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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Am I exaggerating?

1000 replies

iamstillfuming · 11/08/2025 17:24

Can you please tell me whether I am exaggerating and taken things too far in this situation, because I have been told by certain people that I must let it go.

My 10 year old son went out with my cousins boyfriend yesterday, he usually comes for him and takes him out for the day.

I got a phone call from the police to tell me that they had my son, and they were going to bring him home to me. I called my cousins boyfriend straight away, my instant thought was maybe something had happened to him, because why did I just receive a phone call from the police telling me that they had my child.

He didn't pick up, when the police arrived with my son they couldn't give me much detail on what had happened except they were called to a disturbance in a house and my son was found by them hiding in a wardrobe, he only spoken to them to give them my number.

My son isn't used to loud noise (he is very sensitive to noise) neither is he ever been exposed to any violence etc.

I asked my son what had happened, he told me that my cousins boyfriend had taken him to a house, people started shouting, arguing and fighting he got scared and hid in wardrobe, he thought that my cousins boyfriend would come and get him but he didn't and the police lady come and got him out.

I called my cousin once the police had left, she said that she'd try and get him on the phone then she'd call me back. I was told by her that something had gone on forgot about my child but he sent someone back to go and look for him.

All my cousin was concerned about is whether or not my son had said anything to the police i.e given them his name, then I got a phone call from him saying he is sorry about what happened and that he will come and take my son to go get a bike tomorrow, I hung up and called my cousin

I was very disrespectful to the both of then (with my words) I have had an argument with my cousin and then I called him and did the same to him.

My son is my only child, we have tried for years to conceive again but it just won't happen so we have accepted it. I can not even tell my husband about that has happened because I don't know what he will do to my cousins boyfriend.

I have had a few phone calls from family members and close friends, saying that I have taken things too far and that my cousin and I are too close for this to ruin our relationship.

I am also worried that social services might get involved, I have worked close with social services and they could put this down to neglect.

My son seems ok now, but I feel like I failed him yesterday, like I said above he is not used to things like this.

Sorry for my bad grammar or any mistakes, I didn't proof read before pressing send.

OP posts:
Theresealindseyillbetyou · 16/08/2025 03:35

iamstillfuming · 11/08/2025 17:36

Thank you for replying, yes you heard right he forgot my child, how do you forget a child?

I don't feel like this is something I am ever going to be able to drop.

I'll guarantee drugs were involved.

begone25 · 16/08/2025 07:01

There has never been any kinds of plans or arrangements where her boyfriend would take care of him alone.
There were plenty of times when I’d call to check on him and she’d say his fine he has gone out with her boyfriend. I didn’t think anything of it because the trust was there.

So the have been ‘plenty of times’ when your cousin’s boyfriend has taken your son out, on his own. During which you have no idea what they are actually up to?

As another poster said further up thread, it sounds like he’s using him as a cover in some way, having a child with him probably makes him look less dodgy or protects him in some way. I’m sorry that he has being using your son for this role, I bet he wouldn’t dream of taking his own daughters!

You’ve confirmed he’s involved in criminal activity and it’s clear this is ‘supported’ by the wider family. Personally I think this is your cue to separate yourself and your son from getting further embroiled.

iamstillfuming · 16/08/2025 07:07

begone25 · 16/08/2025 07:01

There has never been any kinds of plans or arrangements where her boyfriend would take care of him alone.
There were plenty of times when I’d call to check on him and she’d say his fine he has gone out with her boyfriend. I didn’t think anything of it because the trust was there.

So the have been ‘plenty of times’ when your cousin’s boyfriend has taken your son out, on his own. During which you have no idea what they are actually up to?

As another poster said further up thread, it sounds like he’s using him as a cover in some way, having a child with him probably makes him look less dodgy or protects him in some way. I’m sorry that he has being using your son for this role, I bet he wouldn’t dream of taking his own daughters!

You’ve confirmed he’s involved in criminal activity and it’s clear this is ‘supported’ by the wider family. Personally I think this is your cue to separate yourself and your son from getting further embroiled.

We’ve already established that he hasn’t been using my child for cover, nor has he been grooming or SAing him.

