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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

As a grown up realising I don't like my wider family very much

20 replies

redbuged · 15/09/2025 19:23

When I was a child we were very close to my Mum's side of the family her sisters and brothers. I loved and looked up to them all but now as an adult I see them so differently. I can see how self centred and even nasty quite a few of them are. If you are in the company of one of them they will bitch about the others behind their back which only makes me wonder what they say about me and my mum for example behind our backs? One Aunt in particular is very strange and is really very unkind and will even make little digs to your face or in front of others. If it were a one off fine but this is repeated little attacks against others, myself included which I can only assume she makes to try and make herself feel better somehow. I's do sometimes get angry at her but then I end up letting it wash over me because she isn't worth making a scene over. I do think that I just prefer to see them all as little as possible.

My Dad isn't from this country so I have very little contact with his people, except for a few holidays as a child.

I'm just a bit disappointed I suppose that people I was once so fond of as a child turned out to be so unpleasant.

Anyone else dealt with an issue like this?

OP posts:
ChocoChocoLatte · 15/09/2025 19:27

Yup. Grew up massively involved with my
mothers side. Cousins more like besties, bridesmaids, godmothers etc.

Last year I finally realised enough was enough and I was no longer facilitating their behaviour or seeking their approval and haven’t spoken to the closest one since April.

She hasn’t reached out so I guess that’s my answer……

Devastatingly disappointed for my own DC as I wanted them to know the same upbringing as me and yet now, as young adults, they’ve made it clear they weren’t that fond of her anyway.

who knew kids knew best!

InMyHealthyEra · 15/09/2025 19:28

I think that’s extremely common. I used to look up to my cousins and uncles. Now I actively avoid them all because I was fed up with the backstabbing and negativity.

redbuged · 15/09/2025 19:39

@ChocoChocoLatte and @InMyHealthyEra Thanks guys, that is reassuring, I think was always thinking just give them another chance and that maybe they'll be ok but every time I was disappointed again. Time came to just move on and seriously limit contact, I only really bother with them at all now for my Mum's sake as and when I have to.

OP posts:
Frightenedbunny · 15/09/2025 19:50

Same. Had a huge argument with my mother today. Somehow I’m the one in the wrong for not supporting my alcoholic, drug addict, violent brother who has made her life hell for 35 years.

For 50 years I’ve sat in his shadow having to prove my worth. Turns out I’ve apparently become a snob for pushing my children to do well in school…

redbuged · 15/09/2025 20:00

@Frightenedbunny Sorry to hear that, its difficult trying to keep your parent happy and also do what is right for yourself.

OP posts:
Orangesandlemons77 · 15/09/2025 20:02

Yes I know what you mean OP. Some of mine are awful boastful and horrible about other people. I guess it comes from insecurity.

I suggest watching the series Mum on iPlayer for some awful relatives

redbuged · 15/09/2025 20:07

@Orangesandlemons77 It's sad isn't it? It must be so nice to come from a lovely warm and kind family, instead of a nest of vipers!

OP posts:
Orangesandlemons77 · 15/09/2025 20:44

redbuged · 15/09/2025 20:07

@Orangesandlemons77 It's sad isn't it? It must be so nice to come from a lovely warm and kind family, instead of a nest of vipers!

Definitely

Frightenedbunny · 15/09/2025 20:49

redbuged · 15/09/2025 20:00

@Frightenedbunny Sorry to hear that, its difficult trying to keep your parent happy and also do what is right for yourself.

Thank you. Yes, tried to do it for 50 years. Realised now it’s just not worth it. I can never do as well as my golden balls brother.

Now just need to regroup and look after my own little family unit.

ChocoChocoLatte · 16/09/2025 13:12

@redbugedmine are exceedingly well off, thanks to their dad’s endeavours. They do work hard but all thanks due to leg ups & introductions. I don’t begrudge them, my parents were lovely. We just don’t mix in the same circles or have the same opportunities yet are exceptionally happy with our lot in life. We still never seem to quite measure up & for the sake of my mental health I just no longer care.

VimesandhisCardboardBoots · 16/09/2025 13:20

Absolutely adored my Aunt when I was growing up. She was only 16 when I was born, so she was the fun cool one I could talk to about absolutely anything.

Turns out she's a vindictive manipulative nutcase who shagged my Dad a few times.

Orangesandlemons77 · 16/09/2025 13:27

Some others in my family are from another country and getting weird about my moving to England.

