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Being a Mum after being abused by your own Mum.

Anonymous Author (April 2008)

Being Physically and Mentally abused by your mother since you were a baby is a hard thing to deal with when its your turn to have your family. I have had to change my whole way of thinking just to be able to be a mother.

Now not to

be rude or mean, but my mother had me to save a realtionship that was well and truely over. she lied to my dad and said she was on the pill when she had stopped taking it a few months prior. Dont get me wrong my dad loves me to bits and i da have a good realtionship with him, but he was devistated when mum said she was pregnant and he thought it wasnt his as my my does sleep around (at this point he didnt know this, but assumed) he did what he thought was the right thing as stayed with her. they got married when i was 10 months old and she walked out on him 3 months later. this is when he found out that there was a huge chance that she was cheating on him. he filed for custody but sadly lost. this is when the abuse started for me and what i can remember my form of cutting and hurting myself.

in the first year of being away from dad we moved 12 times. i was neglected and often left with my nanna, grandad and Aunty ( T is 6 years older than me and we are more like sisters than Aunty and neice). i to this day call her my real mum and sister as thats how i feel about them. when i was 3 we lived in a block of flats in Worcheshire ( not a nice place to live) i was told to go and play while mum entertained her numurious men that she would have over. i would have to go to either my uncles who was a few units up or go 4 stories down to the play ground. one day this backfired on my mum and i was taken by some ppl ( i will not name them as i feel it isnt nice)that lived in the lower floor of these flats. i was gone for 5 hours. they returned me after that day, but didnt give the the promissed lollies. i think it was my aunty that realised i was missing. this was after 4 hours of me being gone. then the beatings and being locked in my room started. where we lived the door handles we 2/3 up the door, so a small child (which i was) could not reach them. i also had all but 2 of my toys taken from me. i learnt from this age that i was nothing to my mum but money and her men friends were more important than me. thankfully after a while she met a man M and they got enganged. at 2.5 my dad wanted to take me to england for 2 weeks to meet my family, but she said no. and assumed he would keep me there as at the time neither mum or dad were australian citersens ( mum is now but dad still isnt) dad took it too court and won that he could take me. so off i went. i came home 2 weeks later to find out we were movig again. this time to sydney. now this i have blocked from my memorie. all i can remember is mum never being there, her leaving M and we came home (to perth) after my dad found us and she was 6 months pregnant.

then it got worse. i wont go into detail for 4-17, but i will say this is when i started cutting myself often with knifes. the first time i was 4.5 i couldnt handle my sister screaming so i thought it would make it go away. in high school it got worse and mum used to dislocate my knees (thus them being so bad) and i wsant allowed out of the house. i had to cook and clean the house while mum sat on her bum ( she never had a job) and watche the soapies on tv. I had to get my sister off to school so needless to say i never did my TEE as i had no time to study. she also made it hard for me to go and see my dad. i used to beg him not to let me go home. but he wouldnt listen. i would get smacked and beaten all the time. if her coffee wasnt right i would cop the lot. when my sister in year 8 got suspended for doing P O T on the school oval i got blamed for it.

she kicked me out a few times but at 17 was the last time. i went to dadss. and this was all over that i bought her a cup that said worlds best mum. LOL ( a joke in my head)

My life was never better living with dad. i had freedom. i cleaned when i wanted to. dad waitered on me. we had the yummest food ( dad is a great cook) i did my art course and met chris. (who 8 years later i still deeply love and adore)

then my problems got bad again. i was pregnant with Jamie. when he was born i said to chris help i dont know what to do. i told him about the years of abuse and he said we would take it one step at a time. his family (very religious) all prayed for me and my salvation. sadly my mother got to me and i almost gave into temptation and ended my life with Jamie 6 weeks old. thankfully and yes it is religious, but god told me i had greater things for my life and that i a lot to do in my life and that i was to help ppl like me. ( thus why i am writing this)

now as some of u know 3 years ago i had a breakdown as i didnt deal with any of this and having a daughter brought all these bad thought back and i started cutting again.

now the way i hav delt with this in the last 3 years is this :

