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Relationships

Really upset - my fucking mother :(

58 replies

ofuckit · 01/02/2016 11:53

Sorry may be a long one. Have just had a nasty argument with DM. We were talking on the phone about Terry Wogan and that turned into talking about the afterlife.

I am a non-believer and said something to that effect, then DM said basically it must be true because what about the psychic she saw once who was really accurate. Now the backstory is that my dad died when I was a teenager. We used to argue a lot just before he died - all normal teen girl/dad stuff, him not wanting me to stay out late, boys, make up, etc etc! The last time I had seen him I had been sulking and he had said something like 'Don't bother saying bye then!" and I had said something like "no stuff you, I won't" or something equally charming. Then he had died suddenly a few hours later :( :( I still feel guilty about that.

After he died I went off the rails somewhat. Had a v dodgy (and v abusive) boyfriend, got into debts, drugs, various things I'm still ashamed of. But eventually left him (with the help of the Police after he hurt me v badly), and within a few years was in a good, healthy relationship (have been married for years now), paid off debts, have a lovely home, lovely life & lovely DC. All good :)

A few years ago my mum went to see a 'psychic'. She told me she was fantastic and wanted me to hear the tape of the session. I was interested so did, and it really upset me. On it the 'psychic' basically said my dad was ashamed of me and I needed to grown up, get over him and start taking responsibility for my own life. By this time I had sorted my life out, was happily married and had just had a lovely new baby. So it really upset me that my dad was supposedly looking down at me, ignoring all the good stuff and telling me that I was shit. I don't believe all that really, but it still really upset me, and I was also really upset that my mum had apparently wanted me to hear it.

So anyway back to today. I said to my mum I hoped the psychic wasn't 'really accurate' because it would be pretty shit if the last thing my dad had wanted to say to me was that he was ashamed of me. Her response was "Well what do you expect - the last thing you ever said to him was pretty shitty wasn't it!".

So now I feel shit about it all over again. And it appears my mother (who for years told me it was normal dad/daughter stuff and I shouldn't feel guilty), does think I was to blame and wants me to feel shit all over again :( Why though? I have daughters. I would never want to say anything so fucking horrible to them. Maybe she really just doesn't like me very much.

Sorry this is so long btw.

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ofuckit · 01/02/2016 16:53

Ah thank you Smile

Poor old Terry Sad

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Resilience16 · 01/02/2016 16:47

Oh that Terry Wogan one has got a lot to answer for!
Seriously, I am sorry your mum has been such a cow. She is probably feeling old and lonely and maybe scared, as she can see you have turned your life around and is maybe worrying no one needs her anymore, which in turn has made her jealous and spiteful. This isn't about you, it is about her.
Next time she makes any unpleasant comments just say I'm sorry you feel that way, and then walk away. Don't let her press your buttons and dont let her get under your skin.
Your dad, and Terry would be proud of you x

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314Chart · 01/02/2016 14:55

shinynewusername so true, my DC are always on their best behaviour at their dad's house and then they come back to my house and they let it all out in a rush... I laughed out loud at the ''fake your own death and then get a psychic to tell her she's a cow'' idea.

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VR46 · 01/02/2016 14:50

You need to start standing up for yourself to her, that's what I did. Be prepared for the dramatics though, and other family members getting involved.

I ignored the lot of them, including my lovely Grandma bless her, I told her I was fine, I loved her, but Mum shouldn't be involving others and making a drama out of things.. I would speak when I was ready. I had voicemails of my Grandma crying, it was truly awful and pulled at my heart strings, but I would just text Grandma and say I'm fine, I'll contact Mum when I'm ready, love you.

It was very hard, I've never stood up for myself like that before and at times I nearly wavered, but I think I made my point. I'm sodding 32 and will not be forced into things I don't want to do, no matter how much emotional blackmail gets tossed about.

