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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

MY MUM DOES MY HEAD IN!!

5 replies

timo · 13/06/2004 21:55

My mum showed NO interest in me when I was pregnant & she upset me so many times by letting me down.Now iv got my new ds she cannot stay away. She is so self centered & self absorbed.I feel like I want to punish her for not bein there for me.Im worried she will let my ds down when he is older.Any advice??

OP posts:
mummytosteven · 13/06/2004 22:00

Is she any help when she visits you and ds? I.e. make cups of tea, do washing up, bring shopping etc? I.e. is she trying to be constructive/make up for how she was when she was pregnant. Have you had a chance to talk through how you felt abandoned by her, and to tell her you are worried that she would similarly abandon ds? How often does she come over - could you ration it so that she only comes over when convenient for you, or make her help you out with housework? Rather than "punish" her, I would concentrate on getting the most out of her visits.

Flip · 13/06/2004 22:00

Just keep everything on your terms. From experience don't tell your ds about plans as he gets older until said person arrives. Ds1 is always being let down by his grandparents. So now we say nothing to him until they show up.

Have you tried speaking to your mum about this or do you not have that sort of relationship?

timo · 14/06/2004 20:18

I havent mentioned it 2 my mum but I make comments so Im sure she gets the drift.
I cant talk to her.She does not listen.
I will do that though Flip.Thanku both.x

OP posts:
Rhubarb · 15/06/2004 10:40

Yup. I can sympathise here. I went through pre-natal depression with my two, and my mum never offered any practical help, she just told me how bad SHE was feeling. When my sister's husband got taken into hospital with a serious heart problem, I had to travel with my dd on the train to help out with her 4 children, whereas my mum, who only lives around the corner from her, never offered to help. She just said "Well, she doesn't have to visit him every day does she?" My other sister also has 4 kids, one with Downs Syndrome, and my mum has never babysat for her and she won't even look after one of the other children overnight whilst her child is in hospital.

Now I am planning a move to France and she hasn't asked how it's going, why I'm moving or anything about it. She simply doesn't care. Yet to everyone else she's a saint who fosters kids and brings up my brother who has learning difficulties. They don't realise that the only reason she has foster kids is so that she doesn't have to look after her own grandchildren (she gets more money and more praise for having foster children), and yet whenever she goes on holiday my poor brother is palmed off either on myself or my sister with the 4 kids (one with DS).

Sorry to rant a bit, but I totally understand why you are so peeved off and I'm afraid I have no advice for you. My mum hasn't changed, she's just got worse. All I can say is, don't expect much and don't rely on her emotionally, or you will be continually let down. Explain to your ds too that sometimes people say they will do things, but then they will forget. He will have to get used to this anyway in life, just make sure that he doesn't rely on her every word either. Keep her at arms length if you can, but don't stop her from coming. That way you are keeping the door open, but preventing yourself and your family from being hurt.

timo · 17/06/2004 12:34

Cheers Rhubarb.
I think we do just have to except it.
It hurts but that is the way it is.
Oh well as long as we make sure we r never like that with our kids.I will always be there for my DS & give 100% support.
Take care.x

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