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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

My Incel father and brother

276 replies

Inshockandsome · 10/08/2025 20:28

I am not sure what to do.

All of my life I have lived under a cloud of misogyny and I have been treated like a second class citizen in my own home. There to serve and know my place. Initially as a child I became a tom boy to take the pressure off - because I recognised my femininity as a vulnerability.

I was beaten, demeaned and consistently emotionally abused. I was objectified, and told my education doesn’t matter as I will just be married and have children anyway. It was a toxic environment to grow up in.

My father openly demeans all of the women around us - waiters, bar people - anyone that is female. The women he hated most were strong women or anyone that dared to challenge him. He said he hated ‘kids’ and never intended to have a relationship with me. I was there only to keep my mother ‘quiet’. My mother has always stood by him, despite his open contempt of her.

I found my voice as a teenager and stood up to him. He reacted with extreme violence, he would use ritual humiliation and weaponised my body against me. A severe eating disorder followed, multiple suicide attempts before I escaped.

My grandmother (his mother) died and he didn’t seem too bothered. His main interest was his inheritance.

Fast forward to today, my mother tells me he follows certain ‘groups’ on line. He speaks openly now of his feelings around strong men, weak women etc. I had to remove my children from their lives years ago. I have stopped contact for many years.

My brother is now the same. Ruined by his enduring dislike of women, despite having a wife and 3 x dds.

Father is now seriously ill and I have no idea what to do.

OP posts:
Sparklybanana · 10/08/2025 21:23

Men like this always imagine that they are strong men but they have low self worth and deal with it by blaming people they are told should idolise them. He's made his bed and you can choose how you proceed. Think about how you would feel if you were told he'd died. If you feel indifferent then let that guide you. You are a mirror. Reflect only what other people shine in your direction.

Inshockandsome · 10/08/2025 21:24

I don’t believe he will ever apologise to me or acknowledge what he has done. I stepped out of line far too much, I got a job, travelled the world, managed to secure a profession and somehow managed to carve out a life outside of the servitude expected of me. I won’t be forgiven for that, ever.

Can I forgive him for the scars and the pain? I already have. Don’t ask me why or how. I just don’t carry resentment or anger. I can’t reach that feeling anymore.

OP posts:
Fenellasbum · 10/08/2025 21:27

Inshockandsome · 10/08/2025 21:17

I don’t know how to be around him. I wouldn’t know what to say, I worry about regret, and closure.

He has done awful things. Awful. But he is still my father.

Being your father is not a licence to abuse you. And by the same token, it doesn’t represent an obligation on your part to see him before he dies.

Birch101 · 10/08/2025 21:28

I can't imagine a childhood like that and what it must have taken to trust and build your own family, you sound very strong

Personally I would remain NC and then when he was bed bound I would go to see him and tell him he is a vile peice of filth and I will be the one dancing on his grave...and his death will bring joy and light to the world.

I might then get my mother to donate money to a women's educational charity

I think the title of mother and father are earned so would have no issue doing this, but appreciate it's a very complex situation so do what gives you the most peace x

Cakeandcardio · 10/08/2025 21:29

Let absolute vile people like this get on with it. You deserve better (I know from my own experience). What would happen if you got in touch with him? He would still be the same disgusting cretin. You would probably feel like punching him if you saw him again so why upset yourself

Spooky2000 · 10/08/2025 21:32

Inshockandsome · 10/08/2025 21:24

I don’t believe he will ever apologise to me or acknowledge what he has done. I stepped out of line far too much, I got a job, travelled the world, managed to secure a profession and somehow managed to carve out a life outside of the servitude expected of me. I won’t be forgiven for that, ever.

Can I forgive him for the scars and the pain? I already have. Don’t ask me why or how. I just don’t carry resentment or anger. I can’t reach that feeling anymore.

I'd say that was a good sign the therapy worked! You don't owe him anything. The myth about blood and family is exactly that - a myth.

If this was some random person that you knew, you'd doubtless kick them to the kerb. You will not get answers or apologies, as PP's have mentioned. Best advice? Keep on living your life as you have and steer well clear of this toxic, nauseating person who only happens to be your father by biological means and in no other form.

nocoolnamesleft · 10/08/2025 21:33

He may be your father, but he isn’t your dad. You owe him nothing. Do what you need to do for you, not for him.

wrongthinker · 10/08/2025 21:34

Whatever you decide, do it for yourself. It sounds like he treated you with hatred all your life, so you needn't feel any obligation to him. Everything you've achieved was done in spite of him. If you are curious, or want to say something to him, then go. But do it for yourself. You won't get a deathbed apology. You might get the chance to see him weak and powerless.

When my mum died, I did go to see her in the end. It was actually very sad to see her so weak. She was still a total bitch to me, though! I'm glad that I saw her, and I was glad that she died. These things are complicated.

MounjaroMounjaro · 10/08/2025 21:35

I wouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing him before he dies. He will see you as weak for doing so, and see himself as the strong patriarch. Don't give him that comfort.

