Should I stay or should I go?

[BestestBrownies]

I have recently started dating a lovely new man after separating from my ex-husband almost a year ago. DP is also separated, but has an 8yo DS whom I have not met, although he has spoken of him a lot.

Just to be clear, neither of us broke up the other's marriage. We met after we had both separated from our respective spouses.

I am 36 and have no kids of my own. I'm not sure I even want to have any. Not because I don't like children. I work as a Nanny and love kids. I have no doubt that should the relationship become more serious, I would have no problem loving and step-parenting his son at all.

My issue is with his ex-wife. She is incredibly controlling, manipulative and just downright nasty. She uses her son as a means to hurt DP with little thought or care for how her actions and words will be affecting her own son both short and long term. DP feels he has no choice but to comply with her demands and whims for fear that she will prevent him from seeing his boy, whom he loves dearly.

So far, her behaviour has screwed up our plans and upset DP when we have been together several times, spoiling our time together. She doesn't know about me, so it's not intentionally timed, she is just like this with him constantly.

I like this man very much. He and I are on the same wavelength. He is everything my husband was not and although it's early days, I think we could be really good together and make one another very happy.

I know from reading these boards that there are plenty of other women in my position. Does it ever end happily ever after? Would you, if you could go back to the start of your relationship with DP, choose not to date a man with a pain-in-the-arse of an ex-wife and save yourself the heartache or was it all worth it in the end?

[picnicbasketcase]

It sounds like a very difficult situation but try to remember you're only hearing his side if the story, which is obviously going to be quite negative towards his ex.

[Bonsoir]

You need to help your DP stand up to his exW and the easiest way to do that is to marry him and have some DC of your own!

[BestestBrownies]

Thanks for the replies!

Bonsoir That's a bit drastic!!! It is very early days with the relationship, although we have been taking it very slowly and have been friends for around 7 months, we only started dating roughly a month ago. I don't think it's my place to get involved, now or ever actually. Other than to support DP of course.

picnic To his credit, DP doesn't slag her off to me. I just see the resulting pain it causes him when she once again puts her own needs before those of her son or does/says something to hurt DP that also negatively affects their son.

[BestestBrownies]

I suppose what I'm really asking is if being a step-parent to a child with an unreasonable, demanding parent (the ex), is worth it in the long term or if I should just cut my losses now, as much as I like my DP

[Bonsoir]

You have no credibility unless and until you have your own family with your DP. And two adults are a lot stronger than one! And when you have DC of your own, you can quite legitimately parent your DSS in the same way as you parent your own DC when he is with you.

[Bonsoir]

It's perfectly possible (my DP's exW is a nightmare) but you have to be strong!

[BestestBrownies]

Wow, OK. I can understand your POV completely Bonsoir. I suppose I'm just another girlfriend until/unless we become serious enough for marriage and kids of our own. Then I suppose my status becomes equal with hers in her mind? (Or not, as she'd always be 'first').

I suppose I'll just have to see how it goes

[Petal02]

Brownies – you state “I don’t think it’s my place to get involved, now or ever actually” but if you live with or marry this man, you will become involved. It’s unavoidable. If the ex causes problems that affect your household and those within it, then you’re involved by default. I don’t think anyone with a pulse could bite their tongue and smile sweetly when (for example) the ex wants you to have DSS for three days longer, ruining a weekend away you’ve got planned, or decides at the 11th hour that DSS won’t be allowed to join the family holiday you’ve arranged.

Step families are difficult, but not impossible. We’ve just despatched DSS18 off to University, and whilst I’m sure there will be future issues to contend with, the ‘child care’ phase is now almost behind us, and me/DH have survived. It’s definitely been bumpy at times, and I would have gone insane with frustration without this forum. But I wanted to be with DH despite the challenges; and as I suspect that men aged 35+ without children are pretty rare (if not extinct), you could be single for a very long time if you decide to only date childless men !!!!!

Bonsoir – I disagree with your comment that you have no credibility if you don’t have children with your DP. There are plenty of posters who’ve had children with men who already have a family, only to find that ‘first family’ children are at the top of the food chain.

[BestestBrownies]

Hi Petal thanks for your reply.

