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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

Should I continue with cutting my mother out of my life?

54 replies

Storminateacup1 · 26/11/2018 18:27

Hi all, first time in this board but it fits my issue best.

Today was the day where I finally cut all contact with my mother and I’m struggling with it.

I’ll give you a brief insight to our relationship, and I’ll try not to drip feed.

She had me as a teenager and has always made a point of reminding me I was a mistake, but she kept me. She feels I should be grateful to her for being alive.

She always says what a horrible child I was, I had colic and cried for 3 months and that was the start of my ‘nastiness’ according to her. It has gotten progressively worse in her eyes and she likes to tell everyone she meets how horrible I was, how much I did wrong, and how hard I made her life in comparison to my sister.

I wasn’t a particularly challenging teenager, I didn’t drink, smoke or do drugs, sneak out of the house or let boys in, I didn’t steal, break the rules or do much but answer back as they were forever shouting at me. Yet she tells everyone what a nightmare I was.

As an adult she belittles me at every given opportunity and makes me feel like crap. She’s even started to call my DS names such as ‘little shit’ and manipulates him into giving her hugs and kisses.

She’s forever putting everyone else around her down, even sluts towards my DH despite me telling her numerous times to stop. She tells me I’m a ‘drama-queen’ and over reacting as it’s a joke and I should instantly take it as one even if we’re upset.

She muscles in on everything, and demands eternal gratitude.
She insisted on buying my wedding dress, but wouldn’t let me have any say in it, to the point I went along with what she wanted even though I felt disgusting and it was painful to wear.
More recently it was DS’s Christening and instead of letting me have a small gathering like we wanted, she hired a hall in my name, ordered an £80 cake which I was left paying for as I didn’t find out until it was made, and ordered a load of decorations in a theme I would never have gone for.
She then proceeded to invite all of her family and friends including her NDN who I don’t even know.
She was very angry, or so I found out today, when I didn’t publicly thank her during the party for all of her hard work, even though I did in person.

She has a horribly short fuse and shouts and swear when anything that upsets her comes up. We (Me, and my M & F) were having a discussion about a house she wants to buy and do up the other day and she wasn’t happy when my F said no as he’s end up doing all the work. She shouted and said ‘What’s the alternative?! Leaving the money to that thing?!’ Pointing at me.
Apparently this was a joke, but after telling her how upset I was she ranted about how horrible I am to her and that I’m always looking for an argument and looking for ways to upset her, she didn’t even say sorry until I said I was done with her. Even then it was ‘Sorry, now I want a sorry for not thanking me at the Christening party!’ Confused

She has been physically and emotionally abusive all my life, but now I have DS I can see how much I would never want him to feel like I do, and truly I want her away from him. She has an awful drinking problem and her dislike (hate?) for me seems to be worse then.

My F has said today that I need to get help from a professional as I ‘act so hard done by’ and she ‘meant nothing’ by her ‘that thing!’ comment.
He often excusing her behaviour and playing go between on her behalf. She’s only apologised to me once in my life, and that was after she ruined my hen do by getting stinking drunk.
She does love DS, even if she is manipulative and often says things like ‘stupid mummy doing...’ and ‘Oi! Stop being a little shit’ to him, even though I’ve told her time and time again not to swear at him or around him.
She likes to buy gifts for us, mainly so she can tell others she’s done so from what I can see, but the other day she bought me some jumpers and tops (they’re a lot bigger than I am, so part of me thinks a slight dig but that is probably me being sensitive) so she shows love in some way, but I don’t know how much longer I can have her as part of my life.

If anybody could give me any other perspective or advice that’d be lovely. Thank you.

OP posts:
milkmoustache · 26/11/2018 18:30

Oh my God. She sounds like a horror show. She has given you so many reasons, over such a long time, to just cut all contact. It won't be easy but it has to be better than enduring all her shit.

Alaria4 · 26/11/2018 18:35

OP. I'm sorry to hear all of what you've written. She sounds absolutely horrendous.

I'm glad though that you do not want to be putting your DS through any of what you have experienced. Often when people who have suffered abuse via parents, it is only when they become parents themselves that they truly understand the extent of just how abusive their parents were.

Don't let the cycle continue, you have every right to go N/C if this is how you feel and what you want.

Sorry that your father also seems to enable your mothers disgusting behaviour and attitude towards you. I'd never dream of speaking to my DCs like that.

Flowers
Aussiebean · 26/11/2018 18:39

Nobody can tell you to go NC , but I am NC from my mother and she has done less then yours, but there are definite similarities.

Deciding that a three month old is acting on purpose to hurt them is one I’m familiar with. Also the idea that they gave up everything because of me, as if it is my fault she decided to have unprotected sex.

You sound like the scapegoat and your F an enabler.

Have a read of the stately homes thread and look at the resources in the first posts. It might help you.

But ultimately, you are now a mother and your job is to look after and protect your baby. Calling him a little shit is not on and she needs to be kept away. One day he will understand what that means and it will be crushing.

Storminateacup1 · 26/11/2018 18:41

@milkmoustache & @alaria4
Thank you, both of you. I just feel guilty as DS is only two and loves his Granny and Grandad. He’ll eventually not remember them I know, but my F does love him, as does my M in her own way.

DH has been telling me for a while to bite to bullet as I’ve been toying with it for ages, but I didn’t have the gall as once I’ve gone NC I’ll have no other family to help if something went wrong.
DH’s family are 200+ miles away.

