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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

Toxic Family (v.long)

65 replies

RainingInMyHead · 25/08/2012 08:20

I have nc for this as its deeply personal but I am an eight year poster.

Basically I have finally reached a point where I don't want anything to do with my family. Any of them. Barr my brother who already got out. And this is why.

I am angry. I am bitter. I am hurt. My family brings nothing positive to my life.

My father got custody when I was a baby. My mother left. He got custody because she was very neglectful and left us on a mattress locked in a room or in a caravan. They had a violent relationship. My dad then got together with another woman whom I was brought up believing was my mother.

There were five of us and we were pretty much outdoors at all times, step mum was very OCD and didn't really show love but we were taken care of.

At the age of seven a cousin started to abuse me. He was much older, basically attempted with most of the female children until he got to the youngest and weakest, me. He made me feel special, always wanting my company and giving me attention which I craved. Then once I was reeled in, started doing things he shouldn't. He told me not to tell anyone as they would never believe me, and my bond with my parents was such that I did believe they wouldnt believe me. It went on for three years.

During this time my brother began to get difficult. My step mum and him detested each other. He got more out of control as he got older, going into rages which my father would literally try and beat him out of it. As an adult my brother is now known to be ASD. I was exceptionally close to my brother and would get desperately upset when my father was hurting him and would try to protect him by jumping on my fathers back or screaming and shouting at him. My brother and I were less than ten at the time. My attempts would lead for me to be dragged up the stairs by my hair and pushed into my room. My brother steadily got worse, would climb on the roof of the house and threaten to throw himself off. I would be sent to calm him down because he loved me and would listen. He would run away from school because he struggled with the work and I would be sent to get him back. He had a horrific childhood.

At the age of ten, I finally told my parents about the abuse. I wrote a letter and left it for them to find. They didn't believe me initially. Asked me where I had read what I wrote. Demanded to know why I hadn't told them. Then it was all brushed under the carpet. Nothing was done.

At the age of thirteen my mother came back into my life which turned my world upside down. I hadn't known she existed. My step mum wasn't my real mum etc etc. basically everything I had known was a lie. For a while I thought the sun shown out of her arse but I soon learned. She was a drinker, bitter over the loss of her kids and did various things over the next few years, from telling me she wouldn't be that upset if I was to die compared to my brother, to accusing me of sleeping with her boyfriend and physical fights.

At the age of seventeen I was having a drink with my brother one night and I asked him why he never told anyone what my cousin was doing to me. He turned around and told me he didn't want to believe it was happening to me too. My poor brother had also been abused, but not by the same person as me. By my stepmums son. A year later my stepmums son committed suicide.

I moved away after that and those four years with any family was bliss. I moved down with my lovely brother and met my now stbxh. Had children. Eventually I decided to move back home, I wanted my kids to have a family.

I did move home and my parents for the most had little to do with me. Saw them now and again. Then I discovered that my step mum and step sister had been talking badly of me. My house wasnt clean enough, I was too hard on the kids, critisised my stbxh. Lots of things. There was a big falling out and I haven't spoken to my step sister since. She has always been jealous of me as I became the baby of step mum as such, when she was ten. She has admitted jealousy.

At 23 my step mum asked me one day if the abuse I suffered had really happened.

I became close to my step brother and his wife a few years back. Particularly with his wife. She is my best friend. Yet this morning I have found that she is going on holiday. With my abuser and his wife. I am utterly distraught.

This would be a bloody marathon thread if I was to list every way my family has hurt and let me down for all of my life. I went to counselling recently and its changing my view of everything. My mother sided with stbxh when we split due to dv. Was in cahoots with him to stop me from moving away. Kept a journal of my marriage. Counselling is helping me see how toxic my family is and I have just reached a point where I want out. I want to be free from the low self esteem I have. The inability to trust. The not knowing how to function when things are just...normal. I feel damaged.

Having had my own kids, I just don't understand any of it. I have no respect for my parents. My mum neglected us. Abandoned us. My dad beat his ASD son rather than find out what was wrong. I have an ASD daughter. My family brushed my abuse under the carpet. My brothers abuse.

I am such an angry person inside. A messed up person and I want to be better. But when I think about cutting everyone off, what about my own children? Should they miss out because of me? I want to move away from them all and never look back. Can I do that?

Sorry it's so very very long. I just needed to get it all out. I won't leave this up too long because I will have very easily outed myself.

OP posts:
smallandimperfectlyformed · 25/08/2012 08:28

I have read all of your message and it's heartbreaking to hear of all your family have put you through - people who are supposed to care for and protect you. I don't have much constructive advice but what I can say with a clear heart is they treated you in a way you didn't dseserve and you now have the opportunity to break free of them. Your own children are precious and if these people were not blood relatives you would think nothing of cutting them off. Just think about it like this: they didn't do what they should have done for you as a child, would you want to risk them having any kind of negative impact on your own children?
I hope this has helped you.

