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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

I don't want to go to my father's funeral

12 replies

SheepGoesBaa · 12/11/2019 16:52

He's not dead and he's not dying but let me explain.

My father was a drunk and a chest to my mother when I and my siblings were young. He moved out in the 90s to go and buy right next door to his mistress where she had his baby a few years before he moved out.

He never helped our mother. The times in the 80s meant a lot of women stayed at home to look after the home and children and thats what my mother did while my father earned a wage. The 80s when I was small was a good time. The early 90s through up so much from my parents.

He was hardly ever home except for coming home drunk late at night. He was abusive towards our mother. He was a cheat with a mistress but it wasn't just one woman either. His mistress was just too blind to see through him. He even chased after his mistress's sister at one stage.

After he moved out, I held up a good relationship with him. Well, it was as good as it could be. He was busy working. I was busy with school, and work and college etc. And we spoke and were on good terms when we saw it other and that was it.

Anyways, he is in his 60s now but he's more like a 90 year old man with hardly any teeth left in his head the last time I saw him. He wrecked his health with smoking and a 60 a day habit. He got into a lot of debt too but that was also his fault. He had it good. He bought his second house at a good time but he blew it all.

Basically when the time comes I don't want to go to his funeral. I don't want to see him again and that also means when he's dead in a coffin. I can't forgive what he did. I and my siblings grew up in poverty because he was too busy treating his whore to pub nights out and holidays. I can't forgive that and all that he's done. No body will understand poverty unless you've been in it. I can remember winters with no heating. If something broke it remained broken. We never would have eaten of it wasn't for the local shop and 'I owe you' book system for the locals.

I can't forgive my father for all the damage he did.

Me and mom were talking this morning and I mentioned it to her when the time comes I don't want to go to his funeral. She said something or but we have to for appearances sake.

There's another reason I don't want to go. I have a sister. She is a major drama queen and trouble maker. She fell out with the family and hassled us for a long time. I don't want to be in the same room as her.

OP posts:
Shoxfordian · 12/11/2019 17:09

If you don't want to go then you don't have to go
Do whatever feels ok for you

ConfCall · 12/11/2019 17:14

It is your decision. Don’t be coerced into going.

LauraPalmersBodybag · 12/11/2019 17:19

I’m estranged from my father for similar reasons op, and this is something I think about too.

When the time comes, I won’t be there. I hope no one shows up.

Flowers I’m sorry for what you’ve gone through

SingingLily · 12/11/2019 17:21

You don't have to go. Really, you don't. You owe this man nothing.

May I suggest that you have a look at the Stately Homes thread on the Relationships pages? You would find lots of support and good advice from others on there who understand.

💐

Kaykay06 · 12/11/2019 17:32

I won’t be going to my dads either, couldn’t care less but don’t waste your time thinking about him or being bitter just live your life and enjoy it as much as you can. It’s very hard (my dad abused us) and is a truly horrid man. Puts on a smarmy front to anyone else who knows him but treated us like shit.

SheepGoesBaa · 12/11/2019 17:35

I don't think about him. I don't think why he treated us the way he did while he had more love and respect for his mistress's daughters than he ever had for his own. I don't think about him or the neglect or the poverty he caused. I do live my live and I do so as best I can and as positively as I can. I njoy so much in life.

OP posts:
Thatnameistaken · 12/11/2019 17:43

No you don't have to go. My dad was an utter c*n't. Similar situation to yours. It was in the back of my mind, what would be expected when the time came. The time did come, and I didn't go. He was never there for me throughout my life so why should I be there in his death. My brother had started contact with him later in life but there was no expectation that I should attend, it was fine, I don't regret not going in the slightest.
Let your mother go if she wants but you dont have to.

BloodyCats · 12/11/2019 17:46

Well it’s up to you surely?

I wasn’t sure I wanted to go to my mums but it meant a lot to a couple of family members, so I went. It was fine. 30 minutes of my life I won’t get back but at least it keeps a simple relationship with my family members.

Your dad won’t have a clue if you go or not so just do whatever works for you.

EllaEllaE · 12/11/2019 17:47

Don't go. Look after yourself and those you love. Nothing good will come of you going and opening up old wounds.

DPotter · 12/11/2019 17:55

It's becoming a thing now, where the body is moved directly from the funeral home, straight to the crem, with no service at all. David Bowie's body was cremated in this way - even his wife didn't go.
The funeral is for the living, not the dead person. Do what feels right for you. The very last people you need to worry about is everyone else - "For appearances". If you do decide to go, go for yourself, maybe even go for your mother, but no one else.

Outsomnia · 12/11/2019 18:02

The man is still alive, and you obviously have deep issues concerning him and I don't blame you for this at all.

Try not to think about his death and his funeral right now. Make your mind up and if you do not want to attend don't, and stick to your decision.

I think your Mom is a saint really given what you have said.

I am guessing that you are a bit torn really, and that is understandable. Are you concerned about what others might think if you are not there or something like that, would it open other wounds?

Feign illness when the time comes if you do not want to go. There is probably nothing to be achieved by being blatant about not going really. After a day or two no one will give it much notice. Do what is best for you.

But park it for a while.

I sense a lot of pain in your post, and bless you but you are overthinking things right now I think. But given what you have written I don't blame you. Best of luck my love.

TARSCOUT · 16/11/2019 23:54

This could have been written by me 20 years ago. I did end up doing one hospital visit when he was dying,really because I didn't ever want to have any possibility of regretting not going. I did go to funeral. I am glad I did for the reasons I said.

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