OP posts:
YellowMellow15 · 26/11/2018 18:42

Please go nc. You're life, ds and dh will thank you for it. You are not in the wrong so dont feel guilty.

cojmum · 26/11/2018 18:42

I went NC with my M about 2 years ago and have never looked back. She didn't bring anything positive to my life and it doesn't sound like yours does either.

AtrociousCircumstance · 26/11/2018 18:46

She sounds horrendous - fucking awful. You’ve already stuck it for far too long. Your DS may love them now but the ‘little shit’ comments and the belittling of you and he willing confine and worsen and foul up his childhood too.

Stay NC for yourself and for him.

So sorry you had to cope with that toxic, hateful, aggressive and inadequate ‘parenting’. Free yourself without a doubt.

Storminateacup1 · 26/11/2018 18:49

@Aussiebean

Thank you for your reply and I’m sorry you’ve been through similar issues with your M.

I can’t believe anybody thinks a 3 month old is out to get them!

I know I have to protect DS from her horrible behaviour, and I fully intend to, the part I’m struggling with is that it seems cruel on my F to take that joy from his life.
He only has me, DS, my sister and my M in his life. He really does dote on him.

OP posts:
fruitshot · 26/11/2018 18:50

She sounds vile.

What's she like with your sibling? And what's their relationship like with her?

Blood really is just that. Blood. It doesn't mean that you have to ever put up with someone being that vile to you.

Alaria4 · 26/11/2018 18:51

OP
You'd feel worse if he had to endure even a fraction of what you have had to. (although I understand how you feel)

If anything went wrong you'd find a way without them.

You have the support of your DH which is great.

You can do it, set yourself free OP. Flowers

Ratbagcatbag · 26/11/2018 18:51

I went NC 14 months ago. Different reasons to yours but the relief is immense.

Just think, if a work colleague or some stranger spoke to you in that way you'd expect them to be dealt with. And at the moment you say she loves your DS. That's until he doesn't conform to her idea of perfect.

It's hard, I get it; it took me years. But I don't regret it.

I too get the lack of family thing, I'm the same and I'm a single parent. It's still easier than the guilt, crappy behaviour etc. I mourned the loss of a relationship that I never had. Not the one I'd decided to walk away from.

Good luck. Xx

Storminateacup1 · 26/11/2018 18:52

@Atrociouscircumstance

The worst thing is that as both my M&F’s mother’s and father’s were awful too, they feel they’ve been fantastic parents. Hmm

OP posts:
Storminateacup1 · 26/11/2018 19:01

@fruitshot

My sister live with them and works with my M so their relationship is mostly ok, though she belittles her like she does me.

OP posts:
Aussiebean · 26/11/2018 19:01

Don’t feel too sorry for your F. Read up on ‘the enabler’. He has made his choices.

Storminateacup1 · 26/11/2018 19:05

Thanks @Aussiebean, I’ll go have a look after bedtime :)

OP posts:
Storminateacup1 · 26/11/2018 19:08

@ratbagcatbag - what your describing sounds like how I feel atm. I’ve been crying all day and I don’t know why.

I’m so glad going NC worked for you, I imagine it’s been a weight off your shoulders.

I’m hoping I can avoid and ignore as much as possible, but she’s the type to turn up at my house or work and cause a scene. I’m a bit terrified she’ll do just that.

OP posts:
Storminateacup1 · 26/11/2018 19:11

@cojmum and yellowmellow15 thank you for your kind words and experienced advice, I’m glad that it has truly worked for some people and I hope I don’t cave from being shamed into going NC.
I’m a much stronger person with other people, but with her it’s strange. I feel like a kid.

OP posts:
RandomMess · 26/11/2018 19:29

Get both of your parents out of your life SadAngry

madmum5811 · 26/11/2018 19:33

Went NC a decade ago, son hardly remembers her now. I still panic if I think I see her in the distance. Moved house, ex directory, phone block, but I know I will get a card from her at xmas. If OH sees it he will bin it for me without saying anything.

madmum5811 · 26/11/2018 19:34

Oh and your FAther is an enabler, my father was sorry at the end when he was dying apparently.

Storminateacup1 · 26/11/2018 19:54

Thanks for your advice @randommess & @madmum5811, I really appreciate it.
I think maybe I’m worried about my Gran not speaking to me and other such things because of it too.

Has anybody had any luck with just their F having contact when they’ve been together?

OP posts:
poglets · 26/11/2018 20:00

It will be painful but you need to cut them off. Your mother and father are just as bad as each other. The mother is abusive and the father enables by not protecting you.

How many more important moments in your life will you allow her to tarnish? How much more opportunity will you give an abuser to damage your son? She has damaged you and none of it is your fault. Take control and go low contact, even better is no contact.

So many resources in here to find ways to disengage - Stately Homes thread is great.

Storminateacup1 · 26/11/2018 20:04

Thank you @poglets.

I know that I need to to carry on with this I just feel bad for my dad (which I know I shouldn’t, especially after him telling me to seek professional help earlier today) as he has so little family.

OP posts:
DwayneDibbly · 26/11/2018 20:12

But he's relying on you to feel bad, don't you think? He probably is quite aware of how your Mum makes you feel but if he minimises it and makes it your fault, the status quo can be maintained and he doesn't have to do anything as bold as stand up to her.

OP, your mother sounds fucking dreadful. This isn't you, it's them. You're absolutely doing the right thing.

RandomMess · 26/11/2018 20:15

Your DF lets you take the rap so he doesn't have to, he throws you under the bus every time!!!!

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