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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

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:
LilyMunster · 10/04/2008 23:45

x posts with you LB. best of luck

LilyMunster · 10/04/2008 23:46

id ask too.
id want any child of mine to ask.

lionbeast · 10/04/2008 23:48

why would you want your child to ask you lily? so you could put the straight right?

OP posts:
lionbeast · 10/04/2008 23:49

put your child straight, thats ment to say. sorry my typing and spellings is show my stress!

OP posts:
LilyMunster · 10/04/2008 23:56

yes absolutely.
id want chance to put them straight.

i really think communication, effective communication is the key to solving 99% if not all of the worlds miserys. really and truly. the truth can only hurt so much... and if its really really bad, you can learn to deal wiuth it. but uncertainty? where is there to go with that? and if shes wrong, if he does adore you, wheres the good in you doubting that for the next 20-30-40 years? and beyond the grave...

no. id want to know.

lionbeast · 11/04/2008 00:02

lily my feeling exactly.

OP posts:
LilyMunster · 11/04/2008 00:06
Smile
lionbeast · 11/04/2008 00:08

thanks

OP posts:
SmugColditz · 11/04/2008 00:32

I'd ask. And I could see how a man of his generation would leave raising a little girl entirely to the mother, especially the third child, and just expect that he would make things worse by interfering - my dad did it with my sister. So his ignoring your mother's appaliing behavior does not meen he didn't have time for you or didn't love you - most likely he thought he was giving you plenty of time with your mother for the best - the belief was that little girls need to be raised by women.

She sounds like a nightmare and you sound like a hero. Chin up.

sandcastles · 11/04/2008 02:04

Parents, mothers, say things like your mum said to you to win an arguement, to get the power back, to intimidate, to scare, to cast doubts, to undermine, to critize, to antagonise, to hurt,....

And your posts suggests to me that she has done exactly that. She has won that battle & because your confidence is so low & you are believing this, she continues to win.

You confront your dad, if that is what you want to do. BUT, your dad will either lie & say it isn't true, or he will tell the truth & say it isn't true. You may walk away with your relationship in tact, you may not. You will have to live with that.

THEN he will tell your mum, who will think of a whole new ball game to start trying, once again, to win an arguement, to get the power back, to intimidate, to scare, to cast doubts, to undermine, to critize, to antagonise, to hurt you. Because by confronting your dad you are saying 'mum, it worked, you got to me, you made me doubt him, you made me ask him, now you have to up the ante to get back at me"

She is a bully & she will bully you anyway she can for the rest of your life, if you let her. IMO, by doing this, you are giving her permisson to find another outlet for the bullying.

I know how you feel, I haven't spoken to my mum for 16 years now, I have a million & one questions I want to ask her, but I don't because I am the one who will suffer & in turn my dd & dh will suffer too, because the child in me is still scared of her & still wonders how a parent can treat their child like she treated me.

So if you DO do this, LB, I wish you all the luck in the world & I suggest [in the nicest possible way] that you make sure you are prepard for the fallout, because it will be enormous. Please don't think for one minute you will say 'dad, what's going on with XYZ" & all is perfect, which IMO is what you are counting on. This will not make you feel better, you will still hurt & you may [will] hurt more, but hey, if you can cope with that, go for it!

But I can only see more pain for you.

Alexa808 · 11/04/2008 04:01

LB, I just read your post and I'm and so for you. Your mother sounds (pardon my French) like an absolute bitch.

Why do you let her put you down? You're an adult now, away from her with a family of your own. Why do you keep telling her so much of what's going on in your life and get beaten up by her for it? What a toxic, spiteful, downright unpleasant and bitter person she is. I agree with SmugColditz about the mentality of your Dad and that generation's rules on bringing up girls. I would definitely ask him and see what he says. If I were you, I'd definitely show how hurt and sad you are.

Personally I would cut your mother down to size and tell her how you fee and do not be interrupted. Then withdraw from her and keep contact to a minimum (Xmas cards, Easter, you get my drift). Stand up for yourself and make her aware of the fact that you've had enough of her venom and abuse. Sandcastles mentioned the fallout and yes, it will feel like your world has imploded BUT for your own sanity and self-esteem I think it is wothwhile taking the plunge. Your mother doesn't deserve that name. I cannot actually believe a woman would treat its own child like this.

I really feel for you and I'm wishing you well.

lionbeast · 11/04/2008 07:41

thank you all so much for taking the time to post to me, ive thought long and hard about it, and im going to do it, its either today or not at all,
as i wont be talking to dad about this when dd is older, im going to expect the worsty that this is going to cause a hugh fall out and ill never see them again.

alex you ask why i let her be so involved in my life, well shes not, any relationship we have is v v superfical.
thats why i feel i wont be losing so if i never see them again.
but even if that happens, i wont have to see her again and at least they will both know why.

its such a tough one half of you think don't do it, and half think do.
but i know my own mind and how i feel.
and i really need to do this.
i feel that mum has won anyway as it is as shes put these doubts in my mind for the last 11 months or so i havent asked dad about it.
so for my self esteem i need to face up to this once and for all.

