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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

Awful email from my DM

362 replies

Toastandstrawberryjam · 24/04/2015 10:27

I have posted on here a bit before about my marriage and DH moving out. (Can't link on phone - sorry). But basically after 20 years of EA I asked him to leave, divorce is now under way.

From the start my DM was incredibly unsupportive, her first reaction being that it would mess up the seating plan at a family party! Over the last few months she has gone from ignoring me, to telling me I'm overreacting and should have tried to make it work. I told her a few home truths about it all and we settled into a somewhat normal pattern of occasional emails where she just ignored the situation.

She hasn't seen or spoken with my DDs since this all happened.

Anyhow this morning she sends me an email. A long email. It tells me exactly what life on my own will be like. A full detailed awful explanation. The rundown house with no nice furniture. Awful neighbours. DDs going without everything. Never a hope of doing better for myself. Saying goodbye to all the nice things I have.

But not to worry! She has a solution. I need to let DH move back in. We should spend more time together. Have lots more sex. I should stop putting the children first and concentrate on him. It goes on and on and about how great that will be.

She knows that his behaviour was so bad my DDs don't even miss him. In fact they say to me regularly "please don't let daddy come back".

I don't know how to reply to her. I'm utterly broken by this. I never expected support from her, but this is absolutely vile.

OP posts:
Toastandstrawberryjam · 03/05/2015 11:14

My brother has no idea what happened. He was only 12 at the time and it's never been discussed with him. I truly don't think his feelings would change though, he plays his part as the perfect son. I play the imperfect daughter. It's been that way forever and won't change now. I swear my mum thinks he shits glitter.

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cozietoesie · 03/05/2015 11:16

...We have been NC for 5 lovely years, & moved away....

Yes - what people rarely say is that NC can be so calm and peaceful. Smile Sure there are a few bad times but they're often associated with feelings of obligation to manage some further contact - family events/ memorable dates etc. The rest of the time you can get on with actually living! (And healing also.)

It's not all bad for ever more.

FrancesNiadova · 03/05/2015 12:23

It hasn't been an easy 5 years, I've had breast cancer & a major injury resulting in a permanent disability. If my IL' s had been on the scene, it would have been even worse.
Toast, it's odd, but an abusive mother always needs a, "golden child," who is promoted at the expense of the other.
My DH was always the, "other," & the chosen one is an absolute sh!t of the lowest order.
You sound like you've got your head screwed on straight, despite them. You chose your stbxh because he was of their kind.
You've removed yourself from their cycle of abuse. Stay out of it. They can't hurt you any more. Flowers

cozietoesie · 03/05/2015 12:26

A difficult time for you indeed, Frances.

RubbishMantra · 03/05/2015 14:27

Yes, as Mix56 says, when growing up in a twisted environment, that will seem "normal". Because they are your family of origin. I love this quote by psychologist/author R.D. Laing:

"One plane may be out of formation, and viewed as abnormal, but in fact it may be the formation of planes that is off course and the solitary plane that is going in the right direction."

FrancesNiadova · 05/05/2015 08:03

How are you toast?
Stay strong, you are breaking away from their cycle of abuse & of course it's painful & of course they want you back under their control. The abusive EH was just part of that control.
Hope you're OK.

Toastandstrawberryjam · 05/05/2015 15:43

I'm ok. DM emailed me this morning asking how my weekend was and telling me how fun hers was. Just sent a one line answer back.

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Hissy · 05/05/2015 20:09

She's narcissistic.... In denial and NOT learning to respect your boundaries.

This is her teaching you to stfu and carry on being her whipping boy.

Do not instigate any contact, one liner reply or if you cba, don't bother.

cozietoesie · 05/05/2015 20:26

Be warned - she'll likely send another corker shortly. (That Hi and Bye email was probably 'paving' correspondence.)

Well done for only sending a one-liner response though. And it gets easier to do as well! Smile

Toastandstrawberryjam · 05/05/2015 20:28

The thing is she doesn't actually care how my weekend was. She knows damn well STBEH went to my brothers and I'm sure she wants me to comment on that. Not happening!!

It's easier to just send one line back and not get into any conversation with her. I'm still incredibly hurt by how she has behaved and I don't have anything to say to her.

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Toastandstrawberryjam · 05/05/2015 20:29

Oh I'm expecting another one soon. I think she will wait till my birthday next week and send it then under the guise of being concerned. Probably will go on about me being too old to find someone else.

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cozietoesie · 05/05/2015 20:30

Probably. Grin

mix56 · 05/05/2015 21:47

Better to be alone than with with a jerk of an STBXH or failed, excuse of a mother

Icimoi · 05/05/2015 21:52

In your shoes I'd be tempted to tell her that I'd had a weekend of passionate sex with a younger version of George Clooney. Stupid woman.

FrancesNiadova · 05/05/2015 22:46

Can you plan something really lovely to do without narc Mum & stbxh? Make it a birthday you'll really remember, when you do things that please you for a change?

