Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Ex husband and new kitchen

238 replies

donotknowhownottomind · 17/11/2019 07:27

Ex moved out 19 months ago and we have been divorced for almost a year.

It was a horrible divorce - I divorced him due to emotional abuse mainly - and he does not speak to me at all. Any logistical message which I have to send him is never responded to - ever. Though he does read them and sometimes do what is suggested.

One of the worst things about our marriage was the fact that he would regularly subject me to very long silent treatments - we are talking weeks and weeks. It’s hardly surprising that having had the temerity to divorce him I am now dead to him 🙄.

The settlement meant that I got the family home and he got smaller assets, which put together roughly equalled the value of the house. He could have sold these and got somewhere suitable for him and the kids when they were with him, but instead he has been building a new property for him to live in for the past I don’t know how long, and living in another of his assets which is not suitable for the dc (teenagers).

So he has been coming to mine when the dc are home from school and cooking for them - while I am still at work. We never cross paths. The last time we came face to face was in February.

This has been ok but I have recently told him (by unanswered email) that it has to stop when he finishes his house - because I can see a situation where he either never finishes the house, or the dc don’t want to budge and he is still coming to mine months down the line.

The issue now is that after months of saving and planning and buying units and organising it all, and emptying the old one, I am having a new kitchen installed, to replace our very old and manky one.

Aibu not to want ex, who ignores me completely, to be using it when it is finished? Not always but he sometimes leaves a mess, I know he bangs pots and pans around but now we have a fragile induction hob, and he used to sometimes cut straight on to our wooden worktop (Angry) when we were together, but he better bloody not do that to the new ones being installed!

As is normal, all the effort has been made by me (am painting it as well), but he might even get to use it before I do - it will be ready to use on Tuesday afternoon.

Aibu to just want ex to go away and to claim what is now my space? Am I being petty?

Forgot to add that he very obviously got together with someone while we were forced to live in the same house for months during the divorce. It was extremely painful for me. I don’t know if they are still together, but he obviously moved on at the speed of light. Why, two years after this, is he going to be in my hard worked for kitchen which he essentially won’t give a shit about?

OP posts:
BitOfFun · 17/11/2019 08:46

New kitchen, new stamp on your home and life.

The kids will have to go to his. If they can't be arsed, that's their lookout.

Honestly, you have to start asserting yourself here, or you are simply sending your (male?) children the message that women exist purely for men to wipe their feet on.

LazyDaisey · 17/11/2019 08:50

“It’s about the new kitchen” logic goes both ways. “It’s about his new build” before his children too. He could have had somewhere to cook for them if he bought a house or rented a proper place and he chose not to first.

donotknowhownottomind · 17/11/2019 08:56

I think two of them hardly come downstairs while he is here (so my old lodger told me).

They’re a mixture of boys and girls.

Yes they just want their comfort. Only one of then would be bothered by ex not coming here in the afternoons. I have told them before that the arrangement would have to end and will now say that I am ending it. When / if ex ignores my second email I have just sent, I will think about a solicitor’s letter.

OP posts:

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

donotknowhownottomind · 17/11/2019 08:59

I agree that the kitchen is a natural break and a good time to set up a new routine.

OP posts:
donotknowhownottomind · 17/11/2019 08:59

them not then

OP posts:
WhoKnewBeefStew · 17/11/2019 09:03

YADNBU he needs to sort alternative arrangements.. your dc will adapt

mulberrybag · 17/11/2019 09:04

I really understand where you are coming from and how difficult it must feel to change this.
You will seem the bad person in this situation because you've allowed it so far. But you've allowed it because you've spent years of being emotionally abused and you're probably programmed to keep the peace. Also, if you do say to the kids - your dads not allowed in our house anymore - they will see you as being unreasonable, as you've allowed it for 18 months.
I think I'd be tempted to sit them down and explain how out of the norm this has been so far, and tell them that you want to redefine your rules and from next week onward exdp will have to either take them out or they'll go over to his.
I really feel for you as I know how it sounds so easy from the outside to say change the locks, stop him coming in etc. but the reality is that the situation needs a bit more of a delicate negotiation period so that you don't end up looking unreasonable in your kids eyes.

Thatnovembernight · 17/11/2019 09:05

i would point out to your children that he won’t even SPEAK to you and as he can’t be civil then this can’t continue. Put the ball in their court about how they spend time with him (since they are not little). I’d also explain to them what other posters have suggested about how they would feel if a teenager was going through their room and using their clothes and things while they were at school each day. I hope they see your side of this.

LittleBearPad · 17/11/2019 09:07

and it might mean the dc seeing significantly less of him for ages.

That’s his choice - plus based on your last message they don’t see him even when he is there.

If the youngest is 13 they can cook their own dinner - they can certainly reheat!

madcatladyforever · 17/11/2019 09:07

Just say no.

FairyBatman · 17/11/2019 09:08

If you have already told him that it has to end , and he hasn’t been able to whilst the kitchen is out of use you could email him today and remind him that the cooking arrangement has ended, and that if he wants to cook for the DC he will have to pick them up and take them home. Remind him that he doesn’t have your permission to Cosme in your home and if he continues to get the children to let him in you will seek a restraining order.