Yes, it is hard not to feel involved even at this early stage, as she already has the power to negatively affect DP by upsetting him when we have time together planned and she doesn't know about me yet. She will go insane with jealousy if/when she does learn of my existence and that I make him happy.

I naively thought before I met DP that being a step-parent would be my ideal. No pressure to have kids of my own (have never felt the urge to be a biological mum, plus it would mean I'd have to change career). I guess the reality is a lot harder than the fantasy!

I too have had the thought that finding a guy in my age bracket without baggage is going to be impossible! And I think what I have with DP is potentially special enough to see it through.

Sorry if I seem to be contradicting myself. I am in a foreign country having left all my friends/family back in London, so don't have a mate to chew the fat with. Just trying to make sense of my thoughts on here.

[Petal02]

I also thought that a step family would be the ideal - no pressure to go through pregnancy and child birth, I thought I'd be more like an Auntie (how wrong was I????)!!!

[HisLommel]

My fiances ex wife is without doubt the most annoying part of my life so far. The most frustrating part is that it's unnecessary distress she's causing to both us and her children.
That said, I've never once considered that I'd be better off out of it. My fiancé brings so much joy and stability to my life and we couldn't be without each other (vom!)

We're in the thick of it at the moment awaiting our final court hearing so things are stressful but we are still happy

[Stepmooster]

Its not just annoying ex wives to watch out for but the disney dads!

I had never heard of them until I met my DH and then stumbled upon this forum. I bought the book Stepmonster by Wednesday Martin upon recommendation (from China I think).

You can get it on Amazon and is very good, I made DH read it! He is a reformed disney dad who sometimes slips into old habits.

[mumandboys123]

I'm sorry, I just don't get it. How on earth could you possibly know she'll be insanely jealous and behave badly when she finds out about you? You've been with the man a month yet you know all the ins and outs of his ex-wife's personality and how she will react at any given moment in time?

[TheMumsRush]

And there goes the thread!

[TheMumsRush]

She's already behaving badly! There's your clue!

[elliebellys]

What exactly is she doin to upset your dp?

[lunar1]

Are you really sure she is as bad as you say? You haven't met her, she doesn't know about you.

If anyone is spoiling your time together then it's your boyfriend. If she doesn't know about you then how can she be to blame for spoiling things?

[Petal02]

I think the OP means that the continued friction between her DP and his ex sometimes spoils their time together, and she's wondering if it's worth the hassle. Which is a fair question under the circumstances.

[lunar1]

That makes more sense petal, I had read it as if she was doing things in their time together to spoil it, and thinking how could it be the fault of the ex if she doesn't know he is with someone.

[basgetti]

I had a brief involvement with someone who had a 'nightmare' ex. It didn't get to the stage where we met each other's children. To be honest it didn't seem like a great situation from any angle. Either he was telling the whole truth and if I had become more deeply involved she would have made my life a misery, or he was the type of man whose ex is immediately referred to as awful, crazy etc as soon as they break up, and I could become the 'psycho ex' just as easily. I ran a mile.

[louby44]

I too read it too that the ex wife spoils things for the DP and his son, which then has a negative impact on the time the OP has with her DP.

It goes without saying then that this woman will in all probability escalate her anger and jealousy once she finds out about her ex having a new partner.

OP has he had a relationship with anyone else since his relationship ended? Or are you the first?

[Fragglewump]

Hmmm.....I would be wary of getting involved in any really fraught situation. My dh exw wasn't too bad when we met.....and I was impressed by the fact that he didn't criticise her to me at all. But 8 years on its still a struggle and I think always will be for many many reasons. It can work but I suspect it won't be easy!

[Petal02]

Natasha - DSS is now at Uni, apparently he's really enjoying it. So no more access rota.

[louby44]

But in answer to your question, things can get better.

I met my DP nearly 6 years ago, he'd been separated a year and it was very bitter. We have 4 children between us.

Initially his ex wife and her then partner were very nasty to my DP. They would send awful texts/voicemails to him, which forced him to get his solicitor to send them both a letter asking them to stop. Which actually worked.

Ex wife was very controlling, visits were set in stone and if he was 5 minutes late she was on the phone wanting to know where her children were. It was all a bit over the top.

Things have improved greatly and they now get on much better. They speak and he's even been invited in for coffee on a few occasions.

So things can get better with the passage of time.