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Sons estranged father died

3 replies

dimplesanddonuts · 30/11/2024 23:15

My son hasn’t had contact with his father for seven years due to social services involved. A restraining order was issued due to long term domestic abuse. He’s a teenager now and this week I had to inform him his father had died. He’s so upset and feeling guilty as he saw him not to long ago and didn’t say a word to him due to being anxious and not allowed to. He has so many unanswered questions. Also I’m really shocked at my own reaction to his death. I haven’t spoke to him the whole seven years but have seen him in passing but I feel so exhausted and sad and replay all the memories of him in my head. I was 15 when I met him and he was my first love and I was 29 when contact was stopped. I have moved on and have been very happy with current partner with two other children. But since he died I feel so sad
about it even though he caused me
so much pain when he was alive and when we was in a relationship. I have so many conflicting emotions and I feel confused. I’m also angry that I’m left to pick up the pieces and seeing my son hurt is tearing me apart. I think it was a drugs overdose and I was told he choked on his own vomit in his sleep. Which I can’t stop thinking about. It’s hard for me to be upset as my current partner doesn’t understand and won’t get why I feel so distant and isolated. I feel bad that I’m pushing him away and I aren’t meaning to I just feel like being on my own a lot and just feel so exhausted. I feel so uncomfortable feeling this way about an abusive ex that ruined our lives. My son has grieved while he was alive when he wasn’t allowed to see him and now he is grieving his death and I feel so responsible for this like it’s my fault.

OP posts:
Soasis · 30/11/2024 23:20

Oh love, it’s not your fault.

You’re allowed to grieve, as is your son. He was part of your life for a long time, even though the rational part of your brain knows how abusive he was, death is so final and it’s normal to feel how you do. You’re not full of hate, you have compassion and it is a sad situation. It’s a waste of life, and I’m sure there were times you wished he would seek help, that can never happen now and it’s ok to feel sad.

Would some therapy help your son to process everything that has happened?

Starlightstarbright4 · 30/11/2024 23:29

I had an ex fiancé die when I was with my now exh.. it is a very odd feeling .

There was no child involved but grief is never as simple it was an ex so it doesn’t matter .

Your Ds I would let him know it’s fine to feel whichever way he does .

I never felt my now Exh got it .. you have stuff to process too.

Ameliasvocalfry · 01/12/2024 00:00

My abusive ex died recently and it's a curious feeling. I don't feel grief but I do feel cheated as I now know I'll never get that acknowledgement of how badly he treated me and I'll never get the apology I deserve (not that that was ever likely!)
I wanted him to see how well I had done without him but that's never going to happen now either.
The feelings are complicated and you need time to process them. As a pp suggested, some counselling for both you and your son could be a great help 💐

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