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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:
HappiDaze · 31/05/2023 20:07

I'm so sorry for your loss Flowers

I personally would want him out of the way so I could grieve and process my feelings, so I'd be pushing him out the door and making sure he was going to the festival or anywhere for that matter

I personally would also feel really awkward around someone is only known for 7 months whose DM had died that I'd never met although of course I'd want to be there for them, but equally I'd like to have an excuse to not be around 24/7 around all the sadness that I couldn't share 100% not having had the emotional connection to them

scoobydoo1971 · 31/05/2023 20:19

I lost my Mum two years ago. Boyfriend at the time wasn't the most supportive person in the world, and didn't offer to help in any particular way. I decided there and then he wasn't someone I would be spending the rest of my life with. Some people are just fair-weathered friends. I don't see the point in having people in life who contribute nothing to it. Everyone needs someone who will support them, or change their plans for exceptional events. In my mind, it is a red flag if you were thinking this was Mr Forever. He is showing you that he will always prioritise his needs over yours.

nachotemple · 31/05/2023 21:11

Maybe he felt he needed to give you some space to grieve rather than wanting to be in your face especially as your relationship is relatively "light" as you put it.

QueueEtwo · 31/05/2023 21:32

You sound so lovely OP!
I'm sorry for the loss of your mum & really hope your boyfriend pulls his socks up!

Good luck with everything! 💐

Yellowfleur · 06/06/2023 12:45

So, he came to the funeral. He bought me a big rose bush to put in my garden in memory of my mum. He took me out for dinner and invited me over for two nights, cooked for me. We went out for the day on a hike. I think he did his best. I think he ran away because he couldn't cope. Or he didn't prioritise me and then felt guilty. Or I'm just an option to him. I still don't know. I'll give it a bit of time and see what happens. I just want my mum back. She'd know what to do.

OP posts:
WedTheBed · 06/06/2023 12:54

There is no right or wrong answer here.
Your mum died, you’re grieving. Any feeling you have surrounding that are completely valid and wanting someone familiar with you to grieve too is not an unreasonable request.

From his point of view, you’re someone he sees twice a week, he never met your mother and although minuet to your situation, festival tickets are costly, often non returnable after a certain date, and well.. he may well have just wanted to go (obviously)

So, you’re not being unreasonable. But neither is he.

This is just a case of two people whose thoughts and feelings don’t quite match the occasion, unfortunate.. and needs to be talked about from both sides if you want to continue the relationship and work through it.

WimpoleHat · 06/06/2023 12:56

I think he did his best. I think he ran away because he couldn't cope. Or he didn't prioritise me and then felt guilty. Or I'm just an option to him. I still don't know.

I think he put his own wants first; he wanted to go to the festival, so he went. You came second to that. Now he wants his girlfriend back and to be on good terms, so he turns up with flowers. I don’t think he’s someone you can rely on. So sorry about your mum. Grief is so hard.

porridgeisbae · 06/06/2023 18:14

I was involved with someone who the more I would appreciate his support the less he would be around.

The rest of the time he would be quite supportive.

This one really does sound like that. Whatever the reason, it's not a quality you want in a partner/boyfriend.

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