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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

Mother encouraging dd to kick the cat

58 replies

ItCameFromOuterSpace · 11/06/2013 20:21

I want sure whether to post here or parenting.

Mother used to look after dd while I went to work FT. It did not work at all, she found it very difficult and our previously extremely good relationship essentially fell apart. I don't want to go too much into it as it was a very distressing time, but she wished my current baby would miscarry (am currently 30weeks pg), and would say things like no one gave a sh*t about my pregnancy and hoped my organs would burst inside me.

It was at truly awful awful time, I would leave dd and go to work in floods of tears, and pick her up to be met with more abuse.

Have no idea why my previously Very good relationship with my mother became like this, but she said she felt I was too involved with her looking after my daughter (I said I would like it if she tried to take dd out everyday if possible - when they were both well, and not adverse weather) even if it was just for a walk for fresh air for 10-15 mins etc.

She said she would only take dd out once a week maybe and would feed her whatever she wanted (I always cooked meals and give them to her), and would change her clothes etc.

Anyway, she used to get very frustrated with dd at times and would often shout SHUT UP!! At her. I begged her not to speak to my daughter like this 1. Because I don't want my daughter being shouted at to shut up and 2. Because I didn't want her picking up that kind of language at tat age (she ws between 13-16months when she as looking after her).

Dd would then start shouting shut up to anyone including strangers.

Mother would also encourage her to kick our elderly cat, which she found vey amusing. I repeatedly asked her not to do this because I didn't want her learning this kids of behaviour, we want her to be kind to animals and others, and also as we have a newborn arriving soon, we are trying to get dd to be kind to the cat (nice strokes, cuddles etc) to encourage her to treat the baby nicely.

In the end, we put dd in nursery and she loves it. Mother however, still insists on teaching dd to kick the cat and generally be nasty to him.

I don't know what to do, we didn't speak for almost 2 months and have just started speaking again - she refused to apologise for what she said to me about miscarriage etc, but has no reluctantly said sorry as dh said he would cut her out our lives if she continued this abuse.

Everytime she sees dd she tells her to kick the cat, pull his tail etc. what can I do? I have asked her not to, and she does it anyway. Dd had a lovely calm and sweet temperament but is only 18 months and very impressionable.

Does it sound like I am overreacting or being unreasonable in anyway? Should I let my mother talk to her grand daughter as she wants? Is it harmless?

mother has told me that dd is not mine and belongs to the world and I should stop acting like she is "mine" as such.

OP posts:
ItCameFromOuterSpace · 11/06/2013 20:24

Dd has not had.

OP posts:
TreeLuLa · 11/06/2013 20:24

I would cut all contact with your mother. She sounds absolutely toxic and horrid.

I am sorry you have had to deal with her unpleasantness for so long Sad

ILikeToClean · 11/06/2013 20:25

She sounds horrific, I don't think I'd want any sort of relationship with her myself at all, let alone let her near my dd. sorry...

ItCameFromOuterSpace · 11/06/2013 20:27

I have no idea why our relationship broke down so badly when she started looking after dd? It was a horrible horrible time when she was looking after her, really dark and I felt like I had lost my mother.

Previously we got on so well, she was my best friend.

She got really funny wi me when I had my own daughter and it got worse when she looked after her, plus she sold the family home and retired in that time, so I wonder if this was all a trigger for something?

Ii still feel upset talking about it now, and haven't really told anyone in RL other than DH and my best friend, as I feel embarrassed this has happend to our previously fantastic relationship.

OP posts:
barnet · 11/06/2013 20:30

Wow. Your mum is seriously disturbed. Don't let her have any influence on your daughter and don't ever let her look after your daughter again. She is bullying you.

ItCameFromOuterSpace · 11/06/2013 20:33

But she never used to be like this, it's all so distressing and baffling.

OP posts:
CreepyLittleBat · 11/06/2013 20:33

I couldn't be around anyone who did that to a cat. And I hate cats.
She's a totally malign influence on your daughter. No wonder your dd loves nursery after that!
As for the vile comments towards you and your baby - they are unforgivable. She sounds like she has psychological problems - but that's not your responsibility. You need to phase her out and focus on yourself and your dc.

VerySmallSqueak · 11/06/2013 20:36

I think you would be better off taking a break from contact with her.

Hopefully given space and time she will address her issues.

NulliusInBlurba · 11/06/2013 20:39

The way you describe her she sounds utterly, utterly evil. However, the fact that this has all come on so recently is bewildering. Could it be the onset of some sort of mental illness, or Alzheimer's, or even a brain tumour? Sounds radical and unlikely, but my dad died of a brain tumour and the main symptom in early stages was a total personality change and very erratic behaviour.

However, your main responsibility right now is to your DD and your new coming baby, and to yourself. For the moment the only sensible option is to keep your distance, unfortunately. And keep the poor cat beyond kicking distance!

magicstars · 11/06/2013 20:40

Oh wow she sounds like a truly disturbed person. I'm very sorry for you OP, could it be that she was awful to you as a child & you've somehow blocked it out??
If I were you, I wouldn't be letting her anywhere near my poor cat, let alone dd.
It sounds like she has a personality disorder. If she truly was nice before, was there anything else that happened around the time u had dd? Head injury...?

girliefriend · 11/06/2013 20:41

Your mother sounds like she has flipped, sorry Sad

I think she needs psychological help pronto.

