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How long can this go on

(171 Posts)
Namsnanny Mon 11-Jun-18 23:45:25

I'm feeling a bit fragile!
I have been trying desperately to keep contact with one of my AC for the last few years.
I'm stretched to full capacity. Like wet tissue paper about to tear into tiny insignificant pieces.

Its been so hard (as many of you will already know!) walking on eggshells. Trying to find that last bit of patience. Trying NOT to give AC reasons to break yet another arrangement to see GC.

Gaslighting and gossiping about me is the order of the day.

I'm isolated from my other AC's as they don't really get what is happening.
Nearly NCAC is charming and friendly to brothers and sisters so whowould believe me if I tried to explain anyway?

The isolation is almost unbearable. I feel like raw meat being whipped.

The nearly NCAC is waging such a terrifying war.

Every thing we used to do as a family, Nearly NCAC has taken control of and is now celebrated at Nearly's house instead of the family home, where we used to congregate.

I'm not invited.
This causes stress for the other AC's as they don't want to hurt my feelings, or feel they haven't done the right thing. Obviously they're caught in the middle! So they don't call or visit as they used to. It all causes too much fuss when all they want to do is get on with their lives.

It feels as if my lovely little family with all its difficulties is being broken up under the strain.

All, my side of the family (Nearlys Uncles Aunties cousins etc. + my mother and father) have gradually been excluded. Various excuses have given a gloss of normality to this behaviour. But all the 'excluded' have noticed the lack of contact and are mystified.

Nearly grew up with these people and seemed to enjoy their company all the while. Even as a young adult Nearly met up with these relatives frequently......until recently.

Sad for me if Nearly is happiest without us, but I am fast becoming accepting of this state of affairs.

I still love Nearly, but I'm sure Nearly doesn't feel the same way. I would let them go and try never to contact or even think of them, but for the GC

And what of this malicious mendacious game playing?

I'm trying to set things down to make some sense. But I'm afraid I'm just rambling really.

The really hard thing is not being able to see the GC.
I've been doing EVERYHING Nearly has required of me.
At first I wanted bridges to be mended. Although we would never have the caring relationship I had anticipated. I thought I could rub along, play the game....so long as I can see the GC.

Its the deliberate cutting me out of Gc life that is so very very hurtful.

I ring once a week, have to wait for a few days to get a reply call. Told I cant see GC for what ever reason that week try again next. One in every 7/8 week I get to see one of the GC if I'm lucky!!
Nearly is stretching it out slowly so that eventually I wont get to see them at all.
Its like bringing a frog to the boil, only I KNOW whats going on, and I FEEL every second of it.

I don't think there is anything anyone can do.

Its just helpful to know some of you here do REALLY understand and I don't have to put on a brave spin as I complain about my problems.

Great big Thanks to all for that smile

oldbatty Wed 13-Jun-18 12:38:09

I dont think that happens in families requires police intervention. Best of luck finding any police.

What can we do? Live our lives, let go of our children and rebuild something.
This is not to discount the pain of loss and grief expressed by some posters.

endre123 Wed 13-Jun-18 11:58:15

"Fault on both sides" was often said to victims of domestic abuse. It is very wrong, it allows bad things to continue if the focus is put on the behaviour of the innocent.

Another one "it takes two to tango" to victims of financial abuse. Again giving some rights to the abuser.

In the OP case the sort of behaviour she is seeing is abuse, gas lighting, someone very dysfunctional is behind it in the AC partnership to allow it to happen. It is not good for the GC, not good for the family and only serves the individual who wants so much control. If he sees he is succeeding in causing distress he will feel triumphant. However hard it is it is best to avoid these people as they have no empathy and certainly no compassion. Best make a life for the family without them. The GC will in time see it for themselves and reconcile with the wider family.

Am I right saying the AC is making up lies and allegations, stuff that has never happened? That can be seen as harassment and maybe a police matter. No one should have their lives turned upside down by lies even if the perp is an offspring. Sometimes a "talk" by the law wakes them up to reality.

Jaycee5 Wed 13-Jun-18 11:16:04

luzdoh I agree. It's like 'it takes 2 to make an argument'. Maybe technically, but when it is thrown at you when you have finally got up the courage to stand up to a bully it is just cruel. Tell a battered wife that there are 2 sides. It is ridiculous.

Jang Wed 13-Jun-18 11:14:43

Feel so sad for you Namsnanny: had a similar situation then I found out it was the girlfriend deleting messages from me, and stopping visits, I had almost thought he didn't want me in his life. Then the truth emerged when he called to ask if he could come and stay (afraid to return for his own safety - she was alcoholic)... all ok now with a fab lady with GC and very much in my life.
Hope you can get through this and it all gets sorted: sometimes I think AC don't think they need us, always left mine to come around in their own time, spent a while in the non-contact world with all my kids - now all is good!

luzdoh Wed 13-Jun-18 10:21:13

Rocknroll5me Brilliant! Your post is great! Thanks!
And many thanks NamsNanny and Smileless.