OP posts:
AuntyDepressant · 16/08/2025 07:15

I agree with you. How do you forget a child? You don't. Unless all you think about is yourself and you don't really care about other people when it comes to the crunch. All he's talking about is how his life was in danger but he was happy to leave a child in danger. Personally I think he sounds like a bit of an idiot who isn't nearly as 'big' as you all seem to think he is. Spineless coward. You don't forget. He did it on purpose which is unforgivable. If nothing else comes from this thread, please be strong and don't back down. Never allow him near your son again and seriously think about moving away from them. They are trouble and no good for you.

SoScarletItWas · 16/08/2025 07:18

iamstillfuming · 16/08/2025 07:07

We’ve already established that he hasn’t been using my child for cover, nor has he been grooming or SAing him.

We really haven’t established this. My view is using him for cover.

If this is real. I hope it’s not as your story has gaps wider than the Grand Canyon but as long as there’s the chance the poor child is genuinely involved, I hope he’s protected.

PlayingDevilsAdvocateisinteresting · 16/08/2025 07:21

@iamstillfuming I will have one more attempt at achieving what I am now very worried is an impossible task. But first I want to ask you what I think is a simple question, and what I also think should have a relatively simple answer.

A PP asked you if you are from the traveller community, and you said no. So I am asking you OP, are you a Romany, or what some people would call, a Gypsy? I am asking this because when I was a student nurse we were taught - unfortunately quite superficially, but probably reasonably adequately - how to be accepted enough by the Romany Community, in order to be allowed to medically advise and treat any of their people.

By far the biggest issue was that we needed to know enough of their culture to enable us to treat every single one of them with the respect that they needed and should be given (I am not saying that we weren't taught/reminded to treat any, and all, individuals with politeness and respect, but just that the level of respect expected by the Romany community - mainly between themselves rather than the larger communities that they are living in - tended to go much further than is expected by a lot of the usual British public). The fact that you are so driven by respect, and feel upset or guilty when you think that there has been a lack of respect being shown, on either side, just took me back to the lessons we were taught that week. Also, the way those who are not of the Romany Community, are often considered to be untrustworthy, including our policeforce.

Of course, OP, whatever culture you come from is none of my, or anyone elses, business. The reason I am asking such a personal question is because I think that if we had some idea about what sort of culture you and your extended family come from, we might understand more why you are so insistant about certain things, and why you keep on denying and refusing to answer, or to seemingly even understand, quite a lot of the advice given here, even though it seems very logical to many of us.

I can only speak for myself here, but I think that many of the Mumsnetters who have posted on this thread feel similarly to me. Have you heard of the phrase OP "that it takes a village to raise a child"? From what you have said, I think that your culture very much believes that sentiment, and act on it whenever they can. That would explain to me why you have implicitly trusted your extended family, at least the ones whose homes all seem to be in a close proximity to each other, and it goes somewhat to explaining what you meant when you said that your brother not-in-law - my words, not yours - brought credentials/references/proof, sorry, I can't remember your exact words, when he arrived in your group - from a further away one - some years ago. I hope that none of my assumptions here have upset you OP.

I believe that most of us who have replied to this thread, have done so because we wanted to try and help another Mumsnetter who was obviously very upset. When we read what you were saying our hearts opened up to the plight of your DS, and although in our general culture too many people have moved physically from their own ancestral villages, we still mentally want to help any struggling Mums (and/dads) to bring up their children in a kind, and what we see as a safe way. That is why imo @iamstillfuming, we have kept on coming back to you, trying to get you to see that in this instance we don't think that your refusal to question your son in more depth, or to let the police do so with child communicators/therapists - who are extremely well trained in gently retrieving any necessary information from them that could potentially cause the children themselves a lot of mental anguish in the years to come. Also, of course, anything that a child is willing to share with a professional, could help stop another child from suffering any sort of abuse from someone who may have harmed them. Surely any members of a "village of knowledgeable adults" that help nurture and teach each others children, would want to reach past their own taboos, in order to keep all of their children safe?

Dear OP, as gently as possible, please believe me as I say this:

nearly all mothers want to believe that they and their offspring are so close, that they - the mother - knows everything about their child, their every thought, their every deed, their every behaviour, and that their DC will always tell them, their mum, the truth about everything, and never hide anything from their them.

