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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not want to reconnect with my dying mother

48 replies

HelpMePlease32 · 06/10/2024 20:20

This might be a bit long but thank you if you stay with me. I just need some perspective here because I feel like a horrible person.

I've not spoken to my estranged mother for a most ten years now, she lives in my old hometown and my friends and even my parents (dad and stepmom) although wont speak to her they see her regularly out and about. I cut her off due to on various things but mainly her alcoholism growing up and her neglect of me and my siblings.

She was very abusive, physically, mentally and emotionally and I believe she was sexually towards my younger brother although I've never been able to prove it and he passed away now. She did some horrific things to us and for years I kept giving her chances because she well she was my mum.

She has been known to tell very huge lies about lots of things from being abused herself to having cancer several times. She's never taken responsibility for her actions or anything she has done. She has six children, one of who has died and four of who including myself have NC with her. I have a toddler who has and never will meet her.

Anyway, through the grapevine and apparently she has put on her FB that she has kidney cancer. I've asked around and it looks to be true this time. I'm getting a lot of flack from people (friends, other family members) that I should take this opportunity to make amends before it's too late and I'll regret it if I dont, blah blah blah.

Firstly, my dad means the world to me, he divorced my mum when I was 10, because of her drinking, he couldn't take me with him but he did try to see me and sent us money etc and my mother wouldn't allow it and made his life hell, including trying to ruin his career by making up lies, beating him up, taking out credit in his name, only agreed to divorce him if he took on the marital debts etc etc repeatedly abused my step mum the list is endless. My dad came back for me when I was 14 and gained full custody and I had a good life from then on. He would never forgive me if he thought Id forgiven her, had contact with her etc.

Secondly, how can I find it in myself to forgive the woman who constantly berated me as a child because I was fat and ugly and just like my dad. Would hit me, push me down stairs, burn me, hold pillows over my head, the list goes on but you get my gist.

I know I shouldn't care but she's a clever woman and she's very convincing with her lies. She will tell anyone who will listen that she doesn't know her children don't like her. I feel like an evil person for feeling absolutely nothing. I don't feel sad that she might die, I don't feel upset, I won't shed a single tear, this I know. I dislike her so much because of what she did and I now have lifelong mental health problems that have made me seriously unwell in the past and I KNOW it's down to her. But everyone is telling me I need to see her and try and look past everything but how can I??

AIBU to just want nothing to do with it.

Fyi she has no money, shes not worked for the best part of 30 years, she lives in assisted living funded by homeless charities. I won't be paying for her are arrangements when the time comes either.

Will I regret this? Am I evil?

OP posts:
CharlotteFlax · 06/10/2024 20:24

Not evil at all.

Carry on as you are.

Todaywasbetter · 06/10/2024 20:27

Don’t let other people bully you into changing your mind. Your reasons have built up over years and years. Decisions you might regret this one, but right now you know what the right decision is for you.

edwinbear · 06/10/2024 20:34

If it helps OP, I was estranged from my dad when he died from cancer. I didn’t go and see him or speak to him. That was about 15y ago now and I have no regrets. There was simply nothing I needed, or wanted to say to him. I’d closed that chapter many years beforehand.

mortgagefreesoon5 · 06/10/2024 20:36

So sorry for all you have gone through. You owe this woman nothing. Do nothing.

DoYouReally · 06/10/2024 20:39

You need to do what's best for you.

Nobody has the right to tell you what do to or how to feel. They didn't live your life or have to deal with all that you have had to.

ZorbaTheHoarder · 06/10/2024 20:40

I would say she doesn't deserve you in her life, OP.

All these other people telling you you should make up with her didn't suffer what you suffered at her hands, so their opinions are meaningless.

You owe her absolutely nothing after the way she treated you, so just keep on as you have been, with your head held high.

Sending you best wishes from a stranger.

MrsSamR · 06/10/2024 20:40

Oh OP - I can empathise. My mother was an alcoholic and died earlier this year. We weren't speaking at the time as I had blocked her on all communication channels owing to her erratic and abusive behaviour towards me. I did not shed a single tear when she died and have no feelings about it. For people who have only known a loving mother it is hard to imagine a situation whereby their death wouldn't affect you but you can't be more upset about it than you are. Your feelings, or lack thereof are valid. Not all mothers are good mothers or deserving of the title. Try not to feel any guilt for feeling as you do. The fault lies with her and not you. I hope you can find some peace when the time comes.

