Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

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

I'm uneasy about this, but maybe irrational, your thoughts please!

10 replies

Alovelycuppa · 14/04/2012 22:53

My mum died a while ago, very tragically. She was a complicated character and things had been very bumpy between us over the years, but our relationship was on an even keel before she died.

One of the reasons she was quite screwed up was a dreadful childhood...her father left when she was a baby and moved to America where he remarried and had more children. She never saw him again, despite trying to contact him, and her own mother treated her badly quite a lot.

My dm had a string of affairs when I was growing up. My df stuck by her and was distraught when she died.

A few years ago, after my dm's death, one of her half-sisters from America tracked me and my dsis down. They had spent a long time trying to trace my dm and her dsis (aunt a).

Aunt a wanted nothing to do with them, but I knew my dm would have done, and after thinking through my own feelings (my grandad had abandoned her and didn't sound like a pleasant character, so I wasn't sure how I would feel about meeting them), me and my dsis met them and keep in touch by email.

Fast forward to now, and my df's sister (aunt b), my dm's sister in law is going on holiday to America and has asked for aunt a's contact details. They are obviously not blood relatives.

Aunt a knows nothing about my mum's extramarital affairs, aunt b does, and understandably wasn't too amused at the time about my dm's treatment of my df, her brother.

So, aunt b, who can be very small-minded (although fundamentally a good person) wants to meet aunt a and has asked for the contact details.

There is no reason to think aunt b will tell all to aunt a about my mother, but I'm uncomfortable about putting them in touch..probably I being irrational, but that's how I feel.

Sorry this is so long, thanks for reading.

I'd be grateful for your thoughts

OP posts:
Alovelycuppa · 14/04/2012 22:58

Sorry, have confused the aunties. American half-aunt knows nothing about dm's infidelities, but aunt b (who is not a blood relation) does, and wants to meet her while on Hol.

Aunt a is my late dm's sis and she wanted nothing to do with American half-family.

OP posts:
shesparkles · 14/04/2012 22:59

I think you have to tell aunt b that aunt a has asked for her contact details and discuss it with her....she may not want to be involved with extended family, or she may wish to embrace everyone wholeheartedly.
I think the correct thing to do would be to discuss it with Aunt b, and for her to be given aunt a's details. I think Aunt a should be the one who has "control" in this
(and I really hope I've got A&B the right way round!)

shesparkles · 14/04/2012 23:01

errrm with your update I'm not sure I've got them the right way round!

Basically, the aunt who's in America should be the one who has "control"

Alovelycuppa · 14/04/2012 23:05

Thanks, yes, I would have asked American aunt if she wanted to get i'n touch.

However aunt b is the one who knows the warts and all truth about my dm and in my heart I don't want my dm's memory sullied, although I have no reason to think aunt b might spill the beans.

OP posts:
differentnameforthis · 14/04/2012 23:13

There is no reason for your Aunt here to be in contact with your aunt in America, really, is there? You could say that American Aunt didn't approve of you passing on her contact info, I guess.

Also, regardless of what your father's sister thinks, it isn't up to her to tell ANYONE about what happened re your mother's affairs.

VodkaJelly · 14/04/2012 23:14

Why does she want to meet her? Like you said they are not blood relatives and are infact total strangers to each other. It is very odd why she would want to meet up with her.

Alovelycuppa · 14/04/2012 23:22

Thanks. I think it's a bit odd, maybe somewhat prurient. I'm glad it's not just me thinking that.

OP posts:
izzyizin · 14/04/2012 23:46

As there is no blood tie I see no reason why should you pass on details of your American relative(s) to your UK 'aunt' and, from what you've said, I can see many reasons why you shouldn't do so.

You're best advised to adopt dnft's suggestion otherwise your 'aunt' may continue to press the matter if you make an excuse such as it not being a good time for your US relatives or some such.

If possible, I'd also advise you not to pass on any identifying details which may enable your UK 'aunt' to locate your US family member(s).

IMO, in these circumstances there's absolutely no need for you to feel bad about telling a white lie as I suspect that your dm wouldn't be best pleased that your 'aunt' is attempting to muscle in on your relationship with your US relatives or that she may meet them before you do.

Alovelycuppa · 15/04/2012 00:03

Thanks. Izzy - I have met the Americans, who were delightful.

I would prefer not to tell a white lie as I could get caught out..my dsis is in touch with the Americans too and there's a danger one of us would slip up.

I'll ask dsis what she thinks, but we never discuss dm's complicated life, so I would find it tough to bring into the open my reasons for feeling uncomfortable with it.

I suspect our df would be uneasy about his sis meeting the Americans too... He hasn't chosen to meet them himself.

OP posts:
cornflowers · 15/04/2012 00:40

Well, the aunt b sounds rather inappropriately nosy to me, a quality that has a tendency to accompany a predilection for gossip. I'd tell her you feel awkward about passing on the details, say that the American aunt is a very private person and likely to feel uncomfortable about visits from strangers (or similar, whatever might happen to be plausible). If you just say no, she's unlikely to pursue the matter.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page