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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

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:
Revoltingrhyme · 28/05/2023 19:08

The posters suggesting ‘don’t let this ruin your relationship’. Im sorry, what?!

OP if he cannot be there for you with the second most devastating thing that can happen, losing a parent second to losing your child I imagine, then how can you expect him to be there for you in the future for anything else?

Absolutely cut this man loose and don’t look back.

openstop · 28/05/2023 19:10

So, my current relationship is only 7 months old.

Our relationship has been committed and serious and loving, but also quite 'light'

I think you're at a confusing stage of the relationship. It's just getting serious but also it's "light". He's only met your child twice , he'd never met your mum.

I would cut him some slack - he probably didn't know how to respond and you have your family to talk to.

CheshireCat1 · 28/05/2023 19:11

I’m so sorry for your loss.
Find comfort and solace in your daughter, she’ll need you too, gain strength from each other. Your boyfriend is young, he may not have experienced grief such as this, he won’t know how to react, I’m not making excuses for him, but it’s still a fairly new relationship.
The time now is about you and your daughter, it’s all too painful for both of you at the moment, so be kind to yourself.
Whatever happens with your relationship with your boyfriend is for another day.
My thoughts are with you.

TedMullins · 28/05/2023 19:14

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?

Can’t answer for anyone else but yes I would’ve done

ChrisTrepidation · 28/05/2023 19:14

I am do sorry for your loss.

Your boyfriend is not a keeper. He lacks basic empathy and compassion. You've just lost your mum and he's at a music festival getting off his face!

If you stay with this man you'll have a lifetime of being told you're too sensitive when asking for the bare minimum. Get rid.

Lemonaida · 28/05/2023 19:16

So sorry for your loss. My mum died of cancer a couple of years ago so I do understand how you must feel.
This will be a deal breaker for me re the BF, he should've at least offered to stay and support you, this is a big major thing.

MargotBamborough · 28/05/2023 19:16

I'm so sorry for your loss.

I think even though it was a fairly new relationship and he hadn't met your mum, he should have asked whether you wanted him to stay with you this weekend instead of going to the festival.

On the culture question, my husband is French so I asked him. At first he made a joke and said it would depend how rich the mother was. (Sorry, tasteless jokes are his thing.) But then he said no, you wouldn't go to the festival, you'd stay and support your girlfriend.

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 28/05/2023 19:20

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?

I would have been there for him.

But by seven months, we'd been on holiday together twice and saw each other 4-5 times a week and had met each other's parents at least once or twice. OP sees her BF once or twice a week at the most.

I'm not saying his behaviour was great but I also don't think they're as close as she thinks they are.

DeflatedAgain · 28/05/2023 19:22

I think it's best you seriously consider if he will be a positive aspect in your life. Don't waste time on someone who prioritises a festival over the death of a parent.

Delphinium20 · 28/05/2023 19:24

I'm so sorry. Mother loss is a very painful loss and sounds like you three had a beautiful and tight bond. Focus on your daughter, on your own healing and maybe let this BF just slide away for now. It obviously wasn't serious on his end or he's not mature enough to be emotionally available to you.

TiredyMcTired · 28/05/2023 19:26

Firstly, I am so sorry for your loss.

I’m thinking some of the ‘dump the bastard’ posts are a bit harsh. Lots of posters on MN are quick to dismiss men and encourage people to dump partners when they don’t know the full story. You’ve said that you felt you had a good relationship with your BF, but he’s never met your Mum. It may be that her death feels ‘distant’ to him in the sense that he didn’t know her and is therefore not emotionally connected to her death in the same way that you and your family are. If he’s not experienced grief before then he may not have empathy and understanding based on lived experience.

He did say he felt bad about going away but he is offering to see you as soon as he is back. I think you could discuss the situation with him and see where he’s coming from. You can then explain what sort of support you would like from him and then it’s over to him to do it. You can judge from his reaction, what he says and what he does in the next few days whether he’s there for you in the way you want him to be. Communicate.

Also, you’ve said you have feelings of anger about your Mums illness and death, you’ll be feeling very very raw right now and may just be displacing some of that anger towards your BF.

I do know how you feel, my Mum died a couple of years ago after being ill for a long time and my DH (of 28 years) has a very different way of dealing with grief than I do. He lost a parent a few years before my Mum died and he was very pragmatic and stoic, and struggled to cope with my reaction to losing my Mum. People deal with it in different ways, doesn’t mean that they don’t care about you.

PonkyPonky · 28/05/2023 19:30

It’s possible he was overthinking it and perhaps thought you would need some space to grieve with people who knew your mum. That would have been my first instinct in his shoes. However…. He should have asked if that’s what you needed and offered to be there if it wasn’t. I think you should tell him how you felt about his actions and his reaction will tell you everything you need to know about him.

QueSyrahSyrah · 28/05/2023 19:31

I'm sorry for your loss OP Flowers

In terms of your boyfriend, I think I'd need more context to decide. Who's he gone with? If it's just one friend that he'd be letting down if he'd have cancelled last minute then I could make my peace with it more so than if it was a big group where he wouldn't be as missed.

LlynTegid · 28/05/2023 19:32

Sorry to read of your loss. I think at the very least a phone call a couple of times each day unless you asked him not to call you. As for posting photos on social media during the event, stupid regardless of circumstances, as it advertises he is not at home.

