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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

Letting it slide.

5 replies

Janebel · 16/05/2021 13:05

My parents divorced when I was 8years old , my father had access of us until I was 14/ 15. For whatever reason that stopped , things were very volatile between them . In my head I remember it was all about them not what was best for their 4 children.

My eldest sister who is 2 years older clashed with my mum big style, ( mum was not the easiest person) she literally ran away and then lived with our dad. All I remember is visits stopped, social services were back and forth to our house. I remember one day my dad was waiting for me on the school run home, I just ran , I don't know why, he was my dad but I did.

Hence I never saw my dad again, even though we lived in the same town until I moved at 20. He died when I was 24. He never tried to contact me, I found out after he had been ill on and off for some time but I wasn't contacted until it was to late.

This is when myself and my sister came back into each others lives. I never went to the funeral, I couldn't stand and grieve in public for a man I didn't know for the last 10 years. I did my grieving in private.

My sister is in my life now. She tried with our mum after dad died because our Aunty told her to, I feel she and my mum never made the effort so it was hard going. I tried to maintain a relationship with my mum, she was hard work but she was my mum and all I knew parent wise. I have always had comments off my sister 'your her favourite ' which to be honest pisses me off because she has no idea what I had to de with when she left home, in my final years of school I was only there half the time because I would be at home looking after younger siblings.

Our mum died last year very suddenly, I was devastated as was my other siblings.
I felt like there was no understanding from my sister as to why we were so grieve stricken and still are to a point.

My brother who saw my mum everyday is still struggling, I spoke to my sister the other day about him, he's depressed , anxious. I said I'm not surprised. My sisters view is why did we put up with my mum for so long? I try to explain she was all we had parent wise and she had my dad. I don't mean that in a nasty way .

Anyway, the other day I get I text saying. "I don't like it when you say to me you had dad, you could've spoke to him you chose not to.it makes him out he didn't care about his children which is not the case.

I'm really hurt by that comment. To me I was the child. I left home when I was 17 , he never tried to contacted me. To me he should of tried harder, and when I came of age he could of tried but he never did.

I messaged back with an apology , saying I was only trying to explain but I did say I was the child back then I no child should have to choose between parents.

Whats made me more angry is her own children dont see their dad so is that their fault!!

How do I let this anger go that I feel by this comment? I don't want to argue , I've said the past is the past. I'm 42 now , our dad has been gone for nearly 18years , our mum has gone. I don't want to keep raking over the past there's no point.

OP posts:
Selkie1961 · 16/05/2021 13:13

Would your sister go to a family therapy session with you?

It sounds like you all had a tough time when your parents divorced. All of you. Even your mum, divorced with 4 dc, i cant handle two. Then your dad was sick. I dont think there is any need to blame anybody but you need yr sister to get on board with that. You are young to have lost both parents so a relationship with a sister would be worth a lot but only if you dont upset each other. I would want to do family therapy in yr shoes.

Iampicklerick · 16/05/2021 13:25

I have a similar situation with a fractured family, separations and early deaths, no one making effort to see grieving children etc.

I think that neither of you are “right”. You both have your own versions of what happened and made your own choices at the time, as children and with your own issues. Nothing can change that now. Some understanding on both sides is needed because there is resentment brewing at how you both chose to handle the situation and again, you were children - you did the best you could with what you had. Adults in our family also try to say “you never reached out” er yeah I was 12 so travelling 8 miles to see you on my own wasn’t the easiest Grin. I simply don’t see those family members now and it suits me just fine Smile

It seems there is blame being thrown around and that will not help either of you. I agree that some therapy together or separately will help here.

Selkie1961 · 16/05/2021 13:35

Yes, what you and your sister have in common is that what happened to your family caused you both pain. You dont have to have exactly the same interpretation of who caused pain to whom. It was very difficult for both of you.

Janebel · 16/05/2021 13:50

I hear what what you've all said thank you. Therapy would not work, we live hundreds of miles from each other.

I just want to live in the present, not keep raking over past issues. I have to live with how my life panned out, I just don't need it thrown in my face at every opportunity.

I realise we see things differently. I choose not to say things that I know would probably hurt the other. Whats to gain only resentment and arguments.

OP posts:
Selkie1961 · 16/05/2021 14:05

I hear you. Therapy isnt always possible. My mother wouldn't agree to it, and also, it's mostly geared at pre-court rulings it seems.

Maybe start by saying that you are two individuals who experienced the same storm differently but that you really want her to be in your future.

Hooefully she'll understand that two people are never going to have exactly the same interpretation of anything.

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