PooPooOnMars · 25/08/2012 08:29

But what would your children really miss out on? What in your family is good that you want your children exposed to? They are violent, drunks who ignore abuse. For a start you could never leave your children with them because they might not protect your children enough, plus the violence . . . would they discipline your ASD child like that?

I became close to my step brother and his wife a few years back. Particularly with his wife. She is my best friend. Yet this morning I have found that she is going on holiday. With my abuser and his wife. I am utterly distraught.

Does she know what he did to you?

I think you shouldn't feel bad about having nothing more to do with them. Do they have any good qualities? I'm glad the counselling is working.

I would stay in touch with your brother, your SIL depends on whether she knows her holiday companion abused you!

RainingInMyHead · 25/08/2012 08:35

I have a new DP now. He is a wonderful man that supports me and makes me feel so loved. He has hung on in there with me through all my wobbles with being scared to let anyone in. I behaved very badly in the start of our relationship. I can be very self destructive but a year on I finally feel for the first time I have someone in my life that I can trust. There are times with him and my kids that I feel such happiness I cry. That feeling of complete and utter happiness is alien to me and frightening too to feel it and fear it at the same time.

We have discussed moving away in the next year, but I know when we do, my mother and stbxh are going to do everything in their power to try stop it.

I want that fresh start so badly but I am worried despite everything they did I will feel guilty. Guilty that my kids will be cut off from the family too who haven't done anything to them directly. And that guilt will tarnish what I see as a real chance of actually being happy.

OP posts:
RainingInMyHead · 25/08/2012 08:36

She knows what he did. She knows more than anyone what he did.

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RainingInMyHead · 25/08/2012 08:39

It's been years since everything took place. My parents are good with their grandchildren. I will give them that. But I had to fight to get them to be grandparents. When I moved back they rarely visited but did their other six grand kids. I eventually phoned my dad and said I can cope with the fact he doesn't bother with me but not him barely bothering with my kids and if all he can do is chuck presents at them on birthdays and christmases then he neednt bother anymore. I know that makes me sound petulant, but you would have to know just how involved he is with his other GC and how he wanted me to move back home so he could see my kids.

OP posts:
Offred · 25/08/2012 08:42

I'm sorry, I remember one of your other posts but not your username btw.

Your children will only be missing out on people who will teach them that love is meant to hurt them. Xxx

RainingInMyHead · 25/08/2012 08:44

Probably the one in AIBU recently offred? I had it pulled like I will this one as I know some of my family know I use MN.

OP posts:
PooPooOnMars · 25/08/2012 08:46

We have discussed moving away in the next year, but I know when we do, my mother and stbxh are going to do everything in their power to try stop it.

How will/can they do that? You are an adult as is your husband, your mother should not be interfering. The fact that they would even try is reason alone to do it. Set yourself free Raining!

I am shocked and horrified that your SIL is going on holiday with him! WHY!?!

Offred · 25/08/2012 08:49

Maybe, not sure but I remember your story because it is a similar thing (cutting out toxic relatives) that I am doing but that I really thought there must be much more to your story that you couldn't possibly have fitted into one post.

FWIW I think you are doing very well with moving on and up. In your position it is common for people to give up and repeat the patterns they learned as a child. You are strong and brave to be breaking the cycle and I'm really happy you are happy with DP but can relate to the conflicting feelings about happiness. It does get easier with time. I think you should move on, move away. You probably will feel guilty but that wouldn't be rational.

RainingInMyHead · 25/08/2012 08:51

My mother, quite simply, is dangerous. I have no doubt that if I was to attempt to move her and stbxh would get together to do something like make up lies about my care of the children etc. it would be lies, one of the things I am most proud of is that I am not a perfect mother but I am a good one, something stbxh always tried to make me think otherwise. I had PND with my first and he has never let me forget it. I know they would make my life a living hell. My mother has done counselling, social working and could certainly use her work experience to cause trouble.

As for my SIL. I don't know. I just don't know. I love her. Like a sister. I just don't know.

OP posts:
MarchelineWhatNot · 25/08/2012 08:54

I think at some point you just have to move on. Sure, your childhood sounds wretched, but what is the point of dwelling on it? Move on.

As to whether you should still have contact with your family, well, if you think there is anything to be gained by it (for you and/or your DC), then do. If not, then perhaps you should just have a clean break.

RainingInMyHead · 25/08/2012 08:55

I remember a teacher in school once saying I could make a book about my life and she is right, I could. There is so much more but the main points are there. There is nothing for me here.

What complicates things further is my brother and SIL are my landlords. I only found out this morning about the holiday and she doesn't know I know. I can't pretend I don't care. I already know in my heart that love her or not, I will never be able to cope with the fact my best friend is also good friends with my abuses wife, to the point if a holiday together.

