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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

Strained relationship with my dad.. Still angry almost a year on..

3 replies

Maxine3477 · 01/11/2020 20:25

At the beginning of this year my dad made a false allegation about me to social services. He alleged that I had "battered" my child. This was completely untrue and he wasn't even there when the alleged incident happened. He was acting on third party hearsay from an other family member who WAS there and saw it was one single smack on the bum. (For a bit of context, my child had just kicked me in the stomach and spat at me, so I gave him a smack on the bum). I know smacking isn't great, and I'm not looking for any lectures on this.
For several years (long before my child was even born), my dad has blamed my siblings and I for ANYTHING that goes wrong in his life. None of us want anything to do with him for this reason. He's an emotionally abusive narcissist.
In recent years, he's blamed me because his alcoholic, drink driving, homophobic, racist bigot of an ex wife left him. She couldn't "deal" with my choice to marry someone from a different country. The "inconvenience and embarassment" of my choice apparantly caused more strain than their own marriage could take...He blamed me and my choice for her decision to hit the bottle and go drink driving. She also never "recovered" from her son coming out as gay when he was teenager. She was just vile, but my dad made excuses for her rather than see her for what she was. He even begged me to dump my fiance weeks before my wedding, saying he'd find me someone "better" (meaning, white British and rich). I refused and went ahead with my marriage. He didn't attend, as was brainwashed by his wife not to. They lived in a very affluent, rich area where people just don't marry "foreigners" or partners from "other religions" etc. It's all just too inconvenient and goes against the grain... Sigh.
As soon as I got pregnant his wife announced she wanted a divorce (obviously jealous that he was going to be a grandad).
He's always blamed me for this, as I was "too stubborn" and "know-it-all" to marry a "foreigner" when they asked me not to. My own married failed but for completely separate reasons. My husband is no longer in the picture.
Back to the allegation to SS, they found it completely baseless and told me they're treating it as "malicious". The preschool told me the same. They also spoke to SS and confirmed I'm a good mum and there are no concerns with my child. My child was also "interviewed" in age appropriate language and refuted the allegation, confirming it was single smack on the bum, nothing more and nothing less.
I told SS was kind of a person my dad is (and all the background of his naricssim and blaming me for all his own failings in life), they appeared sympathetic and asked me "do you want him in your life?" and "what value does he bring to your life?". I said no and nothing. The only reason I have forced myself to remain civil with him is because of my child who loves him. My child is very close to him and sees him a few times each week.
After what he did regarding the allegations told me dad I want absolutely nothing to do with him and no relationship with him, but will remain civil just for the sake of my child.
He claimed he was "only trying to help" as he thought I was under "stress" or "struggling" but this is bullshit. Prior to making the allegation he stormed into my house, didn't even have the decency to ask questions about what REALLY happened (bearing in mind he wasn't even THERE at the time!), screamed in my face about what a terrible mum I am, about how he's "gonna get custody" and how I "should never have been allowed to have a child" and how my child "deserves better than me". I also mentioned this to SS to refute the story that he was peddling about just being a concerned and well-meaning father just worried about his daughter. Thankfully, his vile tirade of this abuse was overheard by 2 workmen who were doing some work in my garden at the time. My dad didn't know he was overheard and went all quiet when I told him, and also told him that SS had been contacted by those 2 people sticking up for me.
Unfortunately, the rest of the family (except my siblings and their partners who know exactly what my dad is like and have nothing to do with him for this reason) don't have any grasp of WHY I'm still so hurt and angry about the whole thing after almost a year. They say ridiculous things like "he was just looking out for his grandchild" and "wants the best for you". He was looking out for himself. If he were looking out for his grandchild, why not have the decency to ask questions or check facts before going to SS with such a bullshit allegation? Surely if reporting someone to SS it's best to have all the facts to hand, not just some 3rd party chinese whisper version of events? Especially if you're trying to throw your only remaining daughter (other disowned him YEARS AGO) under the bus?
AIBU to be so angry?

OP posts:
TheAugusta · 01/11/2020 20:37

No, you are right to be angry - this is unforgivable. But this type of person should not be around your child, let alone several times a week. He sounds appalling.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 01/11/2020 20:45

You need to keep your child well away from your father now. He was not a good parent to you when you were growing up and he has not changed one bit since then.

Your child is relying on you as his/her parent for good judgment. This man also made malicious allegations about you re your child to the social services and yet this young person sees him a few times each week. Your mistake here was to at all allow your child to have any sort of relationship with his/her grandad. Who knows what he says about you as this child’s mother if you are not present?. He could well emotionally harm your child in not too dissimilar ways as to how you have been harmed. Not all people are emotionally safe to be around after all.

You also do not have a relationship with your dad and for bloody good reasons too. A good rule of thumb here is that if a parent or relative is too toxic, difficult or otherwise batshit for you to deal with, it’s the same deal for your child too. Saying that your child loves this person is really no basis at all for he/she to see him particularly as you do not. Why are you putting your child in front of what you yourself describe as an emotionally abusive narcissist?. Your child will not be aware of any and all manipulation here. He will not behave any better to and around your child this time around.

As for the rest of the wider family they are really only interested in saving their own necks and will act as flying monkeys. They are not interested in hearing your side of things so their opinion should be ignored. Do not have anything to do with them either.

Morechocmorechoc · 01/11/2020 20:54

One day he will turn your child against you. Cut contact now

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