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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

My mum died and my bf sodded off to a festival

208 replies

Yellowfleur · 28/05/2023 16:54

My head is all fuzzy. My mum died on Friday following a year-long struggle with cancer. I can't even begin to imagine how to go on. I had my sister with me, but she had to go home to her own family. The funeral will be at the end of next week.

Maybe I'm fixating on this issue because it stops me from thinking about my mum. She lived with me. I'm a single mother and she helped me raise my DD. We were the best team ever. A little trio of women who got on so well. We were each other's world. The last year of chemo, sickness, surgeries, and then end-of-life care has been just so so painful.

In the last few weeks, I've also had massive issues with an ex. I've had to press charges, but he's now skipped the country. I'm scared of him. I'm getting nothing but emails, messages, and voicemails from him. Thousands of words, hours of voice recordings. I'm scanning them for threats and keeping the police informed, but they can't do much. They have the papers to section him, but he's not in the country now. It's a nightmare.

So, my current relationship is only 7 months old. I met him and he knew about my mum and that I was caring for her. Our relationship has been committed and serious and loving, but also quite 'light' because I haven't been able to give him much time. We see each other once or twice a week. Sometimes more, sometimes less, depending on the situation with Mum and finding a babysitter, etc for DD.

We all knew she was going to die. And when she did, on Friday, I told him and he said all the right words. But then he said, "Oh, I have tickets for a festival this weekend. I'm sorry about that. I feel bad about it, but I feel as though I need to go". And off he went. He then texted me a couple of times to check in on me. But nothing between yesterday morning and this morning. He left me for 24 hours and didn't ask how I was.

I don't know whether or not I'm overreacting because my emotions are all over the place. But I feel disappointed. My female friends have all been great. I know that he's not particularly good with words. And he's never been through anything like this before. I've explained what's been going on with my ex. He asked if I wanted him to call him. I said no, as I don't think it would help. He asked if I wanted to see him tomorrow. He's not been an out-and-our arsehole... but I was kind of expecting more from him. On social media, he's been posting photos of the festival, and it looks like he's been having a bloody good time.

He never met my mother if that has anything to do with it.

What do you think?

OP posts:
FrostyFifi · 28/05/2023 18:43

OP I think you've seen how this man reacts when things are serious and you really need him. His priorities will always be himself and his own fun. I'd say not someone to build a life with long-term.

JulieHoney · 28/05/2023 18:44

I’ll be honest, OP, I could barely register DH being around in the 72 hours after my mum died. My world had just exploded and I wasn’t able to think about anything else. In fact I resented each day dawning for carrying me further away from a world with her in it.

So while yes, he’s behaving like a casual boyfriend rather than a partner, how much impact it would have on you isn’t necessarily what you think.

He’s young, has no kids, hasn’t experienced loss, only sees you once or twice a week for seven months and has never met your Mum, whom you live with.

He just doesn’t get it.

Don’t make any decisions now, because you need to focus on just getting through these days with your daughter.

Sending you so much sympathy.

Georgyporky · 28/05/2023 18:45

I'm sorry for your loss.
It sounds like a very casual relationship. 7 months & he's never met your DM, or presumably your child?

I'd let him go; the "crappy French festivals" say a lot.

CountessBathorysBeautySecrets · 28/05/2023 18:46

OP, he doesn't seem that bothered about your grief. He may be a nice enough guy but even though it's only been 7 months I'd expect better. I'd wish him the best and let him go. Don't bother settling for just okay.

nevynevster · 28/05/2023 18:47

Yellowfleur · 28/05/2023 17:52

Also, he's been to three festivals over the last three weekends. We're not talking Glastonbury. We're talking crappy French festivals with about a thousand people and a load of bands nobody has ever heard of.

He's a bit younger than me and has no kids. He has never experienced grief. That's true.

Well if he's French these bands may be really significant for him. It sounds like a way better festival than Glasto IMHO.
I think honestly at 7 months, given he's not met your mum, it's not such a big deal. He may not appreciate the full impact on you given it sounds like you have your sis and maybe he's not seen that side of you much.

I think just keep it light for the next couple of months whilst you are grieving and see how you feel in a while. It's just all too raw right now I am sure.

Sorry for your loss, she sounds lovely

Purplecatshopaholic · 28/05/2023 18:48

I’m so sorry about your mum. I don’t think your bf has done anything wrong here. You’ve only been together a short time, he never met your mum, and he has texted to check on you. He hasn’t been through similar and isn’t sure how to deal, and had a prior arrangement. You need to separate out your (relatively new) relationship from your grief. Maybe take a break and just focus on you and your DD for now? Really sorry for your loss.

Yellowfleur · 28/05/2023 18:49

He didn't meet my mother because she was so ill. We're in France. I haven't met any of his family either. He's met my daughter twice. So we usually met at his house or went out.

