Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Should I challenge my parents about this?

22 replies

HammersAndStrings · 08/03/2012 02:10

Regular, but NC-ed for this.

I left an abusive relationship nearly three years ago. It was the second time I'd left him, but the final time.

When I left him the first time, he had headbutted me, whilst I held our son in my arms. It wasn't the first time he'd assaulted me, by a long shot. The day after I left him, I phoned my parents to explain what had happened, and three weeks later, they came to visit, and took me to see some relatives nearby. On the drive home, my mother decided to tell me that I was over-reacting by pressing charges, and I hadn't made things easy on him by breastfeeding and co-sleeping. During an argument during the visit, my younger brother took to telling me that he wasn't surprised my ex had hit me, as I could be "fucking annoying at times" Hmm

Whilst I was with my parents, the ex was sentenced. His stepmother, it seems, was more sensitive to what had happened to me, and scorned his sentence; 150 hours community service and a six month suspended sentence. The ex's step-mother told my own mother over the phone that she thought the sentence was too lenient. On the way back, my mother took the opportunity to tell me that she thought this proved the ex's remorse, seeing as he'd pleaded guilty. Between her and my father, they proceeded to tell me that my ex and I should try and work things out for my DS's sake. My father proceeded to tell me that he'd spoken to the ex on the phone, and that I had some changing to do as well, starting with weaning DS onto bottles and stopping the co-sleeping arrangement. I went back to the ex, feeling convinced I was as in the wrong as he was.

I stayed with the ex a further six months after going back to him, but towards the end of the relationship, it became clear he was going back to his old ways. The turning point came when he made an effort to hide my keys in the house, decided that feeding himself whilst he was at community service, and getting his tobacco fix was more important than allowing me to go and get food for DS that day. The following week, as I made plans to leave him, he began tracing my tracks online. Logging into my facebook if I left the house. Pretending to be me, in order to work out if I was cheating on him. He returned home one evening, stoned, and in the midst of an argument, began stabbing at his head with a fork, in front of a terrified DS. The next day, he grabbed DS, 16 months, by the arm in order to tell him off. Following that, I left him and went into refuge for the second time. My mother reacted badly to me leaving so suddenly, even though it was for DS's protection, telling me I was too hasty, and I should have got DS's highchair and cot out as well. The next two weeks, the ex took to phoning my sister in law, and telling her I was abusing DS, and phoning my father, alleging I had been having an affair with another ex. He also took to informing my mother that he'd make sure he got custody of my son. Despite this, my mother kept telling me that I should at least offer the ex access to DS, albeit supervised, but going through a contact centre was a bit of a "hysterical" reaction. Three months later, I went to visit my parents for the first time since the split. Nothing was raised about the reason of the split until I visited them a year later. That time, my mother decided to raise the issue in a busy, but quiet restaurant, in front of my DS, asking what had happened. At the time, I wasn't ready to talk about it, so declined to comment.

My younger brother and older sister are both aware of the nature of the relationship. However, over the past ten years, my relationship with my older brother has been almost non-existent. I've recently begun socialising with him again, but on my most recent visit, he asked what happened with the ex (he's isolated from my sister and younger brother for various reasons) as he felt Mum's story was inconsistent. My brother proceeded to tell me that over the past three years, Mum had begun to minimise the little she knew. She'd gone from telling my brother the ex had been violent, to telling him there'd been threats of violence, to then just saying "oh, we don't know what happened". I put my brother straight, but I can't shake this feeling like my mother's trying to minimise what happened to me, like she's ashamed of it. I'm wondering whether I should challenge her and my father over all of this? It's three years of resentment that feels like it's building and building, and at the moment, I'm not sure I want to see them when they visit in April, because I feel hurt that they're minimising what I went through to the people who, in my eyes, she should have been telling the truth to. :( AIBU?