  • i am not perfect. nor am i a perfect mum. i dont need to be. all i have to do is love my children
  • nurture. nurture my children. show them they are valued and wanted.
  • if you feel the negitive say to your children " mummy is having a time out atm" my children know what i went through as a child so they in their way understand
  • get councilouring. it helped me overcome alot
  • talk to your partner or a friend who u trust

it has been so hard to parent my children as att imes i do see her face when i disapline my kids. and they see it as i see the fear in their eyes. at this point i stop and hold them appologise and i cry. my kids also know their boundaries and know what disapline for what things (i am going to write about that too)

i do hope this help people who have been in a similar situation understand there is life after abuse and there is no excuse for carrying it on

 

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emmie
November 2008 | emmie
Re: Being a Mum after being abused by your own Mum.

Good on you for writting this it must have been hard to write so sad . I could never hurt any child ecspecially my own. hugs to you xx



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PrincessCourtney
November 2008 | PrincessCourtney
Re: Being a Mum after being abused by your own Mum.

Good on you I too came from a mother who traumatised me, and have moved on and build a happy stable life. Unlike you It wasn`t religion that saved me but hatred strangely.

It sounds strange but when my son was about 14 months old he threw himself to the floor and screamed, I calmly picked him up said "thats bad you can go to bed now", i walked out of the room and ran to the bathroom to be phisically sick. That was all it took for my son to calm down and behave, I was repulsed by how easily my mother would fly off the hook and into a rage, in that very second I knew I was so VERY DIFFERENT i would NEVER EVER hurt my child like she did to me.

Good On You - Keep believing in yourself and know YOU are so Much Better than that :)

Peace



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rcp-432
September 2008 | rcp-432
Re: Being a Mum after being abused by your own Mum.
i havent been abused by my mum but my family went through severe domestic violence done by a police officer and then being raped 4 times and then docs falsely removing me from home at 12 and half i have over 400 scars on my body so can understand how it feels when it comes to self harming but i havent done that for 9 years now since i have met my partner and had my four kids so keep your head up you went through some really bad times but dont forget your not alone


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Yvonnevdgryp
September 2008 | Yvonnevdgryp
Re: Being a Mum after being abused by your own Mum.

Annie, I can sympathise with you and know exactly how you feel, I went through the same thing. My mother wanted to shoot me when I was just two years old, but my father stopped her, we never had a grear relationship. We did not have that bond that normal families do. All these years it haunted me, until I decided to put an end to the bad feelings. After my mom died, I felt more or less "relieved" I went to seek help from professionals and I am doing fine. I was to scared to have my own children, I was afraid that the cycle would repeat itself. I vowed to never have children, but eventually I did, and this was hard to handle, I fell into a deep depression after my son was born. Post natal depression, because I always thought I would fail as a mother, so I went on medication. Today I love my son to bits, and we have a strong bond, I promised myself I won't make the same mistakes my parents did. It took hard work for me to rise above my childhood sircumstances, but I succeeded. No one knows how it feels to drag all these bad memories with you for so many years. I turned my negative feelings into positive one's and I promised myself to stop thinking about these things that was hurtfull, I do sometimes think of it, but at least it is not haunting me anymore. Today my father denies what happened and refuses to talk about it, so I decided to cut him out of my life, which was the right thing to do. Although he stopped my mother from shooting me, what he did to me, as I grew up wasn't different from what she tried to do. Someone once told me, if you want to have a normal happy life, cut out the parts that makes you unhappy, which was my dad, I cut him out. People ask me about him, and I just tell them I don't know anything about him, and I don't care anyway. He came to visit me once, and I promised myself never ever again. He is still that tiran who wants to rule my life like I am still a small child , I never saw him again, and I won't until one day when he is dead I will go to his funeral and that would be the end of it. So girl, stay positive, cut out the bad thoughts, force yourself to be positive and stay positive. Never ever go back on the same road, because if you keep on looking back you won't be able to see the beautiful life infront of you. Yvonne



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anniebabe
September 2008 | anniebabe
Re: Being a Mum after being abused by your own Mum.

thanks for sharing

hugs and kisses annie



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exquisite-flower
September 2008 | exquisite-flower
Re: Being a Mum after being abused by your own Mum.