Skthigh · 06/10/2024 20:42

My mum died 10 years ago, I hadn’t seen her for 9 before that. She was abusive to me during my childhood, both physically and mentally, but to the rest of the world I was the evil one. My two much younger siblings took her side so I don’t really have a relationship with them either, but I haven’t for one second regretted not seeing her when she became ill.

Skyrainlight · 06/10/2024 20:43

She was never a true mother to you. You owe her nothing.

Motherrr · 06/10/2024 20:48

Other people don't know what you've been through and how dare they tell you how you should be feeling at this time. Don't let them invalidate your feelings. You don't need to reach out to an abuser even if she is your mum. If you've made your decision, stand by it. You don't owe her anything after she's treated you like that. I'm sorry you're going through this - big hug x

noctilucentcloud · 06/10/2024 20:54

To put the other side, if you do see her you might equally regret it. I think you should do what is right for you, and you alone, and ignore everyone else's opinions. I think that people with good or alright parents don't understand how much damage can be done by abusive or neglectful parent/s. It is not selfish or evil or wrong in anyway to protect yourself. It sounds to me as if you already know what you want, other people are just making you doubt your decision. I'm sorry the situation has been made more difficult for you.

Cynic17 · 06/10/2024 20:56

You don't have to do anything you don't want to, OP. Just ignore the people putting pressure on you - it's none of their business.

UsernameNameUser · 06/10/2024 21:01

OP, take away everyone else’s opinions - do you actually want to see her? I imagine the answer is a hard no. Protect yourself the way she never did, and let her lie in the bed she made.

Bannedontherun · 06/10/2024 21:24

@HelpMePlease32

Wading through very thick emotional mud comes to mind.

Other people, family or otherwise, have no concept of what you went through, as a child, so their views are of no use to finding your peace of mind.

You had a terrible childhood, and it is not something in of itself that you should feel you ought to forgive so scrub that of your list of overwhelming feelings.

Your baby needs to never know anything of this turmoil, and will not benefit from contact with your mother so thats off the list too.

I did pick up on that you said your dad would never forgive you, which needs exploring. Which I will come back to.

I can share with you that I would say I would jump on my dad’s grave when he died. I hated this horrible selfish man who wrecked lives, his only legacy is my damaged siblings, and steps too.

But when he did die I fell to bits grieving for, not what I lost but what I never had. So be prepared for that, but it may not happen to you.

Push the guilt away, which seems piled upon you externally from others, and from what you say not, something coming from yourself.

Going back to your dad is where I think there is an issue. I think you have spoken to him for advice and had no help to relieve your turmoil.

What is best for you is the only thing that matters, not what a woman called your mother needs.

My thoughts are engaging with her at, all may cause further disappointment and pain, or it may be you get an apology is that a thought you have?

Would you risk that or leave it be?

I know I would leave it be because it is a gamble not worth taking in my circumstance.

She will be dead one day anyway, so this situation was always inevitable, its just well now.

You are not evil, whatever decisions you make.

LuluBlakey1 · 06/10/2024 21:28

It is no one's business but yours. Ignore them sll and fo what you feel is right for you. Do not be manipulated by anyone .

Penguinfeet24 · 06/10/2024 21:31

Stay well away for your own sanity - just because she's dying she doesn't suddenly become Mother Theresa. You are not evil, far from it and to hell with what anyone else says, they don't know the half of it.

HelpMePlease32 · 06/10/2024 21:31

Bannedontherun · 06/10/2024 21:24

@HelpMePlease32

Wading through very thick emotional mud comes to mind.

Other people, family or otherwise, have no concept of what you went through, as a child, so their views are of no use to finding your peace of mind.

You had a terrible childhood, and it is not something in of itself that you should feel you ought to forgive so scrub that of your list of overwhelming feelings.

Your baby needs to never know anything of this turmoil, and will not benefit from contact with your mother so thats off the list too.

I did pick up on that you said your dad would never forgive you, which needs exploring. Which I will come back to.

I can share with you that I would say I would jump on my dad’s grave when he died. I hated this horrible selfish man who wrecked lives, his only legacy is my damaged siblings, and steps too.

But when he did die I fell to bits grieving for, not what I lost but what I never had. So be prepared for that, but it may not happen to you.

