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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Would you find this weird or am I being selfish?

145 replies

Onebabygirl · 30/01/2025 10:40

If you had an ex-boyfriend who you still thought fondly of, keep in touch with occasionally - (milestone birthdays, birth of respective children, death of parents etc) as he’s still friends with my brothers so I know some of what is going on in his life - no romantic feelings left on either side, but together on and off for over 12 years from ages 18-30 (now both in our 40’s so not been together for more than 10 years) lots of shared history but just naturally grew apart, how would you feel if you found out there was a chance he and your sister have been dating? Nothing confirmed as yet as part of me doesn’t want to ask because I don’t want to know, and maybe, because he was part of the family for so long they’re just hanging out as friends/a brotherly relationship.

YABU - they’re both single, you’re no longer together, why shouldn’t they be together and have a chance of happiness?

YANBU - that’s a bit icky, there’s plenty of other people out there to date.

OP posts:
GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 30/01/2025 12:02

If you were from the US Bible Belt, where such a relationship would often be considered incestuous, I could understand the objections.

But if you’ve been exes for so long, even if you’ve stayed in touch - and you yourself are happily married, I really can’t understand the problem.

Kingsleadhat · 30/01/2025 12:01

I'm wondering if it's because you are good friends now it will alter your friendship with him and your sister. It will be weird

Onebabygirl · 30/01/2025 12:01

BeLilacSloth · 30/01/2025 11:47

As you have children with him, yes it would be very innapropriate of them to get together. I would be fuming if I were you.

We don’t have children together. I am now married with children and he has a child with his ex.

OP posts:
Fishandchipsareyum · 30/01/2025 12:00

BunnyLake · 30/01/2025 11:57

She has children with him? I missed that bit.

She has kids with this guy ????? Oh my goodness, this is worse than I thought! "Oh daddy is dating my aunty" what ???? NO!

Fishandchipsareyum · 30/01/2025 11:58

meh2025 · 30/01/2025 11:35

There is a reason you feel weird about it, otherwise you wouldn't feel weird about it.

Either you still fancy him, feel you have a claim on him, are worried that you are about to be caught for having overstepped the mark, are worried they will discuss something about you that will embarrass you or something else.

You don't feel "weird" about someone you moved on from ten years ago if you really moved on from them and there is nothing else under the surface. You know this if you are being honest with yourself.

But the point of " moving on " is moving on , having your sister date your ex fiance is not a nice thing and I feel sorry for OP. If they got married and had kids she'd be aunt to the kids. Constant involvement.

Hdjdb42 · 30/01/2025 11:58

I'm a very mature and forgiving person, but I'd hate that and would avoid the pair. It feels icky.

Mischance · 30/01/2025 11:57

Not weird no.

Mrsttcno1 · 30/01/2025 11:57

I think if I truly didn’t have any feelings for him, things ended amicably, 10 years had passed and I was happily married this wouldn’t really bother me personally.

I can see where if it had been 6 months on from break up, he’d cheated etc I’d feel differently, but in the situation you describe I wouldn’t be too bothered.

BunnyLake · 30/01/2025 11:57

BeLilacSloth · 30/01/2025 11:47

As you have children with him, yes it would be very innapropriate of them to get together. I would be fuming if I were you.

She has children with him? I missed that bit.

EBoo80 · 30/01/2025 11:56

I knew two sisters who had a bit of a habit of doing this with each other’s exes. Super icky. However if this is a one off, and she’s serious about him, I would try to be happy for them. Tricky though!

ItGhoul · 30/01/2025 11:55

I'd certainly find it odd and uncomfortable. I'd accept that they were absolutely entitled to date and I wouldn't try to stop them. I'd accept that I had to live with it and I wouldn't make things difficult for them.

But I'd certainly find it strange and awkward and I wouldn't enjoy the dynamic.

WhatWasPromised · 30/01/2025 11:53

I don’t think it’s selfish but it does just feel a bit….weird.

I wouldn’t say anything I don’t think but I would find it weird.

Simplynotsimple · 30/01/2025 11:53

meh2025 · 30/01/2025 11:51

It was a very daft and super dramatic post that meant nothing.

Sorry for being honest. Now I really do have to go.