To any new arrivals here, this post has a bit more Acronym use than usual, reflecting the difficulty of the situation I think.

Rocknnroll5me really is perspicacious, hit the nail bang on the head when describing the DIL or DD or whoever instigates the no-contact. She said;
they are attention-seeking narcissists who enjoy wielding the power they have.

Smileless2012 Wed 13-Jun-18 09:33:36

luzdohflowers

No, can't top that explanation Rocknroll; great postsmile.

Rocknroll5me Wed 13-Jun-18 08:27:53

'Nearly' here is the name of adult female child. NCAC = no contact adult child. therefore 'nearly NCAC' = an adult daughter who has nearly gone 'no contact'. 'No contact' is a phenomenon where a decision is made to deny contact between grandparent/s and granchildren. (GC) often by daughter in law (DIL) but in this case by daughter (DD) rarely by son (DS) but they often collude with (NC DIL)wife. It is very hurtful and baffling and seems to have been started on mumsnet in defence of 'interfering' mother in law (MIL) or because they are attention-seeking narcissists who enjoy wielding the power they have. Nothing seems able to be done once this course of action is entered on. I hope I've got that right. Maybe others could do better. I hope it helps. There has been a lot of discussion in the posts above about the use of the acronyms. So probably reading those will help.

sodapop Wed 13-Jun-18 08:21:48

You are not alone Kitty74.
I feel so sorry for Namsnanny I hope she can find a way through all the problems and have some peace of mind.

Kitty74 Wed 13-Jun-18 06:49:37

I'm new to this site and am finding the abbreviations very frustrating. I found this post hard to understand.

Namsnanny Tue 12-Jun-18 23:26:41

you too luzdoh smile X

Namsnanny Tue 12-Jun-18 23:24:48

luzdoh......Thanks so much for everything you have said, it has been helpful, reassuring, and knowledgeable.

Living through your husbands suicide must have been traumatic for you. I wish I could say something useful. flowers X

luzdoh Tue 12-Jun-18 23:04:03

Namsnanny just briefly: Re your reply to NotSpaghetti about influence of the difficult daughter's husband/partner, if it looks like a controlling relationship, I wrote a reply to DotMH1901 about that which might/might not be relevant.

My difficult Adult Child also would cut off her nose to spite her face by the way.
Got to go to bed, night night. I do hope you get a good night's rest knowing you have lots of support and understanding here.

luzdoh Tue 12-Jun-18 22:53:04

Smileless2012 (Must go to bed soon!) - you are right, from the deep recesses of my mind I remember some depressing Psychology research which came up with the great news that when bad things happen to innocent people the victims tend to get shunned, albeit in a kind of subtle way. It seems that people are a bit scared of people who carry an aura of bad luck/illness/death. Also that's why they blame the victim. If the victim has some sort of responsibility in their illness/accident/being attacked or whatever it was, then the other people can think "Good, I won't let that happen to me!" Especially if they have a tangible way of "blaming" them such as their bad diet or walking home on a dark street (or being a bad parent!). There's tons of research. Even some research showed that Medics blamed the patients who did not recover, in some subtle way blaming them. Distancing the patients from themselves... I was widowed by suicide at 41, I know what "subtle shunning" is!

Namsnanny Tue 12-Jun-18 22:50:53

NotSpaghetti.......There is something in what you suggest I think.

Although I would say that Nearly is determinedly stubborn, as in the type to cut their nose off to spite their face!! So not meek and mild.

But, you have made me think back, and Nearly does nothing, nothing at all without running it past the partner first.

They are far more enmeshed than most couples.

I get the feeling Nearly has the need to protect their relationship (from me?) for some reason.

Thanks for that, I need to stop crying and do more constructive thinking smile

luzdoh Tue 12-Jun-18 22:39:53

oldbatty Thanks, I didn't dare turn the page back to refresh my memory! I hope I haven't hurt her, I fear I have. I mainly wanted to say that the subject is about very difficult Adult Children, so it would be surprising if people didn't talk about it! Thanks for putting me straight.