Good on you for recognising and breaking what could have become a terrible cycle.  I often notice how much I copy my parents in different situations. 

You have proven it is not only possible to survive, but it is also possible to heal if we just try to make it happen and give it a chance.

Peace
EF.x



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COLE2008
August 2008 | COLE2008
Re: Being a Mum after being abused by your own Mum.
that was so sad but i liked the bit at the end when you got on your feet again well i know what you went through i thought my mum was bad when she said i cant have a child till im 30yrs old and if i get pregnant before then i have to have an abortion but i got kicked out of my mums place and lived with my dad who my mum said wouldn't want me but i knew she was wrong and i won a $500 voucher at school within 2 months of leaving mums and living with my dad plus im 19 now and me and my boyfriend of 4 in a half years who is also 19 are trying for a BABY but i am still scared of what my mum will do to me if she finds out when i get pregnant do you have any surgestions for me?


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      exquisite-flower
September 2008 | exquisite-flower
Re: Being a Mum after being abused by your own Mum.

I have never experienced what you have described here, but I would be so bold as to say that it is your life, and while you may make right/wrong choices sometimes as long as you make each choice with full conviction that this is best for you then go for it.  You cannot live your life for anyone else but yourself. 

I have made plenty of bad choices/decisions but I know that with what I knew at the time I made each one the majority would not change.  So go live your life, be happy and enjoy yourself.  If a family when you are young is right for you then go and be a great mother!  It truly is an honour and a privilege.

Peace
EF.x



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      vickileamac
September 2008 | vickileamac
Re: Being a Mum after being abused by your own Mum.

My dear you are an adult now not a child there is nothing she can do the law is on your side if you deside it is time to have a family and your partner agrees who is she to stand in you way Good luck  



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      PrincessCourtney
November 2008 | PrincessCourtney
Re: Being a Mum after being abused by your own Mum.

you haveto cut your mum completely outta your life... or your child might live in fear of her too. I had to do this with my mum its hard but worth it




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Queen-Fire
July 2008 | Queen-Fire
Re: Being a Mum after being abused by your own Mum.

This is such an inspiring story, and there is hope out there for everyone if they are strong enough.



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MJB
July 2008 | MJB
Re: Being a Mum after being abused by your own Mum.

you are such an inspiration! i worry myself sick worrying i will turn into my mother and carry on the mental, emotional and physical abuse- ur article was a great help and comfort! thankyou!



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loopylisa
May 2008 | loopylisa
Re: Being a Mum after being abused by your own Mum.

Just browsing through 'advice' and read this.It is so sad Lib and it is heartrending stuff.You have proved you're a great person and a fab mum and partner.You are an OK person who is acheiving good things despite your difficult start in life.You were very brave to write this and sharing it with everyone.Lisa xx



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tania
May 2008 | tania
Re: Being a Mum after being abused by your own Mum.

You are a very brave young ladyand you have come a long way you are a survivor and thankyou for sharing your so sad story I feel for you.   

 



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mummy2girls
5.00 (Excellent) | April 2008 | mummy2girls
Re: Being a Mum after being abused by your own Mum.
well done for writting your story down. lol to you and your family xxxx.


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miz4mum
5.00 (Excellent) | April 2008 | miz4mum
Re: Being a Mum after being abused by your own Mum.

Unfortunately I know what you're talking about, I myself grew up in a very similar hostile situation with my mother, I feel your pain, and want you to know that you are a beautiful soul, paving the way to strength and prosperity for those who feel like they are the only ones who have to deal with these demons. God smiles on you for your honesty and integrity, it takes alot to share something like this.

My hat goes off to you,



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      Libby24
April 2008 | Libby24
Re: Being a Mum after being abused by your own Mum.

thank you for reading this.

I do feel so sorry for all ppl who have to live like this. it is truely sad that a mother cannot love her child in a positive way.



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           robalman
May 2008 | robalman
Re: Being a Mum after being abused by your own Mum.

It really is hard to look at all the other kids with loving families and continually ask the question...Why?

It is good however to see that that many of these children have grown up with determination for it not to happen to their own kids. A real credit to them.



