51

You’d be unreasonable not to. What a nasty vile person she is. Good for you and it sounds like you’ve come out the other side. Trust your instincts and have an amazing time at your party x

cuckyplunt · 15/12/2023 09:51

Absolutely, I wouldn’t want to deal with the silly bitch!

SecondUsername4me · 15/12/2023 09:52

She would be dead to me, after speaking like that.

DrinkFeckArseBrick · 15/12/2023 10:25

Yanbu. I'm sorry your family is not more supportive. Its not for her to forgive something that was done for you. A lot of people would want to kill someone that hurt someone they loved.

ManateeFair · 15/12/2023 10:29

Absolutely YANBU. I wouldn't want to have anything to do with someone like her. Awful.

I'm really sorry you had to go through this. Delighted that your ex is dead, though. What a piece of shit.

WeeOrcadian · 15/12/2023 10:39

YADNBU

She's a cunt

I'm glad he's dead

I hope you're doing ok ❤️

Treehogger · 15/12/2023 10:58

Thank you for all your replies. The narrative with my mother’s side of the family seems to be in was a ‘relationship gone wrong’ however I have had multiple and to be brutally honest, mentally tough discussions with my family to help them understand it was abuse but they just don’t. My husband is appalled at the reaction. I just can’t imagine my niece or nephew going through that and me openly being in contact or grieving for the person who hurt them like that. My relationship with my grandmother is suffering immensely from it and that’s breaking my heart as she probably won’t be around much longer.

OP posts:
MrsMiddleMother · 15/12/2023 11:18

You should absolutely cut this aunt and all family off who do not support you. I wouldn't have anyone in my life who would support my rapist over me. Lose them all. Just because someone is 'family' doesn't mean you have to have them in your life, especially if they have the views they do and have said the things to you that they have.

divinededacende · 15/12/2023 13:46

So sorry you went through all of that. Your family seem to have that toxic, old school mentality of what goes on between a man and woman behind closed doors should stay there. At the very least, they have absolutely no empathy and you don't need those sort of people in your life. How can you ever trust them to be there for you if they couldn't be there for something like this?

You'd be well within your rights to cut off your aunt for her response to what you went through but this woman also seems to believe that girls are fair game for older men to prey on as soon as they hit puberty. She's deserved to be banished for that alone.

Focus on yourself. Decide what you value in life and what's most important to you and fill your life with people that match your outlook. If your family can make the cut, fair enough. If not, move on and don't look back. You owe them nothing because they've failed you when you needed them most.

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