luzdoh Tue 12-Jun-18 22:35:49

Smileless2012 Crumbs! That's awful! Some people can't face the truth. When I was a student (the first time round!) I fell in love with TS Eliot, but haven't read him lately however the line
"Human-kind cannot bear very much reality"
immediately came to mind.
(Four Quartets, Burnt Norton)
I can remember as a child thinking how very wrong it was when people liked to say "There are faults on both sides".
It's the most stupid remark, so pompous and judgemental. I suppose every child that has been abused had faults? Or every girl who was raped? I could just go on and on. I know it's silly of me, but I just finished a bit of work on some psych research- not much - and it reminded me about how wicked some people are, how many people are bullied and have their lives ruined by people who behave as if they are perfect when in public. There are many perfectly innocent victims. So please everyone, stop saying 'There must be faults on both sides!"
Thanks Smiles!

oldbatty Tue 12-Jun-18 22:35:48

i dont think polyester was describing a perfect family. She explained how she doesnt see a lot of her adult children or grandchildren but when they do get together they have an o time. Possibly she would like things to be different? We dont know.
I get the impression she gets on with her life and makes the best of it.

luzdoh Tue 12-Jun-18 22:19:53

walkabout? = talk about!

luzdoh Tue 12-Jun-18 22:18:03

polyester57 I think you might be missing the point when you say you are fed up with people moaning about their adult children. It says more about you than about them actually. This is a discussion about a very difficult situation brought about by an adult child. Consequently it will not be surprising that people give their similar experiences on the subject and will walkabout difficulties encountered with Adult Children. It is, in fact a large problem among Grandparents and you are lucky that you have happy experiences in that area. If this subject makes you fed-up then just read a different one.
It doesn't really help the Original Poster to be given a description of a perfect family at this time. She told us, she used to have a very happy family. In fact I have a similar relationship with 2 of my children, as you describe. We do not communicate often but know we are there. When we meet it is often so similar to how you describe meeting your daughter. Looking back, at those times I had no clue as to what might happen in the future, how another daughter would make such a change in the dynamics. I think the shock of losing a happy family where they used to gather together is what has hit NamsNanny.

I don't think it helps to say we are "fed-up" with the subject raised by the Original Poster! It's like telling them to stop moaning. No one will post anything at that rate!

Smileless2012 Tue 12-Jun-18 21:48:37

I think you are a relatively new comer either to GN or at least to any thread that deals with estrangement luzdohsmile.

The "there may be faults on both sides" attitude to those of us living with this nightmare is all too familiar I'm afraid. I used to wonder why there had to be faults on both sides. Of course sometimes there are but other times this isn't the case and then it dawned on me.

If an AC can turns their back on their own parents and in many instances their entire family, and their parents and family are not at fault, if it can happen to us, it can happen to anyone, it could happen to other GN's so there has to be faults on both sides, so if some GN's know (as we do) that they've done nothing to deserve being cut out, it will never happen to them.

luzdoh Tue 12-Jun-18 21:44:31

Smileless2012 Hear! Hear! Abundant common sense and care and compassion as always! You said:
TBH (to be honest) does it really matter? Is it useful to Namsnanny to have her use of acronyms questioned and criticised when she's clearly in distress and looking for some support?
I thought it worth repeating!

luzdoh Tue 12-Jun-18 21:40:27

If you think GN uses a lot of acronyms you should try Mumsnet! Also, I have to say, they are very naughty in their language sometimes BUT very funny!

luzdoh Tue 12-Jun-18 21:35:23

BlueBelle I have to say that I totally disagree with your observation:
It would be very interesting to hear the story from the other side there may be faults on both sides

Why? I ask. Are you a Judge, is this a Court?

To what end? I ask. How could that move forward the situation for the poor lady who has written trusting us to hear her plight and give our thoughts about how she can deal with her situation?

What do you expect "the other side" to say that will enable you to provide some wisdom to help our distressed GN member?

Did you read her OP (original post)? Do you understand the word "mendacious" when the distressed lady cries,
"And what of this malicious mendacious game playing?"

You make it clear that you do not come to this web page to read what happens in another person's life so that you may provide friendship and support. You clearly come here with an idea of yourself as somebody clever and superior who will make some kind of proclamation of who is right and who is wrong.

Your self-importance regarding the person who wrote about the terrible situation in her life is palpable.

Unmoved by her words about how her once happy family are now ripped apart and she is so painfully cut off from them, you appear to think you can judge her by hearing what spin the perpetrator of her deep unhappiness would put upon the situation.

How does that help our GN Original Poster, courageously pouring out her terrible distress to us?

I suppose if I came to you with a huge wound in my leg because someone had just dug a knife into me, you would not give me a bandage until you had taken a look at the knife?

oldbatty Tue 12-Jun-18 21:05:16

OMG ( oh my god) lets all have a scrap about Acronyms.

tidyskatemum Tue 12-Jun-18 21:04:33

polyester57 stop polishing your halo and try having a bit of empathy with people who are obviously suffering. Otherwise shut up.