Toxic dad, who never supported me is always complaining and asking for support (money wise)
Hey, my story might be long but I need to seek advice, I will take any comment of course with a pinch of salt as people experiences can be different. I woke up in the middle of the night, with all these thoughts in my head, these thoughts been hunting me now for more than a month, I talked to my close family about it (my mom and brother), and all what they said, please look after yourself first and this is not worth it. For information, am currently pregnant, I had a difficult pregnancy and my hormones shifted from feeling nothing to feeling a lot. The event that triggers all these thoughts I mentioned above, is one day, decided to gift my dad, 2 tickets in a musical concert that costs decent money back in my home country, growing up, I always knew, he liked this singer, he is pretty famous, he performed lately in my home country, I called my dad and asked him if he would like to attend his concert and his answer was "oh that would be a dream of mine"... I called him few days later after I booked the tickets, I sent his the receipts in What'sapp, since he doesn't understand English, I called him happily to announce this and his answer shocked me a lot !!!!!!! He was complaining that these concerts, need people who have money pockets, so afterwards they can go out and go for dinner and he is not sure if he wants to go, blablabla because he can't afford this, while I was already repeating to him , "no this is already paid, you only need to go there with my half brother if you want too" and he hanged off the phone on me ...
This event triggered everything I have lived, all the numbed trauma. Let me now explain the background:
My parents got divorced when I was 8 years old. My mom survived lot of domestic violence from my dad, I remember he beat her many times, I would cry and run to hide in my bedroom. I remember, the next day of my birthday, he literally put her face on the stove of our kitchen, beating her face because simply she didn't invite his family (siblings and parents) to my birthday, the birthday that he didn't contribute too a penny. I am calling out this events that I remember for more than 20 years now (I am 27 years old now)...
Afterwards, my mom asked to divorce him, this man, he never contributed to our expenses, if I recall he only sent my mother 100 euros per month, but this never covered our school, our clothing or food, neither our medication and health... Later, he stopped contributing, because he knows how my mom is a good person and she will never take him to court..
Now, that am pregnant and remembering my childhood, this man never bought me a single pair of underwear or socks, he married after the divorce, and got a kid with this new woman, that years later, I discover (as a secret family), he cheated on my mom with this woman that I always thought she was a nice perfect step mother...
Growing up, I performed very well at school, I was always top in my class and university too. When I moved abroad and needed money, ofc this man, never supported me, he would only spend on me few manipulative words that ethnic parents does " I am praying for you, you are getting my blessings..."... He never asked me if I needed something.. When I got a job now, well paid, he always asks for help implicitly as I know he can't dare to ask explicitly,... for eg: that he is tired from working (he is 67 years old and he was his own small business), he can't afford paying the school fees of his son, etc.. I am very soft emotional, I supported him few times with good money, but after the concert event, I cut everything, I don't send him money anymore, I started setting boundaries.. One day he called me, angry, telling me " why i don't ask about him anymore", or " if he did something to me"... Of course, I didn't confront him and now I regret that...
Recently, we talked and pretended as nothing happened, he complained how hard it was for him to buy the sheep (for eid), as it was so expensive and only his siblings supported him... ofc I neglect what he said and didn't try to explain myself..
Any advice, I really have the urge to speak and confront him because apparently he thinks he did lot of work with me a child and it is my duty now and obligation to support him and his family...
I will keep it short, there are lot of ideas that bothers me, but at the end, I am very grateful, for the mother who has always been there for us, as a mom and dad in the same time, she never missed our birthdays, she invested all herself and her assets in our education and raising us, she never got married again even if she divorced young (37 years old)...
Weeks ago, my dad texted me, and reminded me to say happy birthday to my half brother, while he never remembered our birthdays, he is the main provider for his new family as his wife never worked her ass off ,, been a stay home mom and he was the sole provider.. I am not jealous but I feel it was unfair towards us..
Please help and any advices !!
Posted Jun 12, 2026, 11:45 PM UTC