OP posts:
fridakahlo · 08/03/2012 02:27

No you are not being unreasonable but it does sound like your parents (esp your mother) have a warped view of the world. If you did confront them I suspect you would not get the reaction you would be entitled to (their shame and chagrin) because they have re-written what happened and would only become defensive with having that world view challenged.
Which does not mean you should not do it, just be prepared for a reaction on their part which is not an apology.

butterflyexperience · 08/03/2012 02:27

Yanbu Sad

JellyMould · 08/03/2012 03:04

You poor love. your mum is clearly changing the story for some reason. I suspect she doesnt quite know she's doing it, and doesn't want to think about what you went through. Did you disagree with her at any point in the past when she said these things? I think I would contradict her if she brings something up, but not bring it up myself IYSWIM . My guess is that if you confronted her out of the blue she would deny it and you wouldn't get very far.

Moobee · 08/03/2012 06:39

Wow, I would have to challenge them although as FridaKahlo says, you may not get the apology you deserve. :( I don't think I'd be able to see them and have a normal relationship with them though.

fuzzpig · 08/03/2012 07:28

I'm sorry. Nobody deserves to be treated like that by their own mother. How on earth can she stand up for your ex? He's not even related.

I am not exactly the right person to ask about how to confront parents - my own mother begged me not to prosecute her brother who had sexually abused me for years, and made excuses for him. Parental divorce and having ME for 18 months is apparently all it takes to force an innocent teenager to use a child as a sex doll Hmm

I have never confronted this and I don't have the strength to now. I hope you can find it in yourself to do this Thanks

venusandmars · 08/03/2012 07:33

My own experience (20 years ago) was similar to yours. My parents were of a generation where women did put up with terrible things 'for the sake of the children' and my parents had a strong opinion that I should have been more forgiving, and should have worked harder at things. They really wanted to believe that everything in their world was rosy and nice, and the the man their daughter had married was indeed strong and reliable and dependable (rather than a contolling, manipulative abuser). They somehow could not accept that such a 'charming man' behaved in such an awful way.

I was so hurt by their attitude at the time, when I had hoped that they would be supportive and understanding.

For the first 3 years after my ex and I split up, my relationship with my parents was very distant. They were helpful with my dc, and they were always kind to me, but they never, ever understood (or wanted to understand) my feelings. Over the years I have grown to accept that they do not want to change their rosy-hued view of life, and that it caused me more hurt and frustration to try and change their views. I reserved my anger and hurt for my exh, who was after all the cause of the problem, and I developed a different relationship with my parents. There will always be a distance between us - I learnt that I could not trust them to give me unconditional support - but they have always had a good relationship with my dcs and now that my parents are elderly and infirm I see them more often, they rely on me to help them out, and I am glad that I maintained the relationship with them.

I do not think you are being unreasonable to be hurt by your parents attitude, but you may not be able to change their minds, and I wonder if there are some more constructive ways that you can direct your energy?

Thistledew · 08/03/2012 07:36

Do you actually want to see your parents? There is no law that says you have to.

janelikesjam · 08/03/2012 08:58

I think as long as you understand what happened and are sure you made the right choice, it doesn't matter what other people think, including your parents. What you say, think, understand and know is really what counts.

Thats not to say it isn't sad or upsetting not to have parents' support or understanding for your decision. But sometimes its not forthcoming, for whatever reason, and I agree with VenusandMars it can be a view of women being the "second sex" (rather than the "first").

HotDAMNlifeisgood · 08/03/2012 09:47

You can challenge them if it will do you good.

However, from everything you describe, it is clear that your mother will never acknowledge your feelings, and will never accept responsibility for her own poor behaviour.

If you are hoping that a confrontation will be your chance to be heard, then that is a vain hope.

What it will achieve, if you want it, is for you to finally state your feelings and your boundaries, to put them out there... in the full knwledge that your mother will never accept your feelings, and never accept your right to have boundaries.

Have you ever visited the Stately Homes thread? There are resources linked at the start of the thread that you may find helpful. All of us in Stately Homes have mothers (or sometimes fathers) like yours, and all of us have spent far longer than we should with abusive men as a result of the "training" we received from our parents in childhood: face it, when you were a child completely dependent on her for your development, you were trained by her to remain in thrall to a self-centred person, to conclude that you must be at fault if you are being treated so badly, and to think of all that as "love".

henrysmama2012 · 08/03/2012 19:03

I'd personally cut them off.

