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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

Not so 'D' F.....

4 replies

slingingtothemusicinmyhead · 07/10/2018 21:04

My parents split when I was ten. The 'split' seemed to take about ten years of psychological warfare.

My DF spent the whole of that time slagging my mother off. It's been getting steadily worse over the last few years. Getting to the point that he's making her out to be an alcoholic, murdering psychopath. She was none of those things. She slapped me once and still feels guilty about that and I've never seen her raise her hand to anyone. What I remember is that there was violence in our home and it came from him. I was terrified of him. He denies my version of events, just flat out denies it.

Think forcibly rubbing a toddlers nose into the carpet when something had been spilt, for example.

He won't drop it though. Just goes on and on about stuff that happened decades ago and he is always the victim.

Now he thinks he can babysit my daughter. My DM does so regularly you see.

It's a shame because we did have a reasonable relationship until I had my daughter when he seemed to lose the plot. He means well but he just doesn't seem to be able to get out of this hole. He's still obsessed with hating my mother for leaving him.

How the fuck do I manage him?

OP posts:
purpleface · 07/10/2018 21:29

No advice I'm afraid, but didn't want to read and run. That sounds terribly difficult for you. Flowers

It sounds like he can't face the truth about himself, and your mum is a convenient scapegoat.

slingingtothemusicinmyhead · 07/10/2018 21:34

Just can't be bothered with it anymore.

Who would leave a child with someone with that history?

OP posts:
MyShinyWhiteTeeth · 07/10/2018 21:43

I've found being very honest and calmly saying 'No, that's not what happened. I remember exactly what happened. You did this... you then.... and then you.... I clearly remember what happened so I'm not going to get into an argument about it.

I do this on the phone though.

My parents seem to believe what they are saying and once proved wrong with no comeback - will drop it then go quiet for a few months before trying to come back with the same old story.

babybirdivy · 08/10/2018 21:33

Wow! @slingingtothemusicinmyhead

Our situations are completely mirrored- even the example of rubbing the toddlers face in the shoe! Thought I stumbled across my sisters account until you mentioned children.

My Dad says what he says so he can sleep at night. He also conveniently doesn't remember how abusive he was to us- made me scared and distrustful of men till I met my DP and greatly contributed to my anxiety and depression. Your Dad is probably the same and probably doesn't want to acknowledge or face the abuse he has caused ( not that I have sympathy- pretending it didn't happen doesn't make you forget the years of misery).

Another part of me thinks it's another form of abuse- gaslighting and making you think that the way you were abused was exaggerated or made up. I have a better relationship with my Dad now that I'm an adult but will never forgive him for what he did - though similarly to you he dodges the subject and tries to blame on my mum.

What works for me is explicitly telling him how uncomfortable he makes you feel when he talks about your mum and how childish and petty he seems. You're right not to drop it, he needs to be reminded of what he did and how that affected you . Just because he wants to pretend it didn't happen to make him feel better doesn't mean he can disregard the shit he put you through.

In regards to calling him out OP, you sound like you do what I do already which personally works well for me.

You should leave your child with who you feel most comfortable with. If you don't trust him, then don't leave your child. His feelings aren't what's important at the end of the day and shouldn't be put before your concerns over your child. I don't have a child, but am unsure if I would want my Dad to be unsupervised - even if it's been a long time and he's changing for the better.

Hope that helps x

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