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superpo
5.00 (Excellent) | April 2008 | superpo
Re: Being a Mum after being abused by your own Mum.

Hello! I'm new on here and ran across your story and just wanted to say thanx for sharing–especially because unfortunately, I think there are way too many moms out there who act a lot like it sounds like your mom did–a kid is just a meal ticket to them. It makes me so mad!!! That's really amazing that you've been able to overcome so much and that you are making a conscious effort to treat your kids better.

I can tell you that I'm the result of a mom who made a conscious effort to not be like her mom (she was beaten with a hairbrush for very minor infractions all through her childhood. obviously not as severe as what you went through, but still abuse) and she resolved to find a better way to raise us, her three kids. I am very thankful for that and as I result I try my best to be a lot like my mother in the way I parent, although it's hard sometimes because I'm not always as naturally patient and calm as she is! So, I just wanted to let you know that your kids will definitely appreciate you someday, although it may take awhile for them to fully comprehend how hard you had to work to give them a better childhood than you had. I know I didn't really understand what my mom went through until I was an adult.

Thanx again for sharing!



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      Libby24
April 2008 | Libby24
Re: Being a Mum after being abused by your own Mum.

thanks for takign the time to read this.

it is hard to go from a buse to positive parenting and not letting ur kids get away with everything.

I do smack my kids and i do yell at them but only as a punishment and i always explain why they got a smack.

I am also glad i have such a suportive husband



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      robalman
May 2008 | robalman
Re: Being a Mum after being abused by your own Mum.

Our life is our kids...our kids are our life...or at least that is the way it ought to be.

Quite often people become parents by means other than planing. A majority of these new parents are but kids themselves in the way that they have not experienced the world. Sometimes education is poor and money is tight and there is no family to turn to for assistance.

It is not all that long ago that there was little assistance for people in this kind of situation and it is no wonder that depression would have been close to the home.

Stresses like but not limited to the ones I have described would not make things easier for people new to parenting and I understand and am even a little sympathetic to them when they struggle to offer positiveness to their little ones.

Just another way of looking at the big picture and understanding that parenting is not easy and at times does not come at all naturally to some of us.



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nell18-3
April 2008 | nell18-3
Re: Being a Mum after being abused by your own Mum.

Thanks for sharing this Liz

I just can't imagine the feelings of being hurt in this way by your mother

xxx

 



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August88
April 2008 | August88
Re: Being a Mum after being abused by your own Mum.

Thanks for sharing Liz. How hard that must have been. I didn't realise you had been through so much. Well done for turning your life around and becoming a better person for this. I wish you all the best, Lynette xx



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angieh
5.00 (Excellent) | April 2008 | angieh
Re: Being a Mum after being abused by your own Mum.

Thanks for bravely sharing your experiences with us. It's terrible what happened, and I hope you continue to take this negative experience and making into a strong and positive mothering experience. No one is perfect, but I know you can do it!



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llmunchkin
5.00 (Excellent) | April 2008 | llmunchkin
Re: Being a Mum after being abused by your own Mum.

You have alluded to an unhappy childhood before, but I had no idea of the extent of it Liz.  You are very brave to write this and I hope it gives you some solace to be sharing your story with others who may gain inspiration from it.



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      Libby24
5.00 (Excellent) | April 2008 | Libby24
Re: Being a Mum after being abused by your own Mum.

thanks llmunchkin



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      robalman
May 2008 | robalman
Re: Being a Mum after being abused by your own Mum.

For me sharing troubles makes my life more at ease.

A trouble shared is a trouble halved.



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robalman
5.00 (Excellent) | April 2008 | robalman
Re: Being a Mum after being abused by your own Mum.

Good on you for having the strength to become you.

You will be an asset to any child you bring into this rapidly changing and at times ...Yes...Evil world.

Keep enjoying your life and thank you soooooo much for sharing this with us.

Keep looking forward.....the world needs more people like yourself.

Love Robert



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      Libby24
5.00 (Excellent) | April 2008 | Libby24
Re: Being a Mum after being abused by your own Mum.

thanks Robert



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mumof2b
5.00 (Excellent) | April 2008 | mumof2b
Re: Being a Mum after being abused by your own Mum.

