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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

Should I tell daughter about her abusive dad?

234 replies

21seconds12 · 22/06/2023 07:40

I’m in two minds what to do about this. Daughter who is 8 has started seeing her dad after court ordered no contact due to abuse and having to complete courses.

He has moved on and has another relationship and a baby very quickly. Daughter says and it appears he’s a changed man and not treating his partner how he did me. To be honest I don’t care, I’m just happy to no longer be with him.

What is getting me is he is behaving like Disney dad on steroids. When we were together he did nothing with our daughter. He has had a personality replacement. The thing is he is re-writing history. He is telling our daughter lies about our relationship. He was extremely cruel and abusive towards me (and every women before me). Instead of being truthful he is literally making it all up. Do I tell her the truth in an age appropriate way? He is so Disney that he looks like an angel and his girlfriend is also doing a lot for him. He tells her it was me who stopped him seeing her when it was a court, he says to her how he is a hero and he fought so hard. The truth was he drank and smoked drugs and had to pass tests. If he is a changed person then that’s really great for her going forward. But why lie about the past and make me out to be to blame? He was so so cruel. Why not be honest and say I was cruel but I’ve done a lot of soul searching etc…. Or is he still abusing me as he knows she will come home and tell me his lies. It’s like that decade just didn’t happen to him, he was awful and aggressive, threw things at me, threatened me. I ended up with life long health issues from the stress and the fear.

Or do I say nothing and let her think her dad is everything he says he is, but then he is blaming me and lying and looking like a hero???

OP posts:
Thelnebriati · 27/06/2023 11:28

What she does has a name, its called 'triangulation'. I'm going to say it again - take her to therapy. After your latest post, not just counselling at school but proper therapy. And you should also go yourself.

21seconds12 · 27/06/2023 11:36

@Thelnebriati Ive Called the gp and made an appointment. Is that how I get one? I can’t afford to privately. What’s triangulation?

OP posts:
Thelnebriati · 27/06/2023 11:40

Triangulation is when a person feels closer to one person and excludes others, even when its not appropriate (for example, within immediate family). They may escalate to start to turn against the person they feel less close to, bully them, or encourage others to turn against and bully them.
Its generally fed by feelings of insecurity, and thats something that can be changed.

21seconds12 · 27/06/2023 11:50

Well I’ve called the school again for an appointment and gp will ring me back this afternoon. She clearly struggling and it’s coming out in not healthy ways. She has been through a lot regardless of whether he is abusive or not.

OP posts:
21seconds12 · 27/06/2023 11:56

She has always done that, with friends and family. She always says she is bad. I’ve always made sure I’ve said behaving bad or unkind and not that she is bad. I’ve said we are all capable of behaving good and bad. I’ve always said the reason she didn’t see her daddy was because of his behaviour. I do need need help because I don’t know how to help her anymore.

OP posts:
21seconds12 · 28/06/2023 15:08

Well I’ve rang the gp, they told me to ring the early years hub in our area who told me to ring the school who says the wait is 18months for mental health support. She may be able to receive something by September within the school. Privately we also waiting 6 months…

OP posts:
cestlavielife · 29/06/2023 12:19

Tgere are some workbooks you can get like

What to Do When You Worry Too Much: A Kid's Guide to Overcoming Anxiety (What-to-Do Guides for Kids) on amazon

Some if the activities you can do with her

cestlavielife · 29/06/2023 12:20

And get
How to talk to kids book
For ideas

cestlavielife · 29/06/2023 12:22

By Adele Faber How to Talk so Kids Will Listen and Listen so Kids Will Talk Paperback – 5 Dec 2012 https://amzn.eu/d/hQXNic1

https://amzn.eu/d/hQXNic1?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-relationships-4832910-should-i-tell-daughter-about-her-abusive-dad

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