Dibble135 · 28/05/2023 19:33

I’m so sorry for your loss. My now DH and I had only been dating for about 2 months when my dad passed. He’d also been ill. DH was there for me. On the phone, via text, in person. Came to the funeral. We hadn’t even slept together it happened so soon after we met. It was a real test and was one of many things which showed me he was a keeper.

Trust your instincts on this.

SpidersAreShitheads · 28/05/2023 19:35

I think the fact that he didn't offer to stay and that he didn't bother to text for 24 hours because he was off getting shitfaced or whatever would be the issues for me.

I don't think 7 months is a particularly short time. Yes, in the grand scheme it's no time at all, but equally it's enough time to know how you feel, and the OP says they communicate multiple times every day usually.

Only you know if you will get over the resentment but I think it would be game over for me. I endured a similarly thoughtless gesture in a new relationship when I lost my dad, binned the guy - and my gut instinct turned out to be right (long story lol!)

I hope you are getting support from your friends. Surround yourself with people that show you love. It sounds like you had the most wonderful relationship with your mum, and I'm so sorry for your loss ❤️

LAMPS1 · 28/05/2023 19:41

So sorry for your very sad loss.
The thing is OP, he had never met your dear mum, presumably hadn’t met your daughter either nor your sister so it’s possible he could have felt that this was a private family time for you all…and definitely not the right time for introducing him to your family.
He may well have handled it poorly with his use of words but if his heart is in the right place as you describe, then please don’t dump him. Maybe he was feeling confused and emotional by it all too. Give yourselves a chance to get through the next weeks and then maybe things will be clearer for you with regards to how you feel about each other. It’s not a time to be making big decisions like ending the relationship. Let him know you are confused and all over the place for now …and maybe that you felt disappointed he decided not to stay to support you more. But hear what he has to say in response to that before deciding what to do. I hope he can do better and you can be happy again soon.

Jeannie88 · 28/05/2023 19:47

I'm so sorry, I understand your grief, I lost my Dad recently. Even in the first stages of a relationship I couldn't possibly imagine leaving a partner going through this and would've cancelled. Is he quite young, maybe not experienced loss? Sounds like he does care but really doesn't get it and how much it would mean to you, also for him the seriousness of your situation with your ex and your grief, he couldn't cope, needs to let off steam and will come back to do good? Hard call I know, only you can know if it's worth it. Meanwhile huge hugs, nothing can help apart from time, even with time it's so bloody hard! X

Genevie82 · 28/05/2023 19:48

I’m sorry for you loss OP💐

..Lots of different views about this and his response to your very sad bereavement; I think the general impression I get is that the relationship is far more more casual in his mind than yours. Any depth and investment for the long term would have at the very least meant an offer by him to stay and comfort you even if you then told him to go and enjoy himself. Tbh all
this festival going on his own smacks of a guy wanting to have a great time not commit to anything serious; the restriction of seeing you 1/2 nights a week has properly meant it’s not been tested out before now between you. To put in context I’ve supported an ex boyfriend through a parents death and we had split up weeks before! I think you deserve much more from a serious partner and you’ve got much deeper emotions to manage right now for you and your DC xxx

7eleven · 28/05/2023 19:53

Mmmm it was a festival, not a job interview. You know that saying ‘When people show you who they are, believe them.’ He’s not got your back. Disappointing.

Very, very sorry for your loss x

EightChalk · 28/05/2023 19:59

How is it relevant that he never met her mum? It's about him supporting OP who has just lost her mother, not his personal feelings of grief about it.

LilacSloth · 28/05/2023 20:00

Natty13 · 28/05/2023 17:02

What do you think?

What I think is that I'd rather be single. Forever if needs be, than be with a man like that.

Absolutely this.

ZiriForEver · 28/05/2023 20:00

If he was regularly staying over at your home and it would be practical to spend the whole time with you, him taking over some necessities and help with DD, I'd expect him to stay.
Your situation is different, and I'm not sure that getting him to your home for prolonged time for the first time just now would be great for any of you (including DD, he shouldn't "replace" grandma) and wanting him to stay back for a short visit would be strange.

A phone call in the middle would be nice though.

DreamTheMoors · 28/05/2023 20:02

”Maybe he didn’t know he was getting into this.”

In all fairness, @Yellowfleur, maybe he didn’t. I’m sending my love and condolences for your mum, but the stress and drama over your ex is a lot and then losing your mum…
And what exactly would you have him do? Maybe he felt as though he was intruding. A death for anyone is an intimate and personal experience - perhaps he freaked out and just backed off. It happens to people under pressure when they don’t know how else to respond. It isn’t the ideal, but I’d give him the benefit of the doubt.
You’re surely at your most emotional right now - everything is at the most heightened. Why don’t you have a talk with him when he returns and tell him how much you truly needed him? Give him an opportunity to explain why he left. I think that listening to the man you care about and the one involved in this is the best way forward, and the surest way to find answers to your questions.
Again, my love and I’m oh so sorry. ❤️

BurbageBrook · 28/05/2023 20:04

I'd be done with the relationship.

OP I'm so sorry about your mum Flowers

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