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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

Please help - just found out FIL is a paedophile

665 replies

anon4 · 10/02/2008 15:44

I am in a desperate situation. Have just found that FIL is a convicted paedophile and I am 5 months pregnant. The whole of DH's family is deeply dysfunctional. I am already (within days of this shock) being put under outrageous pressure from DH's entire extended family to forgive and help FIL's attempts at rehabilitation. However my absolute gut instinct is to have absolutely nothing further to do with them and not to let our future daughter anywhere near them. I couldn't forgive myself if anything would happen, and I put mis-placed 'family loyalty' above the safety of our daughter. My protective maternal instincts are in overdrive. DH is split, and wants to see if we can work on compromises such as allowing them to see her with us present. I cannot even stomach that, and don't want her to be near these people. We are both in deep distress. I don't know what to do: follow my instincts but will bust up my DH's family, or bow to pressure to allow them some sort of access to our daughter?

OP posts:
PaulaYatesbiggestFan · 10/02/2008 22:08

hunker no it is not like that.....

PaulaYatesbiggestFan · 10/02/2008 22:08

go on pan spill....

pinkmook · 10/02/2008 22:09

edam - you are right - it is a personal choice

MAMAZON · 10/02/2008 22:10

they are Hunker.

as i say, its the same as rape and Dv stats. you can never get any conclusive info as such a large proportion goes un reported.

MAMAZON · 10/02/2008 22:11

Old root - you probably wouldn't know anyone abused in their family. its hardly something you share across a candle lit supper.

seeker · 10/02/2008 22:12

Pan and KM - do you never leave your children alone with their fathers, then?
I can't bear the fact that so many children are growing up in a climate of fear. Yes, abuse happens. But usually it doesn't. Car crashes happen. But usually they don't. It is SO wrong to tell children, overtly or covertly that the world is a threatening and dangerous place.

I am very sorry that some people on here have had hideous experiences - and I can understand how it colours their child raising. But I fell off a horse when I was a child, fractured my skull and was in a coma for a week. I still let my daughter ride. It's hard to do, but I do it because she has her life to lead - and it's her life, not mine. It's so important not to let damage go down the generations.

hunkermunker · 10/02/2008 22:13

(Seeker, Pan is a man)

PaulaYatesbiggestFan · 10/02/2008 22:14

pan is a man seeker

OLDroot · 10/02/2008 22:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Pan · 10/02/2008 22:14

to take my/dd's mum's line isn't a PANIC, or to live in FEAR. It's sane, sensible precaution that my dd, or anyone else's won't be disdavantaged or emotionally scarred by - nothing less, or more.

PaulaYatesbiggestFan · 10/02/2008 22:14

seeker i cannot believe your horse analogy

MAMAZON · 10/02/2008 22:15

but to add (again, i know, sorry) ooldroot i agree with you.

i have worked with both peadophiles adn teh victims of child abuse.

i have had to sit in on an interview with 3 & 6 year old sisters who had been abused by their father and neighbour. listening and making sense of what the plat therapist was getting them to describe through play.
it was horrific and i went straight home to hug my son tighter than i had ever done before.

BUT knowing what dangers are out there doesn't make me view all men as abusers. in fact what it does give me is the information and understanding to make rational informed decisions.

i will not allow my children to grow up fearful of men

snowleopard · 10/02/2008 22:15

As another childhood sexual abuse survivor, I think anon has absolutely every right to deny this man any access at all. Anon, remember though that you are pg and feelings will understandably be running extremely high. I don't mean this isn't important, but pg hormones will make it seem terrifying and unmanageable but actually I think you will be able to do it. Keep talking to DH - it's excellent that he is divided and can see your side - that shows a lot of maturity on his part that he's not just out drinking or refusing to countenance the whole thing at this point. Keep telling him you don't think you can bear the thought of your child being near FIL ever and you need his help in coming up with some suggestions for how to handle the pair of them. Keep saying it - you haven't done anything wrong; FIL has; you have every right to feel this way; FIL has no right to see his grandchild if you don't want him to. I myself no longer speak to my dad and have made sure he doesn't even know that I have a DS. Do I feel bad about that? - no - he messed up and put himself in a position where he cannot be in our lives, his problem.

However. I do want to say that avoiding all men is deeply worrying to me. You are never going to know who all abusers are and they could be women - it's unlikely, but so what - if your aim is to avoid all abuse, then logically you're going to have to avoid all people.

Also, it will mean you end up with DCs who aren't confident on their own and don't give off confidence and will have picked up on your terrors, and that is dangerous, because one day they are going to be on their own, one day. Far, far better to know that danger is everywhere and tell your DCs (when you think they are ready) about the risk, about the sanctity and privacy of their own body and how they can tell you if anything uncomfortable ever happens - even if they are told it's a secret. That will give them power and even then if abuse does begin, it will be caught. Yes I know you can't bear to think of your own DC being abused but it can happen and you can't bury your head in the sand.

I was abused by my dad and another man. I don't trust my mum - but not because the abuse happened, but because she turned a blind eye at first and also (with the other man) let him into our home again after it happened. Your DC won't distrust and reject you if it happens and you react the right way and take action. Only if you don't. And many, many, many of us have survived it and are OK. I'm not saying sexual abuse is fine - it's evil and terrible - but as with terrorism, avoiding any risk at all costs is ruining your DCs' freedom for the sake of safety. We all need to be vigilant all the time and realise it can come from anywhere - including your own partner - so trying to make it 100% impossible is ridiculous.

snowleopard · 10/02/2008 22:16

Sorry that was so long! Something I feel strongly about.

Maidamess · 10/02/2008 22:16

Then why did you say they will probably meet a potential abuser every single day?

VictorianSqualor · 10/02/2008 22:16

Well said snowleopard.

PaulaYatesbiggestFan · 10/02/2008 22:17

why is it that people work in the field or have experienced abuse all share roughly the same view??

have i heard one abuse VICTIM on this thread saying 'yeah go ahead?'

sprogger · 10/02/2008 22:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

KerryMum · 10/02/2008 22:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SorenLorensen · 10/02/2008 22:17

Good post, snowleopard.

VeniVidiVickiQV · 10/02/2008 22:18

No-one at all beety? Really?

KerryMum · 10/02/2008 22:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

seeker · 10/02/2008 22:18

It wasn't a horse analogy - it was a fractured skull and a coma analogy. Why is that a problem?

Sorry, Pan - please substitute "father" for "uncle" in your case.

seeker · 10/02/2008 22:20

No, Kerrymum - but they ahve said that all men might be abusers and children should not be left alone with them.

MAMAZON · 10/02/2008 22:20

because its quite possible theyw ill maidamess

in teh que at sainsbury's, at the swimming pool, at thepark, on a bus.....anywhere

but the abuser will be unlikely to do anything more than brush past them in the street.

once you acknowledge and recognise that there are dangers all around you and yoru children every day you can asses what risks and dangers are worth worrying about.

someone watching them on a swing would make me, an informed adult uncomfortable. but my children would be totally unaware of it. they would come to no harm and would be perfectly safe.

i wouldn't however feel comfortable leaving them in the care of a lone adult i did not know very well for any lengthof time.

(and i say adult as women are capable of abuse as well)

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