Thanks God your poor dd is now is now in nursery.

My unqualified guess is that somehow you having a child of your own has messed with your mums mind and thats why she is playing out all this horrible stuff.

Do not leave your dd with her at all and if she says anything about being cruel to the cat ask her to leave. Also tell her to seek help and if she refuses to acknowledge that her behaviour is not normal then cut contact. Have you got siblings?

Fairylea · 11/06/2013 20:43

Read some of my threads about my mother.... we lived together for 32 years but this year I am finally cutting her out of mine and dc's life.

Your mother is nasty, vile and twisted. For your dds sake please don't let her have contact.

ExitPursuedByABear · 11/06/2013 20:43

She sounds seriously deranged. You have to ask ?

Eddie107 · 11/06/2013 20:43

It is so sad that things have become difficult between you when you used to be very close. Do you think your mum might have become depressed &/or lonely since retiring & is taking it out on you & your family? She could be jealous of the attention you, rightly, have to give your dd.

Snazzywaitingforsummer · 11/06/2013 20:44

Cut contact with her. She has become seriously disturbed and you have to put the wellbeing and development of your daughter and yourself first. Plus you need to show her that you take all this seriously - at the moment you are telling her you don't like it but there are no consequences (notice how she reluctantly fell into line when your husband threatened to cut contact - this is what she understands).

I'm sorry to say that you have lost your mother as you knew her. That doesn't mean she will never return, but it does mean you have to protect yourself and DD while she's like this. As for 'DD belongs to the world' - well, your mother is hardly following this advice herself in her determination to make DD do what she wants, is she?

Tell her - or get your husband to tell her - you have had enough and she is not welcome in your house and is not trusted to look after your daughter now. Your husband might be better doing this as I would fully expect her to get verbally abusive and you sound pretty shaken up about it all already. Really, it will be for the best.

ItCameFromOuterSpace · 11/06/2013 20:44

nullius the thing is we used to be best friends, she was a supportive, wonderful mother...then I had dd and things because a little strained. Then she retired, sold the family house and started looking after dd, and it was like she because a completely nasty different person.

My best friend thinks she may be going through some kind of breakdown triggered by all the life changes, dh agrees but is less inclined to excuse her behaviour.

OP posts:
ItCameFromOuterSpace · 11/06/2013 20:48

Thank you all for the support and advice, I really appreciate it and feel awful for saying these things about my mother as we were so close before, but things have got so bad and find myself crying at missing who she used to be and feel hurt and bewildered why this has happened.

Incidently my sister hasn't spoken to me in over 5 months, since my mother has started a ting like this. We were never very close and are 15 years apart and has always been closer with my mother than we have been as sisters, but it's like she's used this rift with my mother to cut ties with me.

Feel like I've gained an amazing family with dh and my children, but lost my old family.

OP posts:
VerySmallSqueak · 11/06/2013 20:51

I think your friend is possibly right.It seems there's quite possibly a reason related to mental health or some physical conditions.

The thing is that what she is doing is damaging to you and your DD.

Has anyone suggested that she see the GP - or does she completely refuse to acknowledge her behaviour?

Perhaps it may be worth having a talk in case this behaviour is unintentional,or a 'cry for help' ?

Snazzywaitingforsummer · 11/06/2013 20:53

Has your mother told your sister a lie about something you've done, I wonder, to cause trouble? It wouldn't surprise me given the rest of her behaviour.

Given that she did grudgingly apologise when it looked like she would lose contact with you, I am also less inclined to look for excuses for her behaviour. That's why I am saying tell her you are cutting contact - at least for a while.

notanaxemurderer · 11/06/2013 21:28

It sounds like your mother has some serious problems. And until she resolves them I would not let her anywhere near your DD.

I'm not a cat fan at all but fancy encouraging a small child to torment an animal? How utterly cruel and evil.

If she's been odd about your baby so far I would be worried what she would do when the baby comes along - is she going to be encouraging your DD to harm that, too? Sorry if that seems extreme but it sounds like she's an extremely unpleasant, vindictive person.

Jengnr · 11/06/2013 21:36

Cut ties now.

If she's said such dreadful things about you and the baby and can encourage your daughter to be cruel to an animal what might she encourage with the baby here?

How horrible for you :(

RandomMess · 11/06/2013 21:43

I would spend time with your Mum without your dd around, or not in your house etc.

I think it does sound like your Mum has become reallly unwell and I would want to get to the bottom of that before I cut ties. This is based on the fact that she used to be very different IYSWIM.

If she had always been like this I'd tell you to run for the hills!

C999875 · 11/06/2013 21:44

I wouldn't usually talk bad of anyone's mother. However. I have to say on this occasion I will make an exeption. My God. Easy for me to say but I really would try and urge your mother to get help as do I dare say the way she is acting is not the behavior that anyone would expect from a human being. I would not let her near your D.D. No way in hell.
I can't believe the way she treated you through your pregnancy. To say what she said is shocking would be one of the worlds biggest understatements. How cruel of her as well to encourage your D.D to kick a poor innocent trusting defenceless animal. xxx

hearthwitch · 11/06/2013 21:49

you said that your mum was your best friend. sounds like when you had dd she became scared she'd lose her place and took it out on you and dd. my mum was the same and couldn't cope with my relationship with twin or dad as they detracted from her being the centre of the world. it hurt but I had to go nc in the enf

hearthwitch · 11/06/2013 21:50

end.!

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