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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to expect my father to attend my son's wedding

40 replies

Gloppygoo · 06/04/2024 18:34

My son is getting married next year and my father (his grandfather) won't come because 'weddings aren't important to him'. I would walk over hot coals for my Dad but he won't put himself out for things that are important to me or my children.

He is very generous financially but I think it's a way to try and control us so we can't say anything about stuff like this.

He pays for us to go on holiday sometimes and this year would be one of those times. So I suggested via a voice message he didn't pay for us to go on holiday to see him (he lives abroad) because we would prefer him to be there with us on the wedding day instead. He's ignored it and told a family member irriatedily he won't be coming.

My mum left when I was a child so he's all the parent I have and grandparent my children have on my side. But he moved abroad and we hardly see him anymore.

If I challenge it further he will do what he always does and stop talking to me. Last time it was for six years. He only spoke to me again because he had a health event.

I know we'll have a nice day regardless but I feel really resentful and let down that hes so selfish.

Do I just accept the way he is despite the way he makes me feel (please don't suggest I talk to him because I have tried countless times over the years) or walk away and have no relationship with him at all.

OP posts:
Mothership4two · 06/04/2024 18:41

Sounds like there is nothing you can do to change his mind. Send him a letter telling him how you feel? Unless you think this will result in years of a cold shoulder - which makes him sound like a rubbish dad TBH

IfIwasrude · 06/04/2024 18:44

He may find them very stressful for valid reasons. I would take him as you find him as you cannot change him.

LlynTegid · 06/04/2024 18:46

IfIwasrude · 06/04/2024 18:44

He may find them very stressful for valid reasons. I would take him as you find him as you cannot change him.

In which case he could have explained this. He might not like travelling very often, after all given how badly some airports are managed I would not blame him.

Mummame2222 · 06/04/2024 18:47

Weddings may well not be important to him but they are important to your son so it’s time for your DF to show up for him. He’s being selfish.

Quite frankly he sounds a bit awful and selfish OP - why would you want a relationship with him?

Pixilicious1 · 06/04/2024 18:48

Leave him to it, it’s his loss

YireosDodeAver · 06/04/2024 18:49

Accept that he is a flawed, selfish and non-empathetic person who only deals with the universe as it suits him. Nevertheless you love him and he loves you. You don't need to walk away and have no relationship with him but neither can you change him. That doesn't mean you have to prioritise him as he prioritises himself - it's ok to say "no" to things he is offering to pay for if it doesn't suit you. You don't owe him obedience and you don't have to let him be in control of anyone other than himself. He can choose not to come to the wedding, that's his perogative. You don't have to let his behaviour upset you because the upset is due to broken expectations and shattered hopes so adjust your expectations and hopes - he's not going to get a personality change now.

Marchintospring · 06/04/2024 18:50

I understand thus must be really sad for you. Especially being the only parent. Out of interest do you know why your mum left? Does it have any bearing on how your dad treats you?

I don't think you should force anyone to attend anything they don't want to. Do you know why he won't come?

betterangels · 06/04/2024 18:50

If he has mobility issues it could be the travelling? Sometimes it is honestly hellish.

He doesn't sound great though. Not talking to you for six years is horrible. Don't let him make you miserable.

Ponderingwindow · 06/04/2024 18:51

You already made your statement about the importance of his attendance. He has made clear time and time again that you and your family are going to be in his life only on his terms.

going no contact is a big deal. People declare it as an option far too lightly. The act itself will create massive emotional upheaval for you and can cause implications for the wider family. The easier option is to fade back. Accept that your father has pulled away. Send him the occasional update and a Christmas card, but try not to be too emotionally invested.

crockofshite · 06/04/2024 18:55

Leave him alone.

He doesn't want to come.

It must be exhausting for him to have to keep saying NO.

Too bad he won't be there but let it go and stop talking about it to him.

Carry on your dad/child/grandchild relationships as normal. Leave him to do what makes him comfortable.

HarpieDuJour · 06/04/2024 18:57

My parents are a bit like this. Eventually, I stopped contacting them, but before that I found the only way to cope with their indifference was to accept that they just don't have what I want from them. They should (and to be fair, what I wanted was pitifully little), but they don't, and they can't give me what they do not have.

For most people, things that matter to their children also matter to them. But for some people, they just don't connect like that. It's a crying shame, but only your father is really missing out.

Myyearmytime · 06/04/2024 18:57

He sounds autistic to me.

BettyShagter · 06/04/2024 19:00

I think you just have to accept that that's the way he is.

But stop accepting his money! Especially when you know he's controlling you with it.

HarpieDuJour · 06/04/2024 19:01

Myyearmytime · 06/04/2024 18:57

He sounds autistic to me.

Autistic does not equal twat. Autism isn't a personality type, and many autistic people manage to have healthy, loving relationships with their families.

DuplicateUserName · 06/04/2024 19:02

Myyearmytime · 06/04/2024 18:57

He sounds autistic to me.

WTF???

Because he doesn't like weddings? Confused

GreyBlackLove · 06/04/2024 19:03

Myyearmytime · 06/04/2024 18:57

He sounds autistic to me.

Why would you say that?

GreyBlackLove · 06/04/2024 19:05

OP for what it's worth I think YireosDodeAver has it. You can't change him, but if you don't want to walk away you can choose to lower your expectations and refuse to bow to his attempts to control. If he doesn't like that, then that's on him.

Hatty65 · 06/04/2024 19:05

Leave him alone. Sadly, he's not the dad or grandad you'd like him to be.

My only brother (who I am quite friendly with) didn't come to my wedding. I offered to pay for his transport costs and the hotel and he said, 'It's not that I can't afford it. I just don't want to come'.

So he didn't. He's very like your father and only does what he wants to on his terms.

Saschka · 06/04/2024 19:06

How old is he? I am assuming 80+ if he has a grandson old enough to get married, but I realise it is theoretically possible for him to be in his mid-fifties…

If he is elderly and frail, it’s possible he actually can’t manage the journey due to his mobility and is too proud to admit it. The alternative is that he is a selfish arse.

Only you know which is most likely, though him not speaking to you for SIX YEARS because you answered him back once, and he only got in touch with you when he had a health scare and wanted something, does point in a certain direction.

I have to say, if he is a selfish arse I wouldn’t be going out of my way to visit him overseas.

SleepingStandingUp · 06/04/2024 19:38

How much does your son care?

Strictlymad · 06/04/2024 19:43

Decide what’s more important to you, makimg the point oVer your sons wedding (which I totally think he should come to fwiw) or keeping the peace and keeping him in your life long term then go from there. I think he’s awfully selfish not to come, but doesn’t look like you will change him….. we have family like this- happy to throw money at anything but don’t want to put themselves out

silverhamster · 06/04/2024 19:56

I have a father like this, and it's sad but they reap what they sow.

I suspect you want to protect your son's feelings but your son probably won't care as much as you do that his grandfather doesn't make the effort.

Merryoldgoat · 06/04/2024 19:58

Why would you walk over hot coals for someone who doesn’t seem to care about doing things that would make you happy?

Yorkiepud2614 · 06/04/2024 19:59

My brother isn’t interested in coming to mine (interesting to note, he is autistic) he’d rather go on one of his holidays. He doesn’t see the point in weddings.

hattie43 · 06/04/2024 20:01

He stopped talking to you for 6 yrs ????
He sounds very dysfunctional and I'm not sure what you get from the relationship other than a few bits of money to keep you sweet .

Its not normal

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