Push the guilt away, which seems piled upon you externally from others, and from what you say not, something coming from yourself.

Going back to your dad is where I think there is an issue. I think you have spoken to him for advice and had no help to relieve your turmoil.

What is best for you is the only thing that matters, not what a woman called your mother needs.

My thoughts are engaging with her at, all may cause further disappointment and pain, or it may be you get an apology is that a thought you have?

Would you risk that or leave it be?

I know I would leave it be because it is a gamble not worth taking in my circumstance.

She will be dead one day anyway, so this situation was always inevitable, its just well now.

You are not evil, whatever decisions you make.

Thank you for your understanding kind words.

I have not spoken to me dad about this as I feel I know what his response would be and it would definitely destroy him although I do think he would tell me to do as I wish but it would be a kick in the teeth.

I know I won't ever get an apology from her as she fails to see what she has done in wrong and she has never admitted any wrong doing. She's a very narcissistic person. I'm not even sure I want an apology to be honest, I don't feel it would make much difference.

My son has never met and will never meet her purely because I don't want her around him, I dont trust her and I don't want her influence on him. Although I know she has contact with one of my siblings children.

OP posts:
romdowa · 06/10/2024 21:36

I wouldn't engage with these friends and family members any further on the topic. Their opinions mean nothing because they didn't have the experience you had growing up of her. As for what to do , my only advice is to trust your gut instincts. If you got a call right now to say she was going to be at your door in 5 minutes , how would you feel? Happy or dread?

Lovelock1984 · 06/10/2024 21:39

Those people that come to you and are trying to convince you to reconnect simply say "she suffocated, burnt and threw me down the stairs. I'm glad she is suffering now and I consider it justice for the torture she put me through when I was a child." That should shut them up. You don't need someone like that in your life.

HelpMePlease32 · 06/10/2024 21:39

romdowa · 06/10/2024 21:36

I wouldn't engage with these friends and family members any further on the topic. Their opinions mean nothing because they didn't have the experience you had growing up of her. As for what to do , my only advice is to trust your gut instincts. If you got a call right now to say she was going to be at your door in 5 minutes , how would you feel? Happy or dread?

I would be in absolute shock and feel like I deffo wouldn't be opening the door. But I also feel like it would take every ounce of strength to do that and turn her away. Which is where I feel conflicted because I don't wish her to suffer and I don't want to be cruel but I also don't want to undo years of hard work on myself to bring all the trauma and hate back if that makes sense.

OP posts:
romdowa · 06/10/2024 22:02

HelpMePlease32 · 06/10/2024 21:39

I would be in absolute shock and feel like I deffo wouldn't be opening the door. But I also feel like it would take every ounce of strength to do that and turn her away. Which is where I feel conflicted because I don't wish her to suffer and I don't want to be cruel but I also don't want to undo years of hard work on myself to bring all the trauma and hate back if that makes sense.

Then you need to protect yourself. Obviously seeing her would do you more harm. Don't put her above yourself.

Bannedontherun · 06/10/2024 22:07

@HelpMePlease32

Your last post is clear you have not learnt or adopted your mothers behaviour pattern, and the work you have done on yourself has freed you from the mud.

BUT. That has made you kind insightful and empathetic, so you are not evil. I hope i am like that too.

You must protect yourself.

So make a plan, for yourself, tell your dad what you have said here and tell him what it feels like to have a living mother who failed you is now on the way out, tell him how you need to come to terms with it all and how much you need his support in that.

For me when my dad died I went to his funeral, i cried for what i never had, i kept my dignity, but most of all i knew that all of the shit i felt was, just over, it was the end full stop.

And i moved on i was free from it all.

anonymous98 · 06/10/2024 22:09

Your mum sounds horribly abusive.

Protect yourself. You aren't doing anything wrong by not wanting to see her.

Neveranynamesleft · 06/10/2024 22:15

Do not let other people tell you what you should be doing or feeling. They have not walked in your shoes. We make our own choices for our own reasons and do not need to give anyone any explanations.
I am so sorry that she wasn't a mother to you in the real true sense of the word. Please do not feel any guilt whatsoever if you decide (quite rightly) to carry on with your life and stay away from her.

EveryOtherNameTaken · 06/10/2024 22:18

Please don't feel pressured by people who didn't live your life.

You owe her nothing.

💐

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