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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

Should I invite my mum for Christmas?

28 replies

AugustaCarp · 31/10/2013 12:50

Don't even know where to start really. We've always had a very difficult relationship. As an adult, I can now see that my sister and I were emotionally and physically neglected. My mum has had her own difficulties growing up (was horrifically abused) and I don't blame her for my childhood, I have found my life a lot better since I cut her out of it between the ages of 21 and 28. She is very emotionally manipulative, and not being exposed to it has been great.

Despite this, I love my mum, and really crave a family life. I haven't seen my dad since I was 7 (DV), and she was adopted and no longer sees or speaks to her adoptive family (the family in which her advise occurred), so we have no one.

DD is a year old, and we got in contact just before I became pregnant. She's the sane as she always was, but does love my DD. She has very few friends, and I know that she'll be alone at Christmas (which no doubt she'll really let me know about, saying she can't think of reasons to go on, etc).

She lives 200 miles away, and is physically disabled (and poor), if she comes, she'll have to stay with us in our 2 bed flat.

I just don't know what to do. DH and I usually spend it on our own, snuggled up with lots of food and wine (his family are rubbish, but for very different reasons). He's not over joyed at the prospect of her staying, but he'd be okay with it. I know if I don't ask her to come, it'll probably really put strain on our relationship; I don't know if it'd survive another full break down. I desperately want DD to have a grandma and me to have a mum, but she's just so difficult.

I don't know what to do. Hmm

OP posts:
exexpat · 01/11/2013 00:33

If she's never visited you before, why not invite her down some time that is not quite as 'high stakes' as Christmas? There are so many pressures to do certain things and be a perfect family at Christmas, so many traditions that differ and can cause bad feeling. A night or two at some less fraught time of year might be a better way to work out if there is a chance of building up a relationship with her again.

Harryhairypig · 01/11/2013 00:56

I would say that you and DH just want to be with your baby on Xmas day but maybe invite her on Boxing Day for a couple of days. If you have travelodge or campanile type hotels nearby they can often be better value than b and b's at Christmas. It's not like you'll be having big celebration with DHs family either, so saying you want to be just on your own is perfectly fine.

AugustaCarp · 01/11/2013 18:39

Thank you Any there is an awful lot of wisdom there. I'm just trying to process it all. You're right and I feel have cut straight to the core of these issues.

Thank you to everyone.xx

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