Your opinion has been noted 👍

theressomanytinafeysicouldbe · 30/01/2025 11:52

If you were holding a torch for him or if you had recently broken up then I would find it weird. But, you are married, you have no feelings for him and its been 10 years.

You stayed friends with him and your brothers and him are friends so he must be a decent guy. I think you should just leave them too it and at least you are prepared once they 'come out' and you can be congratulatory and it won't knock you off your feet.

meh2025 · 30/01/2025 11:51

Simplynotsimple · 30/01/2025 11:51

What a balanced and well thought out response. Thank you for convincing me to change my mind. Lol.

It was a very daft and super dramatic post that meant nothing.

Sorry for being honest. Now I really do have to go.

Simplynotsimple · 30/01/2025 11:51

meh2025 · 30/01/2025 11:48

Lol. Don't be daft.

What a balanced and well thought out response. Thank you for convincing me to change my mind. Lol.

meh2025 · 30/01/2025 11:50

BunnyLake · 30/01/2025 11:49

Thing is sometimes a person ends up dating an ex’s friend or a colleague at work etc. Situations where your most intimate moments could be revealed to someone who already knows you. Not every ex’s new partner is a stranger.

Yes, I could see that might make her uncomfortable. She should just own that if that's the case, otherwise she's being weird and controlling.

meh2025 · 30/01/2025 11:49

BeLilacSloth · 30/01/2025 11:47

As you have children with him, yes it would be very innapropriate of them to get together. I would be fuming if I were you.

She does not have children with him. She just still fancies him, or something else is going on.

BunnyLake · 30/01/2025 11:49

meh2025 · 30/01/2025 11:35

There is a reason you feel weird about it, otherwise you wouldn't feel weird about it.

Either you still fancy him, feel you have a claim on him, are worried that you are about to be caught for having overstepped the mark, are worried they will discuss something about you that will embarrass you or something else.

You don't feel "weird" about someone you moved on from ten years ago if you really moved on from them and there is nothing else under the surface. You know this if you are being honest with yourself.

Thing is sometimes a person ends up dating an ex’s friend or a colleague at work etc. Situations where your most intimate moments could be revealed to someone who already knows you. Not every ex’s new partner is a stranger.

meh2025 · 30/01/2025 11:49

Anyway, you are being really weird about this and I hope you can get to the root of why you are being weird about it.

One last thing to consider, have you told your husband how weird it makes you feel? If not, why not? If so, what did he say?

I've got to go, won't see any more responses, ciao. (really do have to go now, ciao)

meh2025 · 30/01/2025 11:48

Simplynotsimple · 30/01/2025 11:47

It doesn’t matter if it’s been 50 years, it’s about in the people involved. Dating the OP’s sister after many years of being intimate with her regardless of no feelings between the two of them now, is hurtful. The op has said she’s cried to her sister about the relationship she had and lost with this man, she has shared vulnerable moments about him and them. Yes those moments have long passed, but they still make up for the op’s lives experience. If it was just a fling between the op and this man I’d be more on the fence, but the entirety of her 20s was about her and him. It’s at the very least weird to move on to her sister.

Lol. Don't be daft.

Simplynotsimple · 30/01/2025 11:47

meh2025 · 30/01/2025 11:40

It's been ten years and they never flirted or did a single thing they should not have done when OP was with him.

It's not remotely disrespectful.

It doesn’t matter if it’s been 50 years, it’s about in the people involved. Dating the OP’s sister after many years of being intimate with her regardless of no feelings between the two of them now, is hurtful. The op has said she’s cried to her sister about the relationship she had and lost with this man, she has shared vulnerable moments about him and them. Yes those moments have long passed, but they still make up for the op’s lives experience. If it was just a fling between the op and this man I’d be more on the fence, but the entirety of her 20s was about her and him. It’s at the very least weird to move on to her sister.

BeLilacSloth · 30/01/2025 11:47

As you have children with him, yes it would be very innapropriate of them to get together. I would be fuming if I were you.

Hillrunning · 30/01/2025 11:46

I have 4 sisters. The idea of getting naked with anyone they had been with fills me with disgust.

NewYearStillFat · 30/01/2025 11:42

It’s weird. I wouldn’t like it.