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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

im going to confront my dad tomorrow am, about issues in my childhood, any tips or advice would be gratefully recieved

148 replies

lionbeast · 10/04/2008 21:23

hi everyone, this is a copy of my post on the toxic thread.

mybackground
well i am one of three, have two older brothers, mum has always prefered the middle one,im the youngest, she really battered my self esteem, she used to tell me she hated me and that i was clean on the outside and dirty on the inside,

sometimes she wouldnt speak to me for days and she'd say you'll need me before i need you [yes i was a child ffs] and when she used to be a bitch to me she used to say yeah you know what you can do if you don't like it.

she has hit me a few times althought there was about 5 times when i was a teenager,for example the last time she hit me i was 18, and we where both in the kitchen and i was probably irritating her, the freezer had a dodgy drawer whick kept falling out, and the drawer fell out when i was getting something out, so she whacked me one in the face, i pushed her off me, she called my dad who pushed me up against the kitchen wall, she then later tried to make out that i nearly broke her finger!

i never once hit her back ive only ever pushed her off me when she was hitting me in the face, and then i get accused of almost breaking her finger.

you know i wish i could of gone back in time and i wouldnt of hit her back, i would of called the police.

i moved out when i was 16, i moved in with a boyfriend for five weeks, i never loved him, it was just a chance to escape, five weeks later i was back home as he had finished with me.

she said it was because the house was flithy [we where only there 5 weeks,and both worked fulltime id been working a month and left home straight away ]and id never keep a man,

when i told mum a few years later that i never loved him i just moved in with him to get away from home, she said i dont believe you as you wouldnt of gone away to paris with him[yes we had a mini trip to paris, so that means i really loved him ]

anyway as the years when by i meet my now dh and moved out aged about 22, she was ok with me really when i left home, like she could tolerate me in small doses, then when i became PG i felt vunerable around her again.

this was when she decided it was a good time to tell me my dad never had any time for me or interest in me.
when i said i didnt believe it was true or that even if it was true, then he never made me feel that way.
she said it must of been because she did a good job of hiding it from me
this is what im going to ask dad about tomorrow

i dint feel upto asking dad about it at that point as i was feeling rough and had bleeding and cramping and thought i was going to have a mc when mum said all this to me, so i didnt feel upto or strong enough the confrontation then but i do now.
this is what im going to ask dad about tomorrow

yes dad never stopped it ,but im not sure that was true, although i have decided im going to confront dad about it, otherwise its always going to make me wonder even after hes dead. and i want to give him the chance to tell me straight.
although it could cause ww3 it has to be done for my sake and dads.

also when i was PG we only told my mum and dad and pil, asked them not to tell anyone,mum had already slatted my other sil for telling everyone that she was PG before 12 weeks,so with my news mum decideds to tell fav sil, and then doesnt tell me shes told her, then when i was on the phone talking to mum about a sugar test she turns round to fav sil who was there at the time oh you never had that did you? so of course im shocked and say so sil knows then does she? then mum turns on me and has a go at me say i think youll find if you told her she would be very understanding in a really pissed off way, and she still hasnt said soryy about that, no im the one in the wrong again

she worked fulltime when i started junior school and never had anytime for me, i got really behind at school yet her and dad had no idea, its not her fault for having to work, it must of been quite hard, but she still could of made time to see how i was getting on at school.

it didnt help that she did stuff like once when i was going to a friends party after school, i said id pop round the neighbours and tell her not to pick me up,as it was the neighbour that used to pick me up from school, mum said no ill tell her, i said oh ive got time ill go round now, no, mum shouts , so anyway guess what mum forgets to tell the neighbour not to collect me so all panic sets out at the school when the neighbout comes to collect me andf im not there, so i end up the next day getting a massive bollocking from the teacher, who said it was my fault.

about three days after i had dd, i had 4 th degree tears, she was nagging me to have a salt bath, i checked with the midwife who said salt bath where not really reccommended these days as there are a bit harsh, when i very carefully told her why i was not having salt baths she got really pissed off and snapped well perhaps women where a bit tougher in my day.[give birth to dd without any pain relief, but yet im a wimp of course]

i tried to avoid the whole subject by saying hmm yes maybe, ok ill think about that etc, but she wouldnt leave it alone until she started asking directly have you had one yet? and i didnt feel comfortable lying.

also when i had to go to my follow up with the gp i was a bit upset as he said i may suffer incontinence in the future as a result of the 4th degree tear, and she said i need to get things into persective in a really nasty stop going on a bout it type way.
and when i had a flashback and thought i was in labout about 4 nights after having dd, the mw was really kind and came and spent about 2-3 hours with me talking though what happened, and said it was normal to get flashbacks after such a traumatic event, it really helped talking it though, and when i said to mum it really helped talking it though she said, i think people talk about things far too much these days. and that you can talk about things too much.
when my cousin was asking me about the birth, and said i was so unlucky with what happened[abouth the 4th degree], mum pipes up well thats just what happened to me with fav son, [no it wasnt it wasnt even a 3rd degree as she did not have to have a repair operation] i just meekly replied well i dont think it was quite the same thing.

