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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

Mum's narc new boyfriend is ruining our relationship

16 replies

Oceanlover1998 · 07/12/2023 10:18

Around one year ago, my mum met her new boyfriend online. He was nice and chatty at first but quite loud and obnoxious. He was kind of overbearing, honestly, but it was one of those things I got used to as he was around our house a lot. Myself and my mum have lived here for over a year now, it was once our safe space, and we used to do everything together. I'm in my mid-20s, and she broke up with my dad when I was around 18. Ever since she got herself involved with controlling men and broke up with her last long-term ex of 5 years when she found out he was cheating and he walked out. It seems like now she has repeated the same patterns and is going for men who are worse and worse than her last.

Her boyfriend grew more and more clingy til now, when he is around the house almost every day. I started to notice abnormalities in their relationship when he started to show a controlling and possessive side. He would constantly be contacting her when we were doing things together. When we went out for drinks, it would constantly be ruined or dictated by him. He started giving her curfews for when to be done spending time with me and even suggested a monthly schedule for the time she could spend with me.

Before this, we used to do everything together.

It has gotten worse since then. At least once a week, they argue in our home, which just forced me to escape to my room. One night, things got so bad and he was shouting and swearing at her. I went downstairs and told him to leave and never come back. He refused. My mum asked him to leave, and he still refused or tried to talk his way out of it. He drinks a lot and is a non-functioning alcoholic, in my opinion. He speaks slowly and sways from side to side, even during the day. So that night, I told my BF the situation. He came to the house and asked him to leave, to which he still refused. So my bf had to remove him physically. At this point, I was in tears and shaking with anxiety, as that is the way I feel most of the time when he is in the house.

There are all sorts of things I've heard them speak about, I've heard that he has allegations against him from his ex; he also has a driving ban from drinking and is serving community service. He has also hit my mum.

Recently they bought puppies together (me and my mum recently lost our family dog of 13+ years). I think it was to try and salvage their sh*tty relationship. They are mostly at our house. My mum was meant to go out at the weekend, and I noticed he was getting overly drunk again on the days running up to it. They had a major argument the night before, so I left that night. He then refused to look after the dogs on the day my mum was meant to go out. He went home and dropped a bag of my mum's stuff outside, saying they were over and that she was cheating and not loyal. He then threatened her with thousands of pounds (because he is currently helping my mum out financially with work matters). Her friend was understandably furious as she cancelled last minute.

I think around a day after this, they were playing happy families again, and he is back at the house.

For me, I think my mum has an escape from this shitbag. She has loving family and friends who care about her and only want the best for her. But she refuses to listen to our points of view about this vile man. The worst part is how it has affected our relationship, and I never get to spend time with her anymore without him turning up. She has isolated herself from her friends as they cannot support her relationship anymore.

She's now trying to make amends with me and is asking to spend time with me next week, but I think I have been treated unfairly. I've tried talking to her about my opinions, but she shuts it down and goes on the defensive. Saying things like "we are working on our relationship" and that I'm judgemental, disrespectful and spoiled. At this point, it's a joke. I just don't know what to do as it's my mum at the end of the day, and I want to spend time with her. But I feel hurt that she has put me in this situation as my mental health is deteriorating, and I've started getting anxiety attacks in my own home. She has completely changed in the last year, and he's turned her into a different person.

Thanks in advance and any resources or information for support are welcomed.

OP posts:
Cumberbiatch · 07/12/2023 10:29

God, I am so sorry OP. Your mother is obviously in denial that she is in a violent and abusive relationship, and unfortunately there's nothing you can do about that.
I'd sit her down and tell her, calmly and reasonably, that she is in an abusive relationship and that she is too good for this. Tell her you'll be there for her when she needs you, as she undoubtedly will, but that in the meantime you find it very difficult, as her child, to witness her being mistreated. Say you want to continue with your close relationship but that it must happen without her abuser present.

If she brings it up again/tries to make excuses for him, shut down the convo. "You know how I feel about that. I'll be here for you always."

Hugs to you. This sounds like a nightmare.

DinoDays · 07/12/2023 10:37

I'm so so sorry OP. This must be awful for you.

I don't know how children of women who stay with violent drunk men cope.

But at least you're an adult and don't have to rely on your mum as much. :(

My only suggestion would be to move out and let her get on with it. Be there if she needs you. But for your own sanity get out.

You can't change her or him.

There's a thread running at the moment where a woman is going on holiday with a moody drunk man and taking her young daughter into that situation. I just wonder what goes through these women's minds.

Orangeteatime · 07/12/2023 10:38

Can you move out? You stop your mum from having this relationship but you could find a home for yourself where you are not anxious to the point of anxiety attacks.

