Hi my name is nativeAmerican and this is my first postĄ I need to talk about the difficult relationship Iīve had with my father for many years. I am 29 years old and to recall a good positive moment with my father, a moment of connection and understanding, I have to go back 15 years in time.
I moved abroad and started working when I was 21 years old, and that meant that the problem has been "latent" for a long time, I talked with my family over the phone once every 1 or 2 weeks, the problem was there but just that, latent. 9 months ago I went back home so that I could finish my second degree, meaning that I was again economically dependent from my parents.
I was able to stay at home only 8 weeks because of the arguments, I felt so mistreated, judged, gaslighted, and decided to move to our holiday house so that I could just feel normal and continue with my life. But in all these months he never let me have much peace as he has been coming to our holiday home EVERY SINGLE SUNDAY so that he could enjoy his hobbie.
2 weeks ago we had a big argument because I told him I didnīt want to see him at our holiday home, I told him it was too painful to see him or even talk to him. I explained him all the frustrating situations that I felt for so long since I was a teenager, and all he said was that they were all "JOKES".
I told him about how upset I was when he insulted me a few months ago because I didnīt want to speak to him. One Sunday in August I spent the hole night and morning vomiting after suffering from food poisoning, he was the only other person at our home and refused to go to the pharmacy or provide any help.
I remember the way he mistreated and looked at me when my maternal grandmother was dying in hospital (his relationship with my maternal grandparents was bad for many years) and I decided to spend the night with her, that was the last time I saw her as I was living abroad.
Some time ago my family was doing a daytrip and my father told me to "do my plans" excluding me from it. This summer I was doing the final exams and it was very painful to see him, yet he kept coming every Sunday, staying for some hours, doing unnecessary stuff in the garden. It is very painful to listen to him, have him nearby, talking as if nothing happened, as if it was all in my mind, as if I was too sensitive, as if it was all my fault.
I feel deep inside that my parents are being incredibly unfair and unkind to me, yet they have been supporting economically these months, but have used it in comments to cause pain, and "explain" the abuse I feel.
I have so many bad memories with my father. When I was a teenager I was part of a sports team, he would take me to the competitions and races every Sunday. I never won but being part of it was a big success for me. I hated the way he talked me down, and the nice words he had for the others. My family visited me once while living abroad years ago, but they were in economic trouble and he seemd so upset, so disconnected from me.
I had an expensive bike and one day he was organising the garage, he promised me he would put it back inside when finished. 4 months later I came home for a few days and the bike was still ouside, obviously rusted because of the rain and the weather. I feel he never cared about anything I care, my exams, my accomplishments, the difficult moments, I feel heīs never been there.
I talked with mum and younger brother and sister but they donīt see the problem, they donīt see my pain, all they say is that I take things too seriously. I ve been visiting a therapist for several sessions but all he mentions is that there is a HUGE communication problem between us, but hasnīt mentioned anything about emotional abuse. The problem is that I donīt think my father is a very good person, I donīt think all this pain is caused by just misscommunication.
All I know is that I never had this problem with anyone during all the years living abroad (almost a decade), and I FEEL mistreated by father. I havenīt had any positive moments together for years, but weīve had arguments, bad gestures and looks coming from him, judgments, so many judgments for son long, Iīve been judged by the way I drink, eat, walk, talk, behave, interact, think, look... Iīve felt so much anger because my pain is not understood at home.
ThanksĄ I will appreciate any input
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