What an amazing story Liz........I had tears and goosebumps all the way through this. You have come through so much.........You must be so very proud of yourself and I'm sure when your kid's are older and they can really understand what you went through, they will be too.

Amanda xxxx



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      Libby24
5.00 (Excellent) | April 2008 | Libby24
Re: Being a Mum after being abused by your own Mum.

thanks amanda.



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monyq83
5.00 (Excellent) | April 2008 | monyq83
Re: Being a Mum after being abused by your own Mum.

wow. what a powerful read. thankyou for sharing, Im sure alot of members will be able to relate to this.



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      Libby24
5.00 (Excellent) | April 2008 | Libby24
Re: Being a Mum after being abused by your own Mum.

thanks sweety



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Kellzacar
5.00 (Excellent) | April 2008 | Kellzacar
Re: Being a Mum after being abused by your own Mum.

Hi honey,

Thanks so much for sharing your story . . . Like you I had an abusive mum and when I faced being a parent I knew that I had some serious thinking to do as I was determined that my children would be raised in a healthy environment . . .

Well my thinking made it all so easy . . It was simple really, i just told myself that whatever my mum had done I had to do the exact opposite. This is what I have done and I have GREAT kids . . .

Many expected me and my sister to fail due to all the abuse we suffered BUT we are both GREAT mums and everyone that knew our history all tell us what a great job we have done and are doing . ..

Repeating the past is NOT an option for most of us that were abused as kids . ..  You, I and many others are proof of that!

Cheers Kellz

 



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      Libby24
5.00 (Excellent) | April 2008 | Libby24
Re: Being a Mum after being abused by your own Mum.

thanks sweety.

that is one thing that really upsets me is ppl who were like us and do they same to their kids. it doesnt take a heap of effort to change.

thanks for your feedback Alana.

Luv Liz



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      robalman
May 2008 | robalman
Re: Being a Mum after being abused by your own Mum.

Well said.

It is good to have the strength to push on.



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cathbusymum
5.00 (Excellent) | April 2008 | cathbusymum
Re: Being a Mum after being abused by your own Mum.

 Thank you Liz, that must of been very hard to write. You should be proud that you are no longer a victim but a survivor. I am sure this advice will help many people in the future.

 



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      Libby24
5.00 (Excellent) | April 2008 | Libby24
Re: Being a Mum after being abused by your own Mum.

thanks sweety



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ph419always
5.00 (Excellent) | April 2008 | ph419always
Re: Being a Mum after being abused by your own Mum.

Hey Chicki

I understand how hard it must have been for you to write these, as previously you have only given me glimpses into what is a very painful past. You are strong and loving, and nothing like your mother. Bad times will come, as will struggles with the past, but you have a wonderfully Husband, (at least) two friends who care for you deeply, and Jesus who loves you even deeper than we do! So you are NEVER alone!

HUGS

Pia

 



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      Libby24
5.00 (Excellent) | April 2008 | Libby24
Re: Being a Mum after being abused by your own Mum.

you my sweety are my best friend and you know it. :) i would be lost with out and Mr B and chris too.

it was hard to write and i did miss things out as i didnt want to upset ppl too much, some of that u do know about. but i just want ppl to know if they have been through this they can be better people for it and be wonderful parents. having Alex and Charlie has helped me so much putting my past beind me and making me realise that they are the best thing in the world.

Luv Ya

Liz



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cazza
5.00 (Excellent) | April 2008 | cazza
Re: Being a Mum after being abused by your own Mum.

Thank you for sharing this with us liz and this sure would have being hard to do , and hope that by writing this that it has helped you as well as helping others that what u have advised here is so true.. There is no need for Violence to carry on through from our childhood to our children..

Its hard for some to understand what we go through as ex abused children, but doing what you have done today can help those understand that we no longer have to be the victims and that there is help out there, and we can be better parents to our children,...

You are a amazing mum and friend..

xx cazza



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      Libby24
5.00 (Excellent) | April 2008 | Libby24
Re: Being a Mum after being abused by your own Mum.

thanks so much cazza. you are a wonderful friend and mum too.



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