I'm concerned that you will take on the burden of your mum after he dies. I hope you don't. She had the chance to take your side and she didn't. She let you live that childhood and she could have stopped it. Now when she's weak and will be needing help, I'm sure she and your brother will try to force you to help her. Don't let her. She had the chance to be a good mother and she turned her back on you.

You are so lucky having such a lovely husband. He's your family now, not that lot. I hope his parents are alive and well, and are able to parent you. You've come so far but you need as many good people around you as possible.

Dexterrolledoffthesofa · 10/08/2025 21:35

I have voted YABU only because I cannot believe you don’t know what to do. You KNOW that despite his illness, he will not change and so no contact is the right thing to do.

AdoraBell · 10/08/2025 21:37

As others said just keep away from them. You don’t need them.

ThreePointOneFourOneFiveNine · 10/08/2025 21:39

He won’t have suddenly turned into a decent human being just because he is dying. It would be a very bad idea to go and see him, for your own sake please stay away. If you go and see him I expect he’ll treat it as a victory that you’re still at his beck and call. Far better to keep him wondering.

Robin67 · 10/08/2025 21:41

Fuck him! Support your mum remotely if possible but don't waste any time or energy on that loser. He won't suddenly love you. He won't suddenly apologise and make you feel like you matter. He may still be vile and unrepentant till the very end. Save yourself and your kids from the anguish that he will cause you.

CuddlesKovinsky · 10/08/2025 21:44

I am so delighted to hear you survived that childhood - it was not fair and you didn't deserve it, no child does. But you have made good, strong choices and protected your own children from that abuse. I totally recognise that pattern of becoming a tomboy in the hope of escaping the misogyny. Doesn't work. There is something wrong with them.

I add my voice to the ones saying Stay Away! You cannot save your mother. Your brother will probably get even worse. We can do a lot of good growth yet still get caught by surprise by old patterns of guilt and obligations. It's understandable, but we don't have to give in to them - we can see them and strengthen our defences against them.

I don't believe in 'closure' and touching deathbed reunions where they realise the error of their ways - to be frank, the best closure is when the bastards die and you wake to that bright dawn when they are no longer in the world...

One of the joys of my life has been discovering that, despite the parental propaganda, women are actually brilliant! And so are you! 🤗

Driftingawaynow · 10/08/2025 21:46

My dad died a few years ago, hadn’t seen him in decades. He didnt reach out to me, didn’t leave a message or anything (ie a book or sentimental item) in his will, no letter, nothing. I really lived in fear of him dying, and all of the dilemmas that come up with it, but in the end, it happened faster than anticipated, and hasn’t been the emotional grenade I thought it would be at all. No regret, no sense of unfinished business. I feel safer and his actions at the end confirmed to me that he didn’t have my best interests at heart and was basically just a stranger who I could let go of. However, you decide to handle it I’m glad to hear you have a supportive partner to bear witness to this part of your journey.

CalmTheFuckDownMargaret · 10/08/2025 21:46

Be strong, cut contact and live a life independent of either of them. I’ve done similar.

amillionandone · 10/08/2025 21:50

You have to do what you feel is right and best for you, but I can't imagine any reasonable person faulting you for staying far, far away from both your father and your brother, regardless of illness or death. (Actually, I'd include your mother in that, too. She should have protected you from your father. Maybe she was a victim, too, but she should have tried harder to save her children from that evil man's influence.)

You don't owe anyone love or forgiveness if they've treated you so harshly. Protect yourself.

notatinydancer · 10/08/2025 21:53

Inshockandsome · 10/08/2025 21:17

I don’t know how to be around him. I wouldn’t know what to say, I worry about regret, and closure.

He has done awful things. Awful. But he is still my father.

He doesn’t deserve to be called a father.

AMurderofMurderingCrows · 10/08/2025 21:54

The only reason I would see him is to tell him that he's a weak man and there will be a special place in hell for him.

I'm so sorry he put you through all that when he was supposed to protect you and love you. Bastard doesn't deserve another second wasted on him.

monkeysox · 10/08/2025 21:54

MegaMinion34 · 10/08/2025 20:31

I am so sorry you experienced this. I think, for your own sanity, it is best to remain no contact.

This

caringcarer · 10/08/2025 21:56

Keep away from toxic people.

rainbowlou · 10/08/2025 21:56

I feel if you go to see him now, when he is so unwell it may give him a feeling that he was back in control over you in the end.

You are happy, successful and have a wonderful family now, if you were to choose to see him I’d say only go to tell him that, or ask your mum to pass that message on.
Im sure he won’t care (or show it) but it might help you feel empowered when you think of him and your childhood xx

MarxistMags · 10/08/2025 22:01

@Inshockandsome You don't owe him anything.
Ultimately it's your decision. But whatever you decide, remember it's none of your fault. None of it was ever your fault.
Always remember that.

Ellie56 · 10/08/2025 22:04

Father is now seriously ill and I have no idea what to do.

You do nothing. After the way he treated you, you owe him nothing.

And if he despises women so much the misogynistic twat can look after himself.

hattie43 · 10/08/2025 22:11

You don’t know what to do . Leave him well alone you’re well rid