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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

Messed up things with DM and DB

3 replies

Teenytinytoes · 22/12/2017 23:31

Have got myself into difficulty with DB over burial of DGM ashes. We had the cremation followed by wake 3yrs ago shortly after she died. Our cousin was executor of the will and had power of attorney, and recently raised that the ashes had not been buried. Our cousin was ill and emailed me to ask if I could arrange it. I got onto funeral director, arranged the family headstone to be lifted and carved and booked a date for the burial. I posted it on family social media giving nearly 1 month notice and welcoming anyone contributions and attendance. Next thing is that DB has left the family social media group and separately contacted me with a short message to say I am a first class c* for burying DGM without his knowledge, and ending up with an insult to my religion. My DM then phones me to say I have caused breakdown of her and DB relationship and that I have acted spitefully & maliciously in not involving him in the burial arrangements.

There is backstory to this in that DB lives on another continent and had split from his DW of 15yrs who was 5 months pregnant (at Christmas!). He then admitted that he had another woman abroad who he then got pregnant straight away. He therefore now has 2 babies born 4 months apart in different countries. The 2 women are all amicable but obviously there was a lot of stress for him and our DM (as DB was upset and ashamed and therefore gave her a hard time). DGM was DM ex MIL as our parents divorced (DF was an only child and died before DGM), so DM not involved in any arrangements for the burial other than I had asked her to babysit my DC whilst I travelled as it was a day trip (4hr drive each way). A few weeks prior to me booking the date I had discussed the burial with my mum to ask re the babysitting, and had said that I wouldn't tell my DB about it. I said this because I felt that DM went on at me and I didn't really mean it (& really would not have buried the ashes without telling hin), but she did warn me that DB wouldn't like it if he was not involved.

Anyway - several months have now gone on since his offensive email and DB and I have not communicated at all. Should I try and apologise bearing in mind he called me a c* in writing? I don't really feel sorry because I dont think I acted badly, but If I don't contact him I don't think we will ever communicate again. We don't share similar values and clash a lot on politics/feminism/religion etc, however he is my only DB and if I have done something which everyone else thinks appears spiteful then I would like to try and make amends. In essence do you think it is unreasonable for me to have not contacted him separately about the arrangements and tailored them to him ? This is usually the case, and pisses me off eg trying to get him to commit to attending our DM 70th birthday party earlier that year and not succeeding despite multiple options presented to him. If you all think I should apologise I would appreciate ideas on how to do this. Thanks for reading - sorry if it is long and jumbled. With regard to DM I am going to family counselling with her (organised by me) as I definitely don't want to live without her in my life.

OP posts:
fc301 · 22/12/2017 23:54

Perhaps send a congratulations card as he has certainly managed to make this all about him hasn't he?!
People do act very weirdly around a bereavement. But from what you have said here no you do not owe him an apology. He has insulted you and left you to deal with all the arrangements. He sounds monumentally selfish. He has also not covered himself in glory in other areas of his life has he? Taking out his life problems on his DM?

ChevalierTialys · 23/12/2017 00:14

For what it's worth, I don't think you needed to tell him, other than to notify him of what plans you had made. He didn't need to be involved in arrangements. If he and DGM were close, I can see how it would have hurt him though.

Teenytinytoes · 23/12/2017 10:14

Thanks both of you. I can see how he might have been hurt, and if he had replied explaining that I would have apologised straight away. My difficulty is in him call in me a c* as to where to go with this. I did cancel the burial of the ashes and emailed him to say it was now up to him to organise with details of the funeral director. My DH and DCs and all went and did a graveside ceremony as I don't feel that the actual ashes themselves were important to me. We met my cousin and had a good day all in all. Anyway thanks for some different perspectives - any more would be appreciated (positive or negative)

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