when i was struggling to bf, she keep saying that maybe dd wasnt getting enough milk and as dd was a frequent feeder that she should be more content by now one time she actually took her off me and said she doesny want another feed [dd was crying] and said she wants a nap and put her in her pram and started rocking her, dd started crying even more, so i picked her up and fed her. dd was only a few weeks old, what sort of person takes someones NB off them telling them what they want?and she keep telling me the bf is ok if its done discreatly and is not flaunted in public, when as dd was such a frequent feeder i had to feed her in public otherwise i wouldnt of been able to leave the house for 6 months.she say comments like my sil always fed at home as "shes not like that" in other words i was a slut to bf my baby, she does have a lot of issues about bf, and she was really trying to stop me from doing it with she didnt achieve.

anyway i used to have no confidence around my family,but i have changed quite alot since having dd, i was always having others opinions rammed down my throats and mine never getting listened to or even bothering to voice my opinions before[only within my family] never at work or with friends or dh[lucky for me i have a great dh thank goodness and didnt go for someone that was also abusive and would also say nasty things to me which i think quite alot of people with my childhood perhaps would.

i used to be scared id be a crap mum because of my childhood and now i know thats not true and i would never ever say or do those thing to my lovely dd.
its like my biggest fear is gone.

the odd thing is, that mum can sometimes be really nice.

but now if someone in my family tries to tell me something i don't agree with i tell them, and funny enough they have stopped doing it so much.
and thats why ive decided to ask my dad about what she said and tell him about all of the stuff she has said and done.it could cause me never to see them again and if that happens thats ok with me i have a happy marraige and a lovely baby, and its is there loss. or dad could be shocked and horrified i really do not know.i know mum will denigh and twist everything.she has never admitted anything or apolagised for anything in her life.i think she thinks apoalgising is a sign of weakness or something.
but im 30 now and im not having it anymore.

so anyway i decided im going to ask dad if what mum had said about him not having any interst or time or me was true,
i have to ask otherwise it will haunt me for ever and i need to lay this ghost to rest.
i dont thinnk its fair on him or me if i dont ask otherwise i will still be wondering long after hes dead.

i hardly ever get anytime alone with dad, but hes giving me and dd a lift somewheretomorrow and i want to ask him before dd is too old to start to understand and i will probably not get the chance to talk to him alone for a v v long time.
so it now or never
i really hope i dont wimp out.

so got any ideas how i should bring it up with dad??,
i was thinking about saying something like, i need to talk to you about something, its not going to be nice for either of us, but i need to know if something is true or not, notherwise ill will always wonder even after your dead, then proceed to ask him about the comments mum made about him....do you think i should write some stuff down so i dont forget to mention anything?
any help at all will be great.

OP posts:
WiiMii · 10/04/2008 23:23

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

lionbeast · 10/04/2008 23:23

thank you all for your views i appriecate them all, i have definatley decided i NEED to do this.

wish my mum hadnt of said it to me,because now im going to feel like the one causing trouble and vvvq you are right she wanted to plant seed of doubt in my mind and she has achieved it

seems funny that alot of people think i should cut them out of my life rather than try to talk to dad about it. surely cutting them out is worse?

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QuintessentialShadows · 10/04/2008 23:25

I dont think you should cut your dad out, but it seems to me that your mum is causing you nothing but trouble.

LilyMunster · 10/04/2008 23:26

well thats the way id do it... it gives room for you to delve deeper or back away, depending on how you feel about the reaction you get at the time.

if he says something like 'dont be so daft, how could you think that??' you can laugh it off and say, 'course i didnt think that... maybe i overstated how she said it... ' any kind of backtracking things you may want to say for peace and harmonys sake (tho i do not blame you for a second if you decide that maintaining peace and harmony is Not Your Job)

and if he gets cagey, well, you find yourself in a position where you can delve deeper if you like, make it more confrontational, or back off if you find it hurts you more than you had expected.

lionbeast · 10/04/2008 23:26

polly
just reading this back
i never tell mum or dad when i have problems
as they love it

i never confide anything thing in them
as they dont keep a confidence

ive just realised it mum that seems to relish any problem ive ever had not dad and its mum that can keep a confidence.

he is definatly not as bad as mum.

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lionbeast · 10/04/2008 23:26

thing is i cant cut just mum out as if i want to see dad id have to see mum.