Oceanlover1998 · 07/12/2023 10:48

it’s possible but I don’t have a lot of money. I’m currently spending 3/4 days a week at my boyfriend’s which is a really nice escape. But I need a quiet space where I can work as I work from home so spend the majority of my time here

OP posts:
mindutopia · 07/12/2023 10:52

I think you need to put some boundaries in place. Firstly, I would move out and establish your own life. Secondly, I would set expectations of what your relationship should be like and if this man is interfering or causing problems, then it will affect your relationship and the time you spend with her. It may be worth enlisting some of her friends who care about her to equally get on board with letting her know that they miss her and wish their relationship could be like it used to be. I think getting these thoughts in her ear now is important for starting to get her to question the situation. You could even recommend she reaches out to something like Women's Aid for advice on how to keep herself safe and financially secure from this man (esp as seems he has some control over her finances).

I do think it's important thought to have really clear boundaries and expectations. My mum is also in an unhealthy relationship (not the same sort of controlling, but very co-dependent and enmeshed). Unfortunately, none of us saw how bad it was (I live in a different country and they also moved away from longterm friends). By the time we started to raise concerns, she was too far gone. We have no relationship anymore and I haven't seen her in nearly 4 years. She's lost most of her lifelong friends and just lives in a very small bubble now with a man she has put on a pedestal, but is all sorts of toxic and dysfunctional. It's been incredibly sad and painful, but she chose him over us and that's her choice, so I let her go. It's sounds thought like your mum is still questioning things and still has some support around her and I would lean on that to try to get her to see things for what they are.

flowerchild2000 · 07/12/2023 10:58

Sometimes the only way to help someone in an abusive relationship is to cut them off. I've been on both sides of this. She has to open her eyes and decide to end it with him herself. No one can make her see the abuse. She has to get to that point on her own, given that you've had a serious convo with her about it, not during drama or when he's there. If she does want to leave she deserves support of course, but to get to that point it could really damage your life. You have to do what's best for you right now and let her know you'll support her in leaving him, but not in staying with him.

Oceanlover1998 · 07/12/2023 11:22

Unfortunately I think my mum is too far gone aswell. She doesn’t even acknowledge that she could be in an abusive relationship. She runs to his defence constantly and thinks i’m out to get her or that I’m “the mum” in her relationship and she doesn’t need help. I’m so sorry about your relationship with your mum. I feel that this could happen to us if she stays with him, which I think she will.

OP posts:
perfectcolourfound · 07/12/2023 12:21

I'm so sorry to hear about your situation.

Your mum is very fortunate to have a lovely daughter like you, and to have had the close relationship you've had (until recently). And believe me, you can get that relationship back. Your mum is still the same person, but she's currently in a fog about her relationship. For whatever reason, she doesn't want to accept the reality, that she's dating a man who is abusive.

Let her know that you're still there, that you still want that lovely close relationship you've always had.

Unfortunately, as he's affecting your life and work, you may have to choose to move out (even if temporarily) and be honest with your mum why you've had to do it.

Epidote · 07/12/2023 16:08

You were treated unfairly, so she did. It is not about you. It is about her, the fact the danger is being removed mitigate the risk but the are some risk still there. As far as you said your mum seems to follow a pattern of dickheads, encourage her to work on her boundaries.

You are nice and a good daughter don't take it on her, give her time and you will have the opportunity to share your feelings with her when she feels better.

Sometimes being gentle and help the people we love is ungrateful. You did the correct. Don't beg/ wait for the acknowledgement. She may feel embarrassed enough to bring the subject.

You had spot him very well, I wish in the future if something like that happens to me my daughter were able to assist as you did.

Well done and have a lovely Xmas with your BF, mum and rest of family/ friends.

strawberry2017 · 16/12/2023 22:41

@Oceanlover1998 how are things going? Are you ok? X

Oceanlover1998 · 02/01/2024 00:17

Things have escalated a lot and police have been involved. He has been physical now and more things have come out that she’s not told me. It’s been about a week since he has been physical and it seems that she’s talking to him again. She’s refused to press charges against him. I have given up trying to advise her and hear her out as i’m wasting my time. He has also damaged our property after the physical episode. If he enters my home again I will be reporting him, no excuses this time regardless of what she says. I can’t believe she is still trying to protect him.

OP posts:
Bananalanacake · 02/01/2024 10:21

Does he live with you or have his own place. You are right to call the police if he tries to enter your house. I would not give the light of day to an alcoholic, does your mum see how bad his alcoholism is.

Redburnett · 02/01/2024 10:24

As a mid-20s working adult you should be living independently of your DM. You need to move out. Her relationship problems are not yours to solve.

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 02/01/2024 10:42

Well there you are, OP. Your mother is in an abusive relationship, your relationship with her is being significantly affected for the worse and it's all causing you a great deal of stress, but according to Redburnett it's none of your business and you shouldn't be living at home anyway.

Aren't you really grateful you've been put right, the rules on how you live your life have been laid down and you can now carry on with your life without a care in the world?

Oceanlover1998 · 02/01/2024 10:43

He lives just down the road

OP posts:
Oceanlover1998 · 02/01/2024 10:43

This is not very helpful. I’m not able to move out at the moment so I’m doing the best I can to protect us both and our home.

OP posts:
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