OP posts:
RainingInMyHead · 25/08/2012 08:58

Marcheline - you are right and believe me I know plenty of folk who will have had a much worse time than me. I think it's just I haven't properly faced up to everything that went on until this year due to being in a bad marriage. It's why I am doing the counselling, I want to deal with it all and put it to bed. Move on is exactly what I want to do. I am just getting to the conclusion that moving on needs to include leaving my family in my past too.

OP posts:
Offred · 25/08/2012 09:00

I think you have to let them do that if they are going to. Your mother lost care of you for neglect, I cannot believe she was allowed to work in that sector.

Have confidence in yourself, use the counselling to learn to be assertive.

When I split with my abusive ex him and my parents did get together and make up lies about me. He is charismatic, she is a "pillar of the community", it was not to social services but family court, they did not side with him and gave him a big ticking off for bringing a vexatious case and made him apologise to me. There's no guarantees about how people in authority will behave, I understand that but they didn't believe my ex.

Offred · 25/08/2012 09:04

I know much easier said than done I am terrified of and paranoid about SS and doctors (my parents are doctors).

RainingInMyHead · 25/08/2012 09:06

For all I know she didn't tell them she had children. She admitted once that it was easier just to deny our existence than explain why she didn't have us. Which is fair enough.

I would not be moving so far away as the kids wouldn't be able to maintain contact with their father by the way. Just incase it comes across like that.

There are other reasons for moving. The town I live in is a nothing town. Full of drugs and drink. It's also a racist town, they don't like outsiders here. The younger generation the girls all tend to get pregnant young (not being snobby it's just the way it is) the boys tend to be stoners with no ambitions. The place we want to move to has life, a mix of cultures, opportunities. I want to give that to my kids. They may grow up grabbing opportunities or they may not but I want to at least have given them more if a chance than they stand here.

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Offred · 25/08/2012 09:07

Yes, I'm sure. However there is a trail there to undermine her credibility if she tries to defame you.

CailinDana · 25/08/2012 09:07

I remember your thread about your SIL. I would be so incredibly disappointed and hurt in that situation.

As for the rest of your family, I think you would be doing your children a favour by cutting them out of your life. Extended family is only beneficial if the people are loving and supportive, not just of the children but of their parents too. Over time your children will become aware of how your parents are towards you and it will be hard for them to deal with that. IMO it is far better for them to know that their distant family is far away than to have to deal with clearly nasty unstable people up close.

It is far more important to them that their mother is happy and enjoying her life. Get rid of them, they don't deserve you.

RainingInMyHead · 25/08/2012 09:07

Offred - I am not so much as scared, I don't have anything to be scared of with ss etc. it's just my kids have been through so much in the last year, they are finally settling down. If things were to get nasty, I don't like the thought of them suffering in any way as a result.

OP posts:
Offred · 25/08/2012 09:08

You know moving is the right thing I think for very many reasons.

Offred · 25/08/2012 09:10

Sorry, I think I was projecting there!!

I see what you mean, I think however that it is better to have some upheaval and difficulty rather than allow your dcs to grow up shielded from the truth of who they are. When they are teenagers they need to be equipped to keep themselves safe from your family.

RainingInMyHead · 25/08/2012 09:12

I have just started a college course that will last a year so I am tied here until then. Also DP doesn't live with me we are long distance until he can get a transfer to here. But once those have happened then yes, I do think it's the right choice. I just wish I didn't second guess myself all the time. I am generally a very forgiving person and can't bring myself to hate anyone. I always come up with reasons to excuse away things that my family to hurt me. I have basically been in denial and desperately holding on to the idea that one day everything will come good. But I know it's time I stopped that now and yes, move on.

OP posts:
PooPooOnMars · 25/08/2012 09:13

You know moving is the right thing I think for very many reasons.

I agree.

Legally I don't know how it works with their dad. Can you move quite suddenly so they don't get the chance to put a spanner in the works? Have a place set up in the town you want to move to and just go? I'm not sure if that is breaking some rule to suddenly take them away with from your ex, who by the way sounds as toxic as them. I can see why you were drawn to him and it's great that you've moved on,

CailinDana · 25/08/2012 09:14

Just to add Marcheline, the OP is clearly having a hard time coming to terms with some really really difficult things that have happened to her. Telling her to "move on" is nasty and not helpful. Do you think people think and talk about these things for fun? Do you think the OP thinks "Oh I could move on but I'll just torture myself for a while first"? "Don't dwell on it" is a ridiculous thing to say and shows a total lack of empathy. The OP asked for help, telling her to shut up and stop thinking about it (as if it's just possible to switch off difficult thoughts, I bloody wish) is horrible. If you don't want to be sympathetic and give support then don't bother posting.

RainingInMyHead · 25/08/2012 09:14

Thanks everyone for taking the time to read and reply. Sometimes it just helps me to get non biased opinions. I will have this pulled shortly.

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