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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

I've left church but DC want to go to the youth club

2 replies

BlowDryRat · 23/01/2024 17:59

TLDR: I left church last year because after 8 years of struggling and therapy, going was still giving me flashbacks and nightmares of my abusive exH. He held various leadership positions that he used to bully me so the memories of him are very closely linked to church. I told the local leader why I was leaving and asked that I be left alone so I could heal. The DC (now 13 and 11) weren't bothered and it had been a struggle to get them to go anyway.

Soon after this, exH moved back to the area. He'd spent the past 7 years living in various places hundreds of miles away so this was very difficult for me. I now look over my shoulder every time I leave the house and he will sometimes turn up randomly at the DC's activities or at our home. He has the DC one day per fortnight, which falls on a Sunday. This means he takes them to church.

They've now started asking to go to the youth club held on a weekday evening. I've taken them and they've enjoyed it. However, going back to that building is really upsetting me, as is what feels like a bombardment of contact with the youth leaders. I've had three separate people call and message me about this evening's activity. I've had months of nightmares since he moved back and after all the contact from church today I can hardly breathe and am welling up with tears.

I just want to be left alone but I don't want the DC to miss out. WIBU to tell the youth leaders to communicate directly with exH and leave him to sort out the logistics? DH liaises with exH so I don't have to deal with him directly. If exH won't organise it then I'm going to have to say they can't go.

OP posts:
Globules · 23/01/2024 18:07

Oh that's hard. I know how earnest youth leaders can be.

I think it's ok to say leave it to exH to sort all the details of youth club.

If he doesn't step up, would your DH be happy to do the liaising with the youth leaders? From my experience of church, the youth leaders should be able to arrange lifts to and from the building.

You were open with your church leader why you left. They will hopefully support the youth leaders in tactfully understanding the problem here.

Are you getting the help you need to deal with this? I know you say you've had therapy, but is that "kind elderly ladies in the church" therapy, or help from a proper qualified counsellor? I have a few friends who see a fantastic trained Christian counsellor. He calls out poor church practices and doesn't put everything into the "Christians must forgive" box.

I hope you have a decent person to walk you through your journey. If you don't have a professional, it's worth seeking one out.

All the best.

BlowDryRat · 23/01/2024 18:12

Thankyou. They are very kindly offering lifts but that causes more messages. It would honestly be less work to just take them, but I started my own hobby a few months ago that falls on the same night.

I've had proper therapy with a professional counsellor who also goes to a different branch of the church. She's very no-nonsense and understands the context but doesn't bring her own beliefs into the sessions. I was pretty well sorted out until exH moved back so I haven't felt the need for counselling for several years.

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