As a mother, and now a grandmother as well, I have to say OP, that although I am very sure that you and your DS love each other very much, and unconditionally, that unless your DS has severe learning difficulties, he does not, and should not, tell you everything. However, he should of course trust you enough to tell you anything he does want to. It would actually be unhealthy for him, as a ten year old, to still tell you everything. He will almost certainly have lied to you on occassions (probably to get out of any trouble he thinks he might be in). He will also, almost certainly, continue to do so, well, at least occassionally, throughout his teenage years. Teenagers need to live in a safe environment, one where they can rebel against their parents without being too stupid, and without breaking any serious laws. Otherwise, that 'built in' need to rebel against their parents, and maybe others in authority too, may take their rebelling into unsafe, and even dangerous, grounds. Please OP, do what is actually best for your dear son, rather than what your ego says is best.

AuntyDepressant · 16/08/2025 07:22

Congrats on 40 pages by the way. Doesn't happen often 😉

HeadDeskHeadDesk · 16/08/2025 07:26

iamstillfuming · 15/08/2025 20:32

I wanted his account of what happened!

Honestly, just go away now.

There are so many threads on MN that I do not believe are real or true from the very beginning, but this wasn't one of them. However I now feel that you are just winding us all up for the attention and you are not contributing anything useful with your answers. You seem intent on contradicting yourself and going round in circles. In spite of all the great advice you've been given you are not engaging properly with it at all, just wasting everyone's time.

As the poster above said, you'll have to stew in your own juice because we are done with you. Or to coin another charming English phrase, either shit or get off the pot.

Regardless of what 'culture' it is that you are from, I find your cultural priorities and outlook on life pretty abhorrent and I have zero respect for it.

Rosscameasdoody · 16/08/2025 07:42

iamstillfuming · 16/08/2025 07:07

We’ve already established that he hasn’t been using my child for cover, nor has he been grooming or SAing him.

The fact that this incident happened at all is proof that up to now you’ve had no idea where BF has taken your son or what he’s involved in. And until you know exactly what happened at that house and why the police were called, you haven’t ‘established’ a thing. Nada. Zip. Zero.

begone25 · 16/08/2025 07:42

We’ve already established that he hasn’t been using my child for cover, nor has he been grooming or SAing him.

@iamstillfuming you haven’t established anything!! You don’t know why your child was in the house, whose house it was, what the disturbance was about or why the boyfriend ran off ??? 🚩🚩🚩

CoughCoughLaugh · 16/08/2025 07:52

iamstillfuming · 16/08/2025 07:07

We’ve already established that he hasn’t been using my child for cover, nor has he been grooming or SAing him.

How have you established this? Please don't say because your son has said so. No matter how close you think you are to your son, I can absolutely guarantee he hasn't told you everything. Your whole "I know my son, you don't, he will talk to me!" line is frighteningly naive and is a convenient thing to tell yourself to absolve yourself of any responsibility and reassure yourself that all is well. He hid in a wardrobe because he was terrified for his life after the man that was supposed to be looking after him abandoned him because of the danger. Please get your son counselling, it's possible an expert in child psychology might get him to open up.

Alltheyellowbirds · 16/08/2025 07:57

Well, the thread is nearly at forty pages so before it closes let me make one last plea - that when you’re calmer you spend some time rereading everything that’s been said to you.

You don’t seem to have taken much of it onboard so far, but maybe if you go back to the start and read it all again in a less defensive state of mind you could actually find the advice helpful. For the sake of your son I hope that you do.

Needtosoundoffandbreathe · 16/08/2025 08:01

iamstillfuming · 15/08/2025 22:50

No

You should do. What kind of marriage is it that you haven't told him. Also, not keeping your word because the pull of maintaining a relationship with your cousin is stronger than your resolve makes you open to manipulation.

Yummybread · 16/08/2025 08:19

iamstillfuming · 15/08/2025 17:19

I never ever once left my son in sole care of him, and this is not about wanting someone to look after my son.

My cousin and I used to be VERY close, and I thought that her boyfriend was ok up until this week, I have never ever seen him like this before, he usually doesn’t really say much but we do have conversations, there was never any reason NOT to trust him with my child.