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PollyPentapeptide · 10/04/2008 23:26

only you can decide that though (whether you want to cut them out or not). Other mumsnetters have had such appalling experiences and harmful relationships with their parents that cutting them out is the only option. It just depends on your own particular circumstances. I wish you all the best with it and hope you can take some comfort if your dad is prepared to offer it.

windygalestoday · 10/04/2008 23:28

I had a dreadful childhood too,my mums died so i cant confront her BUT i dont think i would if she were here anyway ,that time has passed ,you cant change it you did nothing to cause it,ll you stand to achieve at best is your dad sying he loves you and always hs and he didnt know ....thats not gonna change any of it if he says yes you were a bad un or that sort of thing then you will blame yourself.

to cut it short YOU know it was wrong YOU have taken steps to void it reoccuring you have a happy family life now-move on dont let resentment eat you away -what you cant change isnt worth wasting time over.

draw line under it and move on you cant begin to expect to understand your mothers mindset all you can do is tae your parents on your terms now as an adult.

i wouldnt confront the past id work to make the future success,whatever you decide to do i hope it all turns out well and you dont rekindle all the stuff that made you feel bad.

lionbeast · 10/04/2008 23:28

thanks lily thats really useful, ill probably get it all in my head how im going to say it, then it will all come out differently anyway.

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QuintessentialShadows · 10/04/2008 23:29

In that case, maybe this is your angle with your dad. Tell him about your childhood, how miserable your mum was making you, and still is making you. Tell him that you dont want anything more to do with her as she is making you very unhappy. Tell him you want to keep contact with him. I think his response to that will answer your question.

lionbeast · 10/04/2008 23:31

thanks windy and polly.

thing is how can my mum expect to say something like that to me, with out me ever whating to ask dad about it.
and now im gonna feel bad asking dad about it.

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WiiMii · 10/04/2008 23:32

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lionbeast · 10/04/2008 23:33

wiimii
sorry what is, Which is exactly what she wanted? planting seed of doubt or expecting ill never ask dad and just feel shit about it?

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LilyMunster · 10/04/2008 23:34

yup, thats what happens to me (i rehearse endlessly and then it all comes out differently anyway.)

i really wish you the best. i hope you get some answers and find some peace, whatever the answers you get.

WiiMii · 10/04/2008 23:36

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VeniVidiVickiQV · 10/04/2008 23:36

Dont ask him. You ask him and she's won hasnt she? She's achieved her goal and rocked the boat that you two sit in.

You dont have to cut them out of your life. But, it's up to you to decide who can hurt you and who cant. Your mother is Just A Person. You are both adults - the only way she can hurt you is with words, and if they arent true words well, you can choose to not allow her to hurt you by ignoring any attempts by her to unsettle you. You can dismiss them because they are attempts at unsettling you. And why? Why does she do this - because you are threatening to her.

You could turn this so much in your favour by just enhancing your relationship with your dad. You'd get so much more joy from doing this, than from asking him if he cared for you or not. I really would reconsider saying anything to him.

lionbeast · 10/04/2008 23:37

thats the thing lily even if dad says its true i honestly do think i will find peace in that, i will know where i stand and then there will not be much point in seeing either of them and then i can stop wondering.
and thinking what will happen if i never get the chance to ask him.

im at a point in my life where i can say ok that really is ok.
i accept it.
and move on

thanks for all the good luck wishes

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WiiMii · 10/04/2008 23:39

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lionbeast · 10/04/2008 23:39

wiimii and vvvq i can really really see you point.
i so can, just really dont think i could keep that inside for the reat of my life iykwim

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lionbeast · 10/04/2008 23:40

rest

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lionbeast · 10/04/2008 23:41

i suppose im scared that when hes dead ill beat myself up for never asking him, if i dont ask him.

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purpleduck · 10/04/2008 23:42

Lion
I also think you should leave it.
I had a similar childhood - my dad was verbally abusive, my mum just neglected us in a big way.

You cannot expect your Dad to heal those wounds. Would it really make it better if he simply hadn't noticed your mum being so awful?

It is up to YOU to heal yourself. Yes its hard, and I found that becoming a parent brings it all up again in a whole new way.

One thing that I found has helped alot is to try and put myself in their shoes. My parents both had appalling childhoods. I truly believe that they did the best they could.

The thing is, YOU are much, much better off. You are capable of love, and capable (and I'm sure you are) of being a fantastic parent.

This isn't going to go away unless you do the work - get some counselling, do what it takes, but your Dad can't take it all away.

Good Luck, whatever you decide

LilyMunster · 10/04/2008 23:42

i dunno

if he does care, she can stop wondering.

and if he doesnt, whats to enhance? she can stop wondering then too.

mind you - its also worth bearing in mind that his reaction may not be easily read by you. my dads reaction to some news i gave him when i was 18 upset me because i misunderstood it completely.

your mother sounds like a piece of work.

worth remembering this and being conscious of it: she has a huge and toxic influence on your mind, she no doubt has similar on his.

tread carefully - for the sake of your own heart more than anyone elses.

WiiMii · 10/04/2008 23:44

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lionbeast · 10/04/2008 23:44

i think how id feel if dh had sadi to dd [not that he EVER would in a million years]
your mother didnt have any interest in you or time for you, and she had been thinking about it for 10-11 months wondering if its true tourchering herself as to bring it up or not.

i want her to ask me so i could put her straight.

how woudl you feel in this majorly hypotherical situation?

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