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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

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Aibu to go NC with my mum?

12 replies

mrsMmrsImrsSSI · 28/05/2018 11:46

Sorry it’s going to be a long but trying to not dripfeed.

Throughout early years and teenage years I had a very volatile relationship with my mum, she was often violent during arguments (which often lead to me fighting back in my older years) and there was a period of nearly a year when I was 17 that I didn’t speak to her/moved out because I couldn’t cope with her mood swings. She was also like this with my dad pre-divorce. I am now in my mid 20’s btw, she is in her late 40’s.

We have been okay for a good few years now, we live quite far away and she has a good relationship with my children (but I never let them stay overnight) and she is insanely pleasant towards everyone these days.

I had my hen do at the weekend, naturally she was invited and had put together a quiz and made some food to bring - I was really happy with her effort and had been in contact with her a lot recently due to the impending wedding.

I traveled to where all my friends and family live for the hen do weekend. On the Friday night, I was supposed to be staying with a relative who accidentally put the latch on and I couldn’t get in with the keys. My phone had died and I couldn’t wake them. So I walked to my mums, I was very sorry that I had to wake them all up (midnight by this point) and she was originally fine with it. Then, she came into the living room at 5.30am where I was asleep and screamed at me that I was selfish and hadn’t changed since my teenage years. I left pretty quickly. When she arrived to the hen do that day, she demanded I apologised, which I did just to clear the air. As the day proceeded, she berated me in front of my friends (some are used to as have been friends for 10+ years and others aren’t familiar with it at all) she playfully smacked my head, but it was pretty hard and didn’t feel ‘playful’ at all. She was annoyed that I didn’t leave at the time she was leaving (despite all my guests still being there) so threw the book that had been bought by my bridesmaids with messages and photos in it. Others commented on her trying to shoot me down as I spoke, and I said to her firmly ‘stop trying to ruin my day or you need to leave’. I feel so downtrodden now, I can’t tell her she cannot come to the wedding (it will also mean my teenage siblings won’t attend as they are coming with my mum and step partner) and it would be very obvious and I imagine all day people would ask me where my mum was. DP and I are now worried about what her behaviour will be like at the wedding and I’m heavily considering going NC after it. Which will be incredibly hard because I do love her and when she’s good, we are good but I’m not sure I can take this anymore. Aibu to go NC? Has anyone done it successfully before?

OP posts:
finova · 28/05/2018 12:18

She sounds unhinged.
Maybe repost the above on the Relationships board.

I wonder if she might settle down when the spotlight is not on you. In my experience people like this can be worse when the attention is on others eg new house/baby/wedding etc

Picklepickle123 · 28/05/2018 12:24

Echoing the above, some parents can't stand the spotlight being on their children and start playing up. Seems like she is falling into bad habits as your wedding approaches. I would say to univite her from the wedding and ask friend(s) to pick up the teenage siblings. If they have known you for 10+ years, they will understand the situation with your mother and will hopefully be accomodating. The only risk is that she will turn up anyway!

mrsMmrsImrsSSI · 28/05/2018 12:54

The wedding is in 2 weeks, so the fall out would be too great and really affect the day. She has booked a hotel, booked time off, etc. She would definitely turn up and make a scene.

DP agrees with the theory of being jealous because I am in the limelight at the moment, I think that’s quite possibly the reason, I just don’t know how to handle it or if I SHOULD be handling it.

OP posts:
mrsMmrsImrsSSI · 28/05/2018 13:01

Is it possible to have the thread moved?

OP posts:
FizzyWizzyFlash · 28/05/2018 13:10

Cousin of mine is leaving her mum in the care of distant relatives because she's volatile like this.

It really breaks her heart that she'll miss out on the wedding but neither her or siblings or father know what mood she'll be in and when it's bad it's bad.

As hard as it is, I would uninvite her and send her on a spa day or something. Spa day to make up distract for her not being at the wedding. Not that you have anything to make up for.

Gosh OP you seem to be holding your shit together pretty well. I hope it works out.

I don't think your day should be tainted by your mum and it's not fair on your husband to be either.

Picklepickle123 · 28/05/2018 14:54

Is there a trusted family member you could use to control your mum? She could provide damage control and appease her so hopefully the behaviour doesn't get out of hand.

finova · 28/05/2018 22:46

I think if you report your own thread it can be moved.

I’d invite but manage her. Do you have any close friends who can keep tabs on her a bit? Might be less volatile if neutral people.

Mintchocmummy · 29/05/2018 00:17

Would it be possible to just casually keep your distance on the day? After all you’ll be so busy talking to guests that you won’t get more than 10mins with anyone. Set her some tasks to do on the day so that she feels important and can congratulate herself whilst also keeping her occupied.

My narcissistic mother didn’t like the attention being on her daughter either. We ended up NC after she picked a fight when I was heavily pregnant. That was 7yr ago.

It’s a very toxic attitude and she will never change. A shame but I know it’s better and more peaceful for me, DH and DD (who she’s never met) not to have her in our lives.

LornaMumsnet · 29/05/2018 13:35

We're just moving this to relationships at the OP's request. Flowers

Aprilshouldhavebeenmyname · 29/05/2018 13:38

I am nc with my toxic dm.
She also didn't want me having a successful relationship. ...

category12 · 29/05/2018 13:47

Your best bet is to get some people on mum-watch, cos it sounds like uninviting her is not a goer. So a few trusted people to dance attendance on her and pay her loads of attention, absolutely kill her with kindness and keep her away from you.

category12 · 29/05/2018 13:49

And no, going no-contact isn't unreasonable at all.

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