RabidEchidna · 08/03/2012 19:28

Well rid of them if you ask me

Headagainstwall · 08/03/2012 19:35

You poor thing :( YANBU.

bringbacksideburns · 08/03/2012 21:07

No YANBU.

I feel sad and angry for you that they were absolutely no help or support to you when you needed them the most.

What has your relationship been like with them in the past? Has your mother got 'issues' or something, where she buries her head in the sand. I find her support of your ex instead of you very odd.

I would have a break from the visit in April and i would possibly mail/write a letter to tell them why.

HoudiniHissy · 08/03/2012 21:09

We all, te victims of DV, sadly are not just plucked at random. We are raised. As hard as it is to accept, you need to really look at all you have written and recognise that, for whatever reason, your parents seem to have a vested interest to keeping you in an intolerable situation.

My family were the same, to a lesser extent it has to be said.

You've been so brave to get out from the power of the ex. You need to find a bit more bravery and strength to take steps to protect yourself from all those who aren't 100% on your side.

Have you tried The Freedom Programme? It's free, and is a real lifeline, not to mention an eye opener. (in a good way)

I'll bide my time with my family, but the opportunity for me to do what I have to do will present itself soon enough.

PooPooInMyToes · 09/03/2012 10:30

Yanbu I would imagine this hurts and confuses you. Its nowhere near the same but i remember telling my parents that my boyfriend had hit me. They were shocked at first then went to numbness and then appeared to forget all about it. This all happened in about twenty seconds! That was it . . .

NanaNina · 09/03/2012 11:16

Firstly can I say how brave you were and a wonderful mother to protect your son from this awful man. I read so many threads where women put their children at risk and stay in an abusive relationship. I was in your position 40 years ago as a young mother and I too left to protect myself and my son, but I did have the support of my parents and sisters.

I'm sorry to say that I agree withe most posters, that there is little likelihood of your parents becoming reasonable and understanding about this mattter and thus giving you some resolution to this conflict. I can barely believe they took that line instead of being proud of you for, and getting out of an abusive relationship and preventing your son from being parented by a violent controlling man, and probably turning out to be like him when he is adult.

The stuff about the weaning and co-sleeping is too ridiculous and to think your parents fell for this. Abusive men always have some stupid excuse for he violence.

As others have said it is highly likely that they will be more defensive than ever, as conflict not deal with seems to "solidify" over time. Even if they feel now they were in the wrong, are they the sort of people to admit it, or just dig their heels in further to save face. Only you will have any idea about that. I can see why this is still something unresolved for but fear the outcome of a confrontation may make things worse and take you back 3 years IFYSWIM.

You could write a letter to them (and then decide whether to send it or not) I always find writing stuff down is very therapeutic, as it gets it out of my head onto paper. Have you had contact with them in the intervening 3 years and if so, how did you cope. If this is the first time, then I think that must say a lot about your r/ship with them anyway if you haven't seen them for 3 years. As you say you have had this resent ment for 3 years quite justifiably and a head of steam is building up. I think your options are;

  1. Let the visit go ahead and confront them head on.
  2. Refuse to see them and tell them the reason why
  3. Let the visit go ahead and don't confront them
  4. Write to them about all your feelings (you are obviously very articulate)
and telll them thatyou are not prepared to see them because of their lack of understanding etc. OR say in the letter you are only prepared to see them if this matter can be openly discussed, warning that you remain angry about their stance.

The thing is though H&S you do need to resolve this matter because resentment is not a good thing to have in your head for so long. I am not saying it isn't justified, but it's unpleasant. I have been in your position over something different and all my attempts to seek resolution with the person concerned ended in zero and frustrated me all the more. Inthe end the feeling just diminished over time. I suspect you must seek another way to deal with your resentment. Have you ever discussed it with a trusted friend or relative . Can you afford to have some counselling to help dilute the feelings that you have. The thing is the feeling is probably like a football in your stomach now and with help it will get smaller bit by bit till it is the size of day a golf ball (sorry I tend to think in this visual kind of way) and it will be more manageable for you, but will probably always remain to some extent.