Funnily enough, in all that time my mum never once tried to ring me herself, it was all about control, guilt and getting a reaction. After a while I guess she got bored of it. It's flared up again a few times, but whilst I have felt very upset and been tearful on the phone to her, I've not backed down and I've said "actually no, Mum, this isn't okay with me and I would like you to respect my decisions and not try to bully me to go with what you want".

Sorry to go on, it just helps to know what to expect.. I got so much advice from the Stately Homes thread and I was prepared for it.

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ofuckit · 01/02/2016 14:42

moopy thank you Flowers

Now I have calmed down a bit (thanks to you lot Flowers), I'm pretty clear in my head that I don't need closure with my dad, or anybody in any sort of afterlife. I do know that he wouldn't be so cruel as to have said those things.

The only closure I need is to stop letting my mother get to me.

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moopymoodle · 01/02/2016 14:35

You aren't to blame at all and those words you said to your Dad you shouldn't beat yourself up over. You wasn't to know he would die, I'm sure if you was then things would have been different.

Ignore the stupid psychic, they aren't all legitimate you get a lot of fakes. If you had a good relationship with your father prior to the silly argument, you know deep down If there's an afterlife he will be watching over you and very proud you've turned things around. Your DM shouldn't use the situation to bring you down, that's cruel.

Have you ever thought of seeing a psychic yourself? I did and I'm not a firm believer. You never know you may get some closure :)

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ofuckit · 01/02/2016 14:29

You know what shiny I think that's true. I did have a lovely relationship with my dad when I was little, it just went a bit off kilter for a few years, and very sadly for me (and him) it never had the chance to get back to normal again - as I'm sure it would have done.

Another thing I have literally not realised until today, is that my mother never did anything to try and smooth things between my dad and me when I was a teenager. I didn't really argue much with my mum at the time, strangely enough - it was all directed at my dad Sad. I remember telling my mum that my dad was spoiling things for me, stopping me having fun, etc etc. It doesn't make sense now but she would almost agree with me and back me up (behind his back, not to his face). She would imply that yes it was him being the spoilsport and yes isn't he mean and grumpy, and that if it were just up to her I would be able to do this and that, etc...

But if she had really thought that surely she would have said those things in front of him? She has never been scared of speaking up for herself!

I think maybe she enjoyed being the martyr and him being the bad guy, and I allowed myself to get sucked in to it Sad

She has since said that part of the reason my dad and I didn't get on was because we were so alike - the implication being that we were both stubborn and argumentative. But I'm not actually argumentative at all - I was just a nightmare when I was a teenager.

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shinynewusername · 01/02/2016 14:17

The fact that you were able to say what you did to your Dad shows that the two of you actually had a great relationship, which gave you the space and safety to express all the teenage angst. He would want you to know how much he loved you and how sorry he was to die before watching you grow up - so forget any of the psychic nonsense.

There were probably loads of unresolved issues between your DM and your Dad - that's normal when there is a sudden death. Rather than face up to the guilt that she feels, it is easier to project her own guilt onto you. It is incredibly cruel. Don't let her get to you.

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ofuckit · 01/02/2016 14:06

Thank you ineed. You brought a tear to my eye (in a good way Smile)

I wasn't even that bad as a teenager, actually, just a bit of a snotty little madam Grin.

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ineedabodytransplant · 01/02/2016 14:01

Sorry, don't know if I made it clear with my 'looking back with bitterness' but I can't see any father worthy of the name being ashamed or embarrassed by his children being normal teenagers etc.
.

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ineedabodytransplant · 01/02/2016 13:59

I'm the dad to two grown up girls (well, women now but still my girls). Crikey did they give me grief Grin But I don't look back with bitterness.

Just to say that your toxic mother is spouting utter shite. As said upthread the 'psychics' are all charlatans. If I was a psychic the first 'dead' person I spoke to would be someone who had died and left a loooot of money hidden somewhere. Then I could give up lying to people. Win win

step away from the toxic 'mother'

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ofuckit · 01/02/2016 13:34

pocket thank you - I think I will do that.