Except your original post says "My 10 year old son went out with my cousins boyfriend yesterday, he usually comes for him and takes him out for the day."

You keep twisting things OP and saying you didn't say them.

HeadDeskHeadDesk · 16/08/2025 08:30

Needtosoundoffandbreathe · 16/08/2025 08:01

You should do. What kind of marriage is it that you haven't told him. Also, not keeping your word because the pull of maintaining a relationship with your cousin is stronger than your resolve makes you open to manipulation.

She said in an earlier post that she had told him. She's all over the place. The minute the penny dropped that she was going to be put under scrutiny on this thread and not just this feckless, dodgy 'uncle', everything she's said has either been a lie, an attempt at obfuscation or a contradiction of something she said earlier. The only thing that matters to her is that her parenting and her judgement must not be called into question, or we are all being 'rude' and she simply won't have it.

Isittimeformynapyet · 16/08/2025 08:52

Nearly there @iamstillfuming 😉

Notfeelinguptoit · 16/08/2025 09:09

iamstillfuming · 16/08/2025 07:07

We’ve already established that he hasn’t been using my child for cover, nor has he been grooming or SAing him.

You’ve established nothing.

You know absolutely nothing.
You've found out nothing.

The boyfriend turfed you out of the house when you went round, you haven’t contacted the police you know nothing about anything.

The only thing your going off is up your son saying he’s ok! Which he’s bound to keep his feelings to himself with a dismissive mother like yourself.

Stop lying to yourself saying you know what happened because you know nothing.

DinaofCloud9 · 16/08/2025 09:20

Next time try and get your story straight. Refer back to previous posts to see what you've written as this is a mess of lies and contradictions.

Still you got to a full thread though so well done.

grumpygrape · 16/08/2025 09:27

iamstillfuming · 15/08/2025 21:18

He was telling me to get out, he said if I don’t leave he’ll put me out!

But if you're not scared of him why did you leave ?

iamstillfuming · 16/08/2025 09:27

DinaofCloud9 · 16/08/2025 09:20

Next time try and get your story straight. Refer back to previous posts to see what you've written as this is a mess of lies and contradictions.

Still you got to a full thread though so well done.

It has not been a story, I just feel so ashamed of myself. I have been more or less truthful throughout. I shouldn’t have let him take my child anywhere in the first place.

OP posts:
iamstillfuming · 16/08/2025 09:27

grumpygrape · 16/08/2025 09:27

But if you're not scared of him why did you leave ?

I did not want him to lay his hands on me.

OP posts:
iamstillfuming · 16/08/2025 09:28

HeadDeskHeadDesk · 16/08/2025 08:30

She said in an earlier post that she had told him. She's all over the place. The minute the penny dropped that she was going to be put under scrutiny on this thread and not just this feckless, dodgy 'uncle', everything she's said has either been a lie, an attempt at obfuscation or a contradiction of something she said earlier. The only thing that matters to her is that her parenting and her judgement must not be called into question, or we are all being 'rude' and she simply won't have it.

Edited

Yes I told my husband that the police brought our child home.

I haven’t told him that I went there yesterday and was abused.

OP posts:
AuntyDepressant · 16/08/2025 09:33

iamstillfuming · 16/08/2025 09:28

Yes I told my husband that the police brought our child home.

I haven’t told him that I went there yesterday and was abused.

I think tell your husband everything then think about moving away from these people. They are no good for you and will drag you down with them.

grumpygrape · 16/08/2025 09:45

AuntyDepressant · 16/08/2025 09:33

I think tell your husband everything then think about moving away from these people. They are no good for you and will drag you down with them.

But she can't tell her wouldn't hurt a fly husband because she's scared he'd go and beat 7 bells out of cousin's boyfriend

Rosscameasdoody · 16/08/2025 09:54

iamstillfuming · 16/08/2025 09:27

It has not been a story, I just feel so ashamed of myself. I have been more or less truthful throughout. I shouldn’t have let him take my child anywhere in the first place.

And with that should come the realisation that you should contact the police and give them his name, so that you can get to the bottom of what actually happened. That’s the only way you can properly support your son, because at the moment, you have no idea what he saw and how truthful he’s been with you.

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