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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be starting to feel quite resentful of this situation and to have a talk with DH

79 replies

JuneBug7 · 02/09/2025 18:43

DH and I share two young children, he also has two older children who are 11 & 14.

In February of this year their mum had a breakdown and they had to come and live with us. She has been pretty unwell since and so they have continued to live with us full time, seeing their mum the occasional weekend, never overnight .

The children are great but I am starting to feel really resentful of the situation for a few reasons.

Firstly, DH is still paying their mum maintenance despite them not having lived with her for over 6 months (and not doing so again any time soon). We are not poor but we are not wealthy either so this isn't money we don't miss. He says he doesn't want to make life even more difficult for their mum (she is not working and also has other children) which I understand but I think it's time it stops and that money is our towards our family.

Secondly, I feel like there is just an expectation that I will cover additional costs 50:50 with DH and, perhaps wrongly I concede, it irks me. He has not offered anything more than his half to anything, food shopping, take aways, day trips, treats etc.. it's just assumed that I'll pay half like we did before (we have separate finances). This was ok before when DSC were here less frequently but now it's as though I'm just expected to absorb £££ extra a month to cover his DC being here.

We earn practically the same so it's not that I am the main bread winner. I don't know how to fully explain it because if he offered I'd probably say it was fine and I'd pay half but it's the assumption.

Lots of our costs have nearly doubled and the assumption is we can just go halves, while he's also still paying his ex to not look after their DC too?

I feel like I am being taken for granted and walked over and I am starting to really resent the whole situation. Aibu and aibu to tell DH this and say the maintenance should stop now or if not he will have to make up the shortfall for our extra bills himself.

OP posts:
Whaleandsnail6 · 02/09/2025 18:51

Yanbu.

The maintenance is money for the costs that come with caring for the children. They are with you two the majority of the time now, therefore your costs have naturally increased

Fair enough not to put a claim in for maintenance from her, but I think that he needs to stop his contributions for now.

MidnightPatrol · 02/09/2025 18:48

I can see that this is very frustrating.

You don’t mention what has happened when you have tried to discuss this increase in expenses with him. What does he say when you ask?

I agree it is difficult re: maintenance and he does sound like he is at least looking out for the mother of his children in a difficult situation … but giving money to support her while the additional money basically half comes from you isn’t fair, no.

I’d suggest asking to discuss a deadline around the CMS payments, as while happy to DSDs to stay, you don’t want to be out of pocket while money is going to her for the children.

NoSoupForU · 02/09/2025 18:47

I understand from both perspectives. I think he sounds like a decent man, and its very noble of him to want to do the right thing. Perhaps rather than cutting the money off altogether he could discuss reducing it.

Regards paying for the children, I think in a marriage those costs should be family costs and I'd feel quite upset if I were in your husband's shoes.

Ddakji · 02/09/2025 18:45

That seems very wrong to me. That maintenance money should be used to help cover costs for his children now living full time with him and you.