Going on negatively about living in a town and not the countryside, and that is 'seems a harsh place to live' sending me things from the other country in the post for e.g. birthdays I didn't realise how annoying this is until recently. (not like nice things but tourists tat)

Still perimenopausal so this may be main me sensitive. they don't seem to understand that others like to live in a town / warmer place and have set ideas about things. I never noticed it when younger.

I wonder how much ageing and entrenched ideas might be changing things / maybe they were more flexible or pleasant / understanding when younger? perhaps

Or maybe just the same but we never noticed it.

Whatareyoutalkingaboutnow · 16/09/2025 13:34

Personally, I've only realised some things about my family with the benefit of age (and hopefully wisdom).
My mother was particularly difficult, had a bad temper, manipulative and aggressive. My childhood from about age 10 was miserable and traumatic.
It's only now I realise she was probably bi polar, depressed or even schizophrenic.
My dad was "anything for a quiet life" and I used to feel sorry for him as the main butt of mums behaviour. Now, I realise he actually enabled her, didn't do anything to protect me from it all. My brother is 7 years older and escaped a lot of the drama.

Motherofalittledragon · 16/09/2025 13:48

It sounds just like my mothers family, I cut them off a couple of years ago, half brother included. I’ve absolutely zero regrets and it’s quite freeing knowing I no longer need to listen to their toxic bile that they spew!

Orangesandlemons77 · 16/09/2025 16:29

There is that saying You can choose your friends but you can't choose your relatives, I suppose!

HerewardtheSleepy · 16/09/2025 18:11

I can't abide mine. Thankfully, having moved for work reasons, they are now at the opposite end of the country. We really only meet now at the crematorium in my home town at family funerals.

I'd be lying if I said this upset me.

TheFunDog · 18/01/2026 13:46

Grew up with many siblings... loved them all, and thought they would always be there for me.
As times moves on and some have died i realise how selfish and self centred they mostly were. And they don't care about me a jot.
Very sad.. but that's life.

Lottapianos · 18/01/2026 13:50

redbuged · 15/09/2025 20:00

@Frightenedbunny Sorry to hear that, its difficult trying to keep your parent happy and also do what is right for yourself.

And at some point, you might decide that you can't both be happy. Either you protect your parent's happiness, or your own happiness, but you can't have both. I chose myself - it's tough, it's painful, it's involved a huge amount of grief, but I would make the same decision every time ❤️

3luckystars · 18/01/2026 13:51

As a teenager I avoided my family completely as we had nothing in common. I couldn’t get out of the house fast enough.

As an adult I made an enormous effort with them all.

Now I’m realising I was right as a teenager. I am going to move right back this year as it’s not good for my health to be around them very much.

Turns out teenagers do know everything 😁

InWinter · 18/01/2026 14:41

I get this, totally. I experienced a completely different upbringing to my cousins on my dad’s side (and my mum’s side), which was full of neglect and abuse. My dad was convicted for some of that abuse, and when I outed him to the family, nobody wanted to know.

His mother (my grandmother) was pretty abusive, as well. She strongly disapproved of his marriage to an older woman with children (my half siblings), she was awful to said siblings as a result, and she was witnessed assaulting my grandfather in front of his colleagues at work. I only know about that because my step-grandfather on my mum’s side worked at the same place and saw it happen. I’m pretty sure none of my cousins know about it (whoops!).

Some of the cousins have grown up to be entitled and snobby, the same could be said for my dad’s sisters and brothers. I lived with a sister at one point, and she psychologically abused me to the point I didn’t want to be here anymore.

Because my parents are the worst, I also have no relationship with any of my siblings. I have always been made to feel ‘less than’ them. My parents also made baby me (a new half sibling that none of the older siblings wanted), an inconvenience to my older siblings. They’ve never been particularly warm to me since. (I am now estranged from both parents).

I’ve tried hard to ‘fit in’ (easier said than done, especially since I’m neurodivergent), but there was only so much rejection I could take.

I also couldn’t forgive my grandmother for her behaviour, and our relationship was completely at odds with all the other cousins who thought the world of her.

I’m not sure if I could ever relate or have a relationship with them.

Nowadays, my priority is raising my own children to understand what a healthy family relationship looks like. Going no contact where it was needed has helped a lot, and my husband and his family give our children all the love they need. I’m very lucky, in that regard.

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