OP posts:
SuperGinger · 28/05/2023 18:49

Sorry for you loss, but seven months is nothing in relationship terms. He probably feels you need some time to process what has happened

Basilthymerosemary · 28/05/2023 18:50

Sorry about your loss OP. You say it was a serious relationship, but how can it be if he hadn't even met your mother who lived with you?
I think the relationship isn't balanced and if he is younger than you, he doesn't have the emotional maturity to realise what you need.

Don't throw him away yet- you need to talk and find out where you actually stand. Are you on the same page? Especially moving forward and letting him build a relationship with your daughter.

BingandSulaandFlop · 28/05/2023 18:50

I'm so sorry for your loss. I can absolutely see why you're upset about this. I don't want to make this all about me, but by way of comparison, my dad died when I was 9 months into a relationship. I would have been devastated if my boyfriend had done that. As it happens we were in different cities by necessity but I still knew I could rely on him. This man is not worth any more of your time.

FatCatBum · 28/05/2023 18:51

Truthfully I wouldn't be able to get over the lack of support

Dintananadinta · 28/05/2023 18:52

If he's not experienced grief then he will have no idea. You knew she was going to die so perhaps he thought you'd come to terms with it during the process. He also has never met your mother.

bloodywhitecat · 28/05/2023 18:55

I don't understand what impact the fact that he's never met her mum has in the situation, surely it is the OP that the boyfriend should be supporting through these early days? Why does he need to have met her mum to do that? It's her mum, not her great aunt Glenda from across the other side of the world.

Mirabai · 28/05/2023 18:56

He's my BF.

No he’s not. He would be there with you if he was. Life shows you who you can rely on.

CountessBathorysBeautySecrets · 28/05/2023 18:56

bloodywhitecat · 28/05/2023 18:55

I don't understand what impact the fact that he's never met her mum has in the situation, surely it is the OP that the boyfriend should be supporting through these early days? Why does he need to have met her mum to do that? It's her mum, not her great aunt Glenda from across the other side of the world.

Yeah, I agree. Shows you what incredibly low expectations some people have.

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 28/05/2023 18:58

I'm so sorry for the loss of your lovely mum Flowers

What struck me is that you say you speak multiple times a day but only see each other once or twice a week. I think when the majority of your relationship is by text or phone call, you don't always see the bad bits of each other, because you can so easily hide them.

In a bad mood? Don't answer the phone. Pissed off? You can eye roll to your hearts content and the other person has no idea. A text has upset you? You can just ignore it for a while until you calm down, or say something totally different to what your face is saying etc. It's very easy to build a false sense of closeness with someone you rarely see - and I'd say twice a week is pretty casual in relationship terms too, especially after seven months.

That all said, I would expect a boyfriend to cancel a generic festival to stay with me in your circumstances, and it would likely be a dealbreaker to me if they didn't, as it says a lot about who they are as a person if they can fuck off abroad when their girlfriend has just lost their mum.

cstaff · 28/05/2023 18:58

I think the worst part about this is the fact that he didn't even offer to stay or ask you what you wanted of him.

You may well have told him to go anyway if he had but the statement from him just announcing where he was going was thoughtless.

Sorry about your mum.

Hamfish · 28/05/2023 19:01

If he’s met your daughter twice and you’ve only met around once a week you’ve probably seen each other 30 times max. I’d assume it’s just a casual relationship

I’m really sorry for your loss, I’m sure your mum was wonderful x

Justalittlebitduckling · 28/05/2023 19:01

I think this is when you decide if he is a potential future husband, and the answer is no.

Im so sorry for your loss.

Otterseatpuffinsdontthey · 28/05/2023 19:02

💐 For the loss of your mum 💐
Boyfriend - "Au revoir Monsieur"

EightChalk · 28/05/2023 19:03

I don't think 7 months is that short of a time. Those of you who say it's ok for him to do this - would you also have done that to your current partner at the point when you'd been together for 7 months?

Freefall212 · 28/05/2023 19:03

I do think it is a bit unusual to want your 7 month boyfriend to come stay with you and and support you rather than your sister and daughter who are family, also loved your mom, and already in the house with you. Especially right on the day you lost your mom.

You said you didn't have much time for him due to your mom being so sick and he had never met her - I don't know your family dynamics but to me expecting your sister and daughter to be okay with you having him stay as your support system on the night of your (and their) mom's / grandmom's death would be a bit much.

TheShellBeach · 28/05/2023 19:03

That is an awful thing to do to you.
I am very sorry indeed about your mum.

BriarHare · 28/05/2023 19:06

It’s a new relationship, he never met your mum. I can understand his lack of involvement somewhat.

Having said that, if you hope for a future with this man, you’re going to be left wanting. Even in the early stages of our relationship, my dh would’ve moved heaven and earth to support me. I think at 7 months, you know.

He’s just not that into you, sorry.

Bargellobitch · 28/05/2023 19:07

I am baffled by the people saying it was fine for home to go. He'd absolutely bean ex boyfriend to me. So very sorry for your loss. Sending love.

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