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ofuckit · 01/02/2016 13:33

oops! They were meant to be real flowers Grin

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ofuckit · 01/02/2016 13:32

[Flowers] (again!) 314

That sounds really hard to deal with. I struggle with that too. I try to reason/argue with DM and she resorts to being nasty & hurtful if she's not winning, like today. I definitely need to learn to smile and nod, and ignore. DH tells me that all the time. Easier said than done though, as you know.

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pocketsaviour · 01/02/2016 13:30

What an awful, cruel thing to do you your own child.

Feel free to come and join us on the Stately Homes thread. Fellow survivors of crappy parenting hang out there and support each other :)

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314Chart · 01/02/2016 13:29

I went to a medium years ago with a friend and he told her the biggest load of bullshit. That her Dad wondered where she was when he died. Why could he not have said that her Dad sensed she was on her way. Asshole.

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LaContessaDiPlump · 01/02/2016 13:29

I find myself crying inside "I want my Mum" - and I do, just not the Mum I have

banox - YES, this, 100 times this!

My mum died 2 years ago and I now have the freedom to get close to older female mother-type figures in my life, such as one of her old friends and my aunt (her sister). I couldn't before as I always felt terribly worried about how jealous my mother would be if she found out. So in an odd way, my mother's death has given me the chance to have a better, more motherly relationship with others - the kind I wanted from her in the first place.

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314Chart · 01/02/2016 13:28

ps

I also think the recent conflicts in my relationship with my parents have come from my being LESS dependent on them. Or, trying to bring about measures that will make me less dependent on them in the future. Eg, wanting to work a bit further afield (than my home town) so that I can earn more, run a decent reliable car... They talk me out of these things, and they come at me like it's a court case, united in their strong case to dissuade me from what it was I'd hoped (pathetically) to win their approval for.

I am really having to get used to not reacting to their negativity with REASON. This has been my mistake in the past because it uses up my energy, it confuses me and makes me doubt myself, it perpetuates their belief that I do still need their approval, and it creates drama and argument that I'm held responsible for. So, I have given advice here but believe me I'm struggling to take my own advice with this last para.

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LaContessaDiPlump · 01/02/2016 13:26

Another voice saying jealousy. Thanks to you op, it's horrible when your parent acts like a nasty vindictive twat.

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spanky2 · 01/02/2016 13:26

Banox, me too! It's my dad too. He's vile and cruel too.

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ShmooBooMoo · 01/02/2016 13:25

Psychics = charlatan... every single one of them, so don't concern yourself with what they said! They prey on people's vulnerabilities and desperation. They learn how to read people, pick up on cues etc... It's all lies!
The more worrying thing is your mother who is supposed to love you! Her comments to you are reprehensible! Shame on her!
What teen doesn't rebel at some point, and say a few things to their parents that they come to regret? I'm sure your dad would be incredibly proud of the woman you have become, and would in no way be ashamed of you. Don't let some scam artist / your mother's words upset you! Flowers

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spanky2 · 01/02/2016 13:25

No can of worms. You are seeing your mum's personality and your relationship clearly. Now you have seen you can protect yourself from her digs.

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shinynewusername · 01/02/2016 13:23

Fake your own death then get a psychic to tell her what a cow she was to you in your last conversation together...

OK, not really, but she is being ridiculous. We can't spend our whole lives never having a cross word in case the other person drops down dead.

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banox · 01/02/2016 13:20

It's awful isn't it when a person who is supposed to love us most seems to go out of their way to hurt us. I have a mother who also seems to dislike me achieving anything - including happiness. Sometimes, when life is tough, I find myself crying inside "I want my Mum" - and I do, just not the Mum I have, I want one who sees a "good" me, not an "awful" me.

It's her OP, not you. You sound lovely, and I wish you much happiness.

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314Chart · 01/02/2016 13:18

Interesting. You're getting offers of help, but with a very large side order of ''you must respect my right to judge you".

That is precisely how my parents have made me feel this last week.

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