So sorry you are having to deal with this.

Keep us posted

Anyway - there are

HammersAndStrings · 10/03/2012 19:06

Thank you, all.

A big part of me is saying "Just wait until the right moment," but then there's this little voice in the back of my head, niggling away, telling me "you're too weak, you've never been able to stand up to Mum, even if you can stand up to Dad."

I know I can get counselling for free through my university, so may take that route. I think a big part of me needs to talk this through with someone that isn't my best friend, who, when I start ranting about it, starts ranting on herself...

I know that, should I turn round and say I don't want to see them in April, I'll be made to look like the bad guy in all of this. Last year, they visited during March, and I was only free when they had other plans. I got made to feel the villain for not being able to see them, for telling them I could see them at the weekend, instead of not turning up to lectures.

I've taken part of the Freedom programme; but at the same time have become quite knowledgable about the dynamics of abuse through feminism, and have found that's helped me blame myself a lot less than I did previously. But it's my parents attitudes that seem to set me back so often.

I think my relationship with my mother has always been flawed. I'm an adoptee, and have always felt like the outsider in the family. When I admitted to having trichotillomania aged 17, she turned it into such an issue to make it seem like I was doing it deliberately to upset her. When I got put on anti-depressants, she told me there was no way I was depressed. I can't do right by her views. She doesn't think I should work as a single mum until DS is old enough to return home on his own, but she enjoys benefit bashing. When I returned to uni, she made it clear that she didn't think I was being fair on DS. In fact, the only thing I've done the past three years that she's approved of, it seems, is volunteering when my son has a full day at nursery....

I may pay the Stately Homes thread a visit soon. I keep trying to post in there, but then think "no, there's people with worse issues in here, people with truly abusive parents". I just can't make that first post.

OP posts:
EldritchCleavage · 11/03/2012 00:20

Do what you need to do to deal with your feelings, but as others have said, it would be as well not to have any expectations that your parents will truly hear what you have to say.

I had a showdown with my parents over what I still consider to be their lamentable negligence in exposing me to someone who turned out to be a paedophile, and their (continuing) failure after finding out what he was to address it with me or my siblings. As a result, I suffered in silence over my abuse for 25 years.

The showdown was awful. It all got patched up-my mother just wanted to be friends again, my father simply didn't mention it. But it did do something: it rid me of a lot of the corrosive rage I'd carried for years, and it demonstrated to my parents more powerfully than mere words the depth of my suffering. I am less angry as a result, including with them, oddly. THEY KNOW. And that's enough, somehow.

So my suggestion is that you focus on how you want to feel and work backwards from there to see what you could possibly do to reach that point.

PooPooInMyToes · 11/03/2012 12:43

So your mum does the classic "its all about me, don't upset ME with it" thing!

It sounds like she has done this about other things and not just your ex.

RachyRach30 · 11/03/2012 13:34

Hi

Hope your okay, it's awful what you have been through.
It hurts when your parents never seem to be on your side, supporting you. They aren't giving you the reassurance and love that you need. I don't know why but they aren't acting like loving parents.

You could try talking to them about the situation. Maybe your ex has filled them with a load of lies, if he's capable of head butting you then he's capable of telling a few lies. They should not believe him, maybe he said you hit him etc.
If you have never properly talked to them about your feelings on this then I'd say do it's worth trying.
However some parents are just not supportive of their kids and if they are that type of parents then you will never get what you expect from them. I still think its worth talking to them.

LesserOfTwoWeevils · 11/03/2012 13:49

"there's people with worse issues in here, people with truly abusive parents"
We all minimise the damage they've done to us. That's part of the abuse.

Your parents are truly abusive.
You'd be welcome in Stately Homes.

fridakahlo · 12/03/2012 15:20

I found a lot of healing came through realising that I was never going to get supported by my parents in the way that I needed to be and accepting that allowed me to grieve and face reality as it.
You would be welcomed on stately homes, your parents really should give unconditional support and if they don't, it is a horrid failing on their part.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread