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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

Shall I just let it go and continue NC

6 replies

SecretSantaaaaaa · 19/12/2017 12:08

Or am I being stupid?

My Father and I have had a lot of issues over the years. They seemed to start when my Mother passed away when I was aged 9.

He was never around much when she was alive but a year or so after her death, he began going out again and came home pissed most nights.

There was just me and my 3 elder brothers.

We had to make our own dinner when we came home because he was working or in the pub. Some nights he would take us to the pub with him where we would sit and play pool and drink coke until we were thrown out. He would sometimes get into fights in front of us and it was just dreadful.
There were a lot of occasions where he would slap me with a belt or grab me by my neck, my brothers were never on the receiving end and still don't speak about it (I dont really talk to them anymore either).

As soon as I turned 16 I moved out and lived in squalor and did not speak to him for a few years but eventually made up with him as I got older. Life is too short and all that business.

Anyway, here comes the recent bit. I live with my girlfriend (I am a gay female and this is relevent). We have been together 5 years, he has met her once (my choice). He thinks I am still going through a phase and refuses to accept that she is a partner, he referes to her as my "playmate". Im 35 ffs.

He is openly homophobic on FB and has told me that "I do accept why you're gay, your last boyfriend was a twat"... "but if any of my sons came home and told me they were gay I would disown them".

I did have one or 2 male partners when I was younger but since the age of 21, only female.

A few weeks ago he asked if I would move in to his house for 2 weeks and dog sit for him to go on holiday.

My first question to him was "what about my girlfriend"? He said she will be fine at our house without me. I said that I didnt want to leave her for 2 weeks, especially to look after a dog that is aggressive (it is, and I am a little scared of him). Plus I have my own dog. They wouldnt be able to stay together so I would have to live apart from DP. Now dont get me wrong, I'm not being awkward and I would be prepared to do it, had he hadnt had such a shitty attitude with me and I have never at any point point blank refused to do this favour, I just aired my concerns.

Few days later I was on FB and saw that he had commented on a post about a couple who had removed their child from a school because a transgender child was attending the same school. He commented that trans children are a result of "poofs and dykes forcing their views on children". I immediately blocked him on whatsapp and FB in anger and didn't speak to him. As far as I am aware he has not tried to contact me.

With Christmas approaching I thought i would message him with my new phone number, no reply. He isn' very tech savvy so put it down to this.

I messaged him this morning on Whatsapp asking when the best day would be to bring his xmas gift, he read it and did not respond.

He has been awful to me through my teen years and after (Calling me fat etc) so why am I so upset? I instigated the original NC so why am I feeling sad. Should I apologise? Or just leave it go.

OP posts:
OnTheRise · 19/12/2017 12:59

You're feeling sad because your father is an abusive bigot, and has been horrible to you and your partner.

You're feeling sad because you don't have the loving parents you deserve.

You have nothing to apologise for.

All you can do is accept that he is who he is, and that he isn't going to change--but also that you deserve far better than this.

I would go completely NC with him, and build a more positive life with people who love and respect you.

I'm so sorry.

(I am NC with my parents, and while it's been hard it's been a mostly positive thing. My life is better without their abuse in it, even though I am sad that things are as they are.)

SecretSantaaaaaa · 19/12/2017 13:14

It annoys me because he loves my brothers, always having a laugh with them. They are just as bad.

In fact I have just wished my brother a happy birthday and he has read it but not replied.

He isn't a very well man and I think I would have preferred to just suck it up rather than not be speaking. In case anything happens. I just feel sad in the pitt of my stomach now.

Thanks for your kind words

OP posts:
Hissy · 19/12/2017 15:54

Sweetheart, why are you bothering with him at all? he's awful!!

He's shown you who and what he is, you are worth better than him as a parent. focus on life and happiness with your OH and your other members of family.

Hissy · 19/12/2017 15:55

A few weeks ago he asked if I would move in to his house for 2 weeks and dog sit for him to go on holiday.

Why on earth would you even consider this???? What do you owe him? NOTHING!!!!

AttilaTheMeerkat · 19/12/2017 16:16

You're feeling sad because your dad is a bigot as well as abusive. Its not your fault he is the ways he is, you did not make him that way. Please stop seeking their approval, they are not worth it and they will not give this to you. They do not care about you and wish to maintain their roles in this dysfunctional family of origin narrative.

People from dysfunctional families end up playing roles and you're still trying to seek his approval that he will never give you. Your dad has not fundamentally altered since childhood. He only sees you as good enough to dog sit whilst he goes on holiday so sees you also as cheap or free labour.

Your brothers are his "golden children" (a role itself not without price but they are unaware of this) and so more favoured; you are your dad's scapegoat for all his inherent ills.

DO not give him a Christmas present nor do anything like dog sit for him. You have FOG in spades (fear, obligation and guilt) and your time would be better employed dealing with this through seeing a therapist re your dad.

SecretSantaaaaaa · 20/12/2017 11:13

Thank you for your replies, its given me some perspective. How can a parent just ignore their Daughter?

My Brother eventually replied to my birthday message and asked if I was ok because he doesn't hear from me much (he usually belittles everything I say so I avoid conversation with him. he is very similar to my Dad). I told him I was stressed with work (true) and he said he understands as he too is currently in a bad place and receiving counselling sessions.

I wonder if it has anything to do with our upbringing but I didn't want to probe.

I am 100% going to seek therapy to confront my childhood. I think it will be extremely hard as I struggle to talk about it without feeling anxious but I know it needs to be done.

The way he treats me is affecting my memory of my Mother. Whilst I do not have many memories of her I always thought of her as this wonderful woman (god like!). But then I wonder how could she be a nice woman if she found someone like my dad attractive.

On the other side of the coin the only memories I have of them together are arguing. My dads Mother claims that had she not passed away, she was planning to divorce him. She also made a Will and left her money to the children with strict instructions that he would not get a penny.

I hate what he has done in the past but I can't escape the fact he is my dad and I wasn't the perfect child, I made mistakes and can understand why he was angry at times.

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