OP posts:
TotalChaos · 11/04/2008 07:51

I completely agree with Monkeytrousers. I think you need more distance from your mum - as you sound to be expecting support from her, but she is constantly letting you down. Rather than having a confrontation, how about just asking him generally how he found parenthood/the first few years of your life, as that may give you the reassurance you need without the potential for WW3.

lionbeast · 11/04/2008 08:04

hi chaos i can honestly say im far past expecting or even hopeing to get support from mum.
i cant really avoid mum, the last time i was her was a monthago anyway, so its not like i see her that much anyway

OP posts:
Monkeytrousers · 11/04/2008 08:44

LB, if you cut your mum out of youtr life but tell your dad that he is always welcome to come and visit you and your family and to be a grandfather to your child - his response will be truth enough don't you think.

Why not say today, instead of confronting him with your mothers words, that you have always been hurt by your mums behaviour and that now you have a child of your own you have realised that your happiness is vital for your childs healthy growth, and that you have decided ot to see her anymore, unless an honsest aplology is given forthwith and a palpable change is seen in your mothers character. (You must tell your mother this too - write it - keep it brief - she will either be aware of what she has done or not, but confronting people will only and usually always (except in films) put them on the defensive and unless you are a master at communixcation, you will not get the closure you want - only more heartbreak.

Tell him this and then that he is a treasured dad and can continue to be a treasured grandather.

He may just be very weak willed and henpecked living with your mum for so long.

Of course what she said wasn;t true. She said it to hurt you. She said it to make you feel like you were alone. Fuck her! honestly.

Give your dad a positive choice not a negative one, please.

Monkeytrousers · 11/04/2008 08:48

If you do this don't enter into a dialogue with your mother. She has been manipulating all her life and won't kjust snap out of it. And if an apology is given (though don't hold your breath) hold back before letting her back in your life, to see if it is genuine. Let he know that you are in charge now and you will cut her off in an instant should she do or say anything to make you feel bad about yourself. And that time will be the last.

warthog · 11/04/2008 08:51

i think you do have to ask lionheart, and your idea of saying 'mum said something a few months back that's been bothering me...' is a good one.

seems to me that you want to catch her in the act of lying.

after this, i really do think you should break ties with her. if your relationship is this superficial and she can still inflict such hurt i think you have to protect yourself.

lionbeast · 11/04/2008 08:54

monkey so nice of you to post to me, but even if i did that he would want to know why i was cutting her out, as im damn sure shell play the vitim oh he wont let me see her blah blah, then dad might be getting mad at me for not seeing my mum
and ill still have doubts about my dad

ive really thought about this from everyangle, and if i dont do it today, i wont do it when dd is older or hes ill or sick or be able when hes dead

i feel really bad for what im about to do, but i have to.

im 100% mind made up to do this, just trying to think how im going to come out with it in the least confrontational way.

OP posts:
Alexa808 · 11/04/2008 09:09

LB, oh I see about contact with your mother.
Be strong, you're nearly there.

Remind yourself it's not about winning. Your mother has won NOTHING. Yes there may be a doubt in your mind, but you know what: everyone would question such a comment as the one she's made.

She has won nothing, she has lost a daughter, she has failed as a mother and as a human being and she knows it.

Good luck for tonight. I'll be thinking of you.

NumberSix · 11/04/2008 09:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

lionbeast · 11/04/2008 09:41

thanks hes gonna be here in half an hour,
alexa i totally agree its not about winning or losing, i waas just trying to respond to the comments that if i ask dad shes won.

its more about achieveing peace [in the longer term!]

number 6 i agree i shouldnt of told her about the pg but that was before the comments about dad, and shes been ok with me for a while before that, but dont worry ive certainly learnt from that,
as for the salt bath thing, that was her going on and on at me,. m trying to avoid it by saying oh ok, yeah maybe ill do that the usual non commital stuff, but she wont leave it at that, she just actually starts asking me, have you had one yet.
and i just didnt feel uncorftable enough to lie and say oh yes i did it really helped.
and really why should i be thay scared of her i have to lie about stuff like that?

anyway thanks so much foe the good wishes.

OP posts:
Lovesdogsandcats · 11/04/2008 09:59

I would ask him, definately.
I cannot believe how much like my mother yours sounds!
I stopped all contact last year with mine and that suffocating feeling has gone and life is so much lighter. She also said my dad had said things and when I asked him, he said he had not said that. I have always had a good rel with dad though and never belived her, whereas you're not sure?

i would rather know and risk a fall out than live rest of life always living under that cloud.

Those who say let sleeping dogs lie, this is impossible if something is gnawing at you, always there in the background. She needs to draw a line and move on and confronting the truth is not always easy, but not always wrong wither.

MrsMacaroon · 11/04/2008 10:34

I really strongly believe that it's your mum that you should be confronting... good luck though x

PS Just remember, in this situation your dad is a bit of an enabler and abusers tend to hide behind enablers...he could well deny it, tell her what you asked, she'll get angry and he'll passively protect her (saying nothing, not taking sides etc). She couldn't have gotten off with her bad behaviour if it wasn't for him. Try to remember that.

maisemor · 11/04/2008 13:23

for what it is worth Lionbeast. I felt like you that I had to know exactly how they felt. So I went up to them both with my piece of paper where I had written my questions. Fearing the worst.

However I got through asking them all the questions and getting all the "wrong" answers.

It was indeed confirmed that they are not proud of me, they do not have any respect for me, and they do think that I am a bad mother and wife.

But you know what, it feels so much better knowing exactly where I stand with them.

ally90 · 11/04/2008 15:19

How's it gone Lionbeast? Hope your okay xx

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