Them remind your children that the arrangement has ended and they are to invite their dad into the house. If they want to eat with him they are to go to his place.

As PP suggested, remind them that you divorced him due to his behaviour, and that he has been given them means to buy a home. His choice not to isn’t your problem..

Christmaspug · 17/11/2019 09:08

This is utter madness
Get the kids told they are not to let him in .
Get him told he is trespassing

Zaphodsotherhead · 17/11/2019 09:16

You don't have to make it about the kitchen, but you can use the kitchen as an example.

You've made the house yours by fitting a new kitchen. The house IS YOURS. XH doesn't get the benefit of your house whilst living somewhere else just because your kids 'don't want' to visit him there. They are obviously all right with seeing him, is it discomfort they don't want? Because your house - your rules and they may just have to put up with seeing him elsewhere, or just not see him. That's up to them. But they need to grow up and realise that it's not his house (he's got one) and that if they want a relationship with their father then it shouldn't be done at their convenience, other people are involved too.

CallmeAngelina · 17/11/2019 09:19

No, no, no! This has to stop.

It sounds like it suits your kids more because they can't be arsed to go out to see him. There's no way I would have him pissing on my territory here.
He can play the victim all he likes - but you say he hasn't spoken to you for months anyway, so why should you care?

MrsElijahMikaelson1 · 17/11/2019 09:24

Yes it needs to stop and if your DC won’t go to his then that is their decision-it sounds like they really can’t be bothered anyway as they don’t come downstairs when he is there,
He will probably damage your new kitchen on purpose, he sounds like a right wanker

CallmeAngelina · 17/11/2019 09:46

And so what if they think it's all about the kitchen? You can have whatever reasons you like. It's your house, so your decision. He doesn't get to decide what's a good enough excuse.

SunshineAngel · 17/11/2019 09:50

If he wants to see them, he can take them out. It's not his house anymore. He doesn't live there. He has no rights to it. He can do what any other part time dad has to do.

Tell your children that they're not to let him in.

Is there anywhere else they can go after school on the nights he normally goes round, so he can pick them up from there instead?

yellowallpaper · 17/11/2019 09:54

Wait until he has his house finished and then put your kitchen in. He sounds more than happy to damage your kitchen so I wouldn't give him the opportunity. Then it's a total ban. Kids will have to lump it

AnyOldPrion · 17/11/2019 09:57

it might mean the dc seeing significantly less of him for ages.

This stood out to me as well.

OP, if he wants to see the children, then he will find a way to do so.

If he doesn’t want to, then that is neither your fault, nor your problem.

Yes, the children will find out how much their father cares for them. You might have to deal with the fall out from that, but that is doable.

You are teaching your children that it is a mother’s responsibility to make sure they see their father. It is not. It’s his.

You would be unreasonable if you denied him access to the children. You are not unreasonable to deny him access to your home.

I would add that I too have recently left an abusive relationship. My teenage son has spoken of his relief that he can now see his dad, but is in a position to walk away at the first sign his dad is behaving in any way he doesn’t like. This is because he now has a home he can come back to.

You are denying your children the right to a safe space away from this abusive man when you let him into their house without you there.

yellowallpaper · 17/11/2019 10:00

Alternative put a lock with a key on the kitchen door and exclude everyone from it while he is in the house. Leave drinks, kettle etc somewhere else

carly2803 · 17/11/2019 10:06

sit your kids down and explain - this stops!! now

with respect, its insaine your allowing this!! this is YOUR house.

if he wants to see hiskids, he can take them out,go for a walk, you know make an effort?!!

Id understand if they were younger and he came to the house when you were there (if you got on)!, but god no!!

WaningGibbous · 17/11/2019 10:09

I would - as well as a lock on the kitchen door - put a Blink camera inside the hallway so you can tell gerroff my land at him You have to sit down and tell the children that, while it may be convenient for them it is not normal. Ask how many of their friends with divorced parents have this set up. Ask them, if it were them, would they want to have someone that wasn't nice to them making a mess of their house every day?

MollyButton · 17/11/2019 10:14

Can you get them counselling through school?
The 13 year old is old enough to heat a ready meal in the microwave (or something healthier you have prepared).
They are old enough to not see their father if they don't want/can't be bothered.

Maybe he will finish his house faster if he is having to lure them to visit him.

SurpriseSparDay · 17/11/2019 10:17

Wait until he has his house finished and then put your kitchen in.

No!

Nothing the OP does should be dependent on her ex-husband’s actions. His house-building (fantasy) is none of her concern. (And it’s cleverly designed to back up his campaign to maintain control in his former home.)

Send the solicitor’s letter. Lay down the new law to the children. Move on with your life.

Goldenchildsmum · 17/11/2019 10:22

I cannot believe you are still allowing this. Last time you posted you were told the same,

Yup

Swipe left for the next trending thread