Toastandstrawberryjam · 05/05/2015 23:20

I'm already planning lovely stuff. I figure this year I can buy my own gifts. I've booked to get a spray tan and pedicure done (I never do that kind of thing usually but look so pale!), will buy something new to wear and then a few other gifts for myself.

Last year I had a lovely birthday with friends because I arranged it all myself but I can remember sitting having lunch with him and being so unhappy. So I can't see how I can possibly be that miserable this year!

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sleeponeday · 06/05/2015 03:08

Drop them. Seriously.

I cut out my father a few years ago, and my cousin was recently jettisoned, too. One of my kids loves my mother very much. If it weren't for that, I'd gladly cut contact with her, as she's very like my cousin - loves to create drama, endlessly martyred as a cloak for narcissism, the same pain in the arse mould your mother seems to be made from, in fact. And yes, I was also abused by a family member as a young adolescent, and my distress and struggles with that were seen by the family as a whole as my being the problem. My family hate it with a passion if I ever refuse to pretend, along with all of them, that it never happened. I pretty much despise them. Have you had counselling on this one? It can be very helpful in reframing the victimisation sadly often dealt out to abuse victims in families, so you realise the issue is with them, and not you.

Don't worry what they think of you. Their behaviour has plainly demonstrated that their opinions are worth less than yours. Your mother enabled a paedophiliac rapist rather than give him up, and your brother enables her because he likes being her golden boy, and so scapegoating you suits him beautifully. Your ex sounds like they are at his level. Leave them all to it. Don't react or respond to your mother, because she is not capable of a reasonable response. Just walk away. Block her, don't meet with her, don't see her, don't engage. Drop the rope.

You cannot reason with an unreasonable person. You cannot make a woman who feels marriage demands sacrifices, and sees no problem with that sacrifice being her young daughter, normal. Or create a conscience in people who tell themselves whatever they want to hear, and who enjoy manufacturing drama because it validates them. All you can do is walk away, and be grateful that you have better and more positive uses for your time and energy.

I haven't engaged with my family when quietly removing them from my life, because if they were capable of a constructive engagement, then I wouldn't need to remove. You don't owe anyone your time, let alone your affection. Genetics doesn't entitle people to use you as their scapegoat, punchbag, or resource. Relationships that aren't genuinely reciprocal are not the other party's prerogative. And your mother is plainly not just a taker, but an abuser, too.

I think you should bin the ex and the mother simultaneously, myself. Both harm you. Neither offers anything but pain. And in my own case, I felt nothing but lighter, with every toxic relative I have removed from my life. Why let them sap your energy and happiness? Enjoy your dds, and your friends, and your work. Your life. Free.

mix56 · 06/05/2015 06:48

Beware, they both may try & manifest themselves on your birthday & ruin it. Don't tell them what you plan, Go out if at all possible, try & NOT look at email & phone. GO NC at least for the day, put them completely out of your mind.
Enjoy be smug the power of knowing you can have a great day & they can't destroy it.

Toastandstrawberryjam · 06/05/2015 06:52

I have the whole day planned. Haven't even asked STBEH to look after the children after school or the dog. I'm out the entire day until about 6 when I will pick up DC and take them to dinner. At some point in expecting both of them to be awkward over the day.

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ThumbWitchesAbroad · 06/05/2015 07:10

Hi Toast - I remember your previous thread about your oh-so-dear-mother, NOT.

I can see you're heading in the right direction, but tbh I would dump the lot of them NOW. They add nothing to your life, they just give you pain, sadness, confusion and guilt. You simply don't need that.

If your DDs still have to see their father, then they do - but you don't need to be involved in any shape way of form with finding out what they've done.

Your brother and mother can rot together, as they're both part of the "anti-Toast" brigade.

Your mother - well, words fail me, she barely deserves the title - is an utterly selfish, self-serving bitch and no good can come of continued contact with her.

I would stop replying to her emails entirely. She is NEVER going to change, she is NEVER going to be the mother you would want. She has systematically shown you that your entire life, you need to stop expecting her to be any different. By replying, she knows she's getting to you - so stop giving her that satisfaction. Block her phone number, take her off any social media you have and stop reading her shit.

As for your birthday, I can guarantee that if you cave in and agree to a family meal your EA ex will be there. 100% cast iron guarantee. So Just Say No and keep on saying no.

Toastandstrawberryjam · 06/05/2015 07:17

Oh I'm not having a family meal! No way!!

My family is me and my DDs. And maybe my grandparents, although DM has started working on them now....

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ThumbWitchesAbroad · 06/05/2015 07:18

Maternal or paternal grandparents? If maternal, I suspect they know very well what she's like - if paternal, get in there first!

Toastandstrawberryjam · 06/05/2015 07:29

Maternal. But they have prior of this kind of thing, it's where she gets it from I think.

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ThumbWitchesAbroad · 06/05/2015 07:34

Oh well if they're abusive toxic narcs as well, then there's not much to be got from them either :(

Toastandstrawberryjam · 06/05/2015 07:45

Well they've mellowed a lot but they do think STBEH is truly wonderful.

Guess I cross them off the list too.

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