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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask my DC stepmother to pay for their extra curricular activities?

478 replies

secretagent007 · 13/01/2013 14:10

Backstory:Ex-DP and I broke up 7 years ago, he left for another woman, we already had two DC - DD1 now 10 and DS now 8. After being splitting up I found out I was pregnant with DD2, but ex decided to stay with other woman and they were married 2 weeks before I gave birth. 6 weeks after I had DD2, OW discovers she is pregnant and gives birth to twin boys, so EX now has three DC who are 6 years old, as well as OW already having a DD who is only a month younger than my DD1.

Well that was an info spill; now onto the real issue:

My DC stepmother not only has a high paying job but when her first DH died he left her a very considerable amount of money and because of this, as far as I'm aware, her and EX keep separate finances, both contributing a percentage of their wage into a house hold account and then whatever is leftover is their own to spend on what they see fit (I know this seems like a ridiculous amount of information to know about EX finances but how I know will become apparent in a minute) Ex is a firefighter and earns a pretty average wage.

SM spoils her DC (Her and Ex have had a further three DD's), they have the best of everything - toys,clothes, electronics activities. Her eldest two DD's are both in competitive dance and own multiple ponies that they compete with , something my DD's would love to do but will never get the chance as I can't afford it.

My DC spend every fortnight, Friday evening through to Monday morning, at their fathers and most weekends follow are the same; SM and her daughters go off to a dance competition or horse show, while EX takes DTS to whatever activities they are doing that weekend, all fine and dandy, except neither me or ex can afford for them to do these activities, so my children just have to go and watch their brothers Angry This is how they spend almost every weekend with their father!

Naturally this has caused more then a few fights between me and ex, as I think it's cruel to get my DC up every Saturday morning to go watch their siblings do all these fun activities knowing that they would never be able to do them. Ex has said he would pay half if I payed half, as this is what He and OW do,because it's not fair on his wife and other DC if he pays the full lot for our DC. He doesn't seem to understand that I earn a low wage and cannot afford to even pay half.

This is especially hard as the children are all such similar ages.

EX does take them all to soft play, wave pool and movies ect after, which is fully paid for out of his own pocket after ( I know, what a saint), but that doesn't make up for the fact his children have been forced to sit around all morning watching their brothers have fun.

It just seems my children will forever be getting the blunt end of the stick because their father and stepmother have decided to have separate finances.

So, would I be unreasonable to ask their step mother to either fund or give permission to EX to fund these activities? After all it is because of her financial situation that my children have to miss out, as she has made it clear to ex that she expects him to split everything evenly between all his children, and spend no more or no less on our children then he does on theirs, and she could afford it or would that just make me bitter, jealous cow? How should I go on from here?

OP posts:
allnewtaketwo · 14/01/2013 15:52

I very very much doubt that the ex contributed towards the cost of the ponies or their upkeep.

irishkitkat · 14/01/2013 15:53

As I far as I can gather a good proportion of the SMs wealth came from her late DH who we think is her DDs father. If the ponies were bought with the DDs inheritance money then no they don't belong to the SMs new husband. They belong to the DD. I would also think that many of that DDs activities are being funded by this inheritance and not by the SM and her DH.

LPplusOne · 14/01/2013 15:53

Xposted Dizzy - I'm glad you're finally placing the blame elsewhere than the SM! (Who, in all honesty, may be trying to 'do the right thing' by intentionally giving DF space to spend with his children over the weekend.)

allnewtaketwo · 14/01/2013 15:55

I would be interested to know how the court order for access came about. It does suggest that the ex was keen to see the children more than he was "allowed", particularly as mediation failed. But it seems the OP is not returning

pigletmania · 14/01/2013 15:57

I agree it's up to the ex really, not SM. what she des with her money is up to her. But ex has to provide more for his kids with op

pigletmania · 14/01/2013 15:57

Where is the op?

DizzyZebra · 14/01/2013 15:58

It doesn't matter who laid out - They will be taking up a large chunk of income - He contributes to the hobbies, which i assume is included in this. They will be impacting on his life - He should get a say.

I bought my horses before i met OH - When we became a couple i still gave him a say over what we did with them, their care. That's what couples do. It doesn't matter who was laying out for them. You become a couple, You make decisions together, based on what is best for your whole family, not just the children that live with you all of the time.

I do feel for some SMs to be fair. I couldn't do it. I wouldn't. Not for anyone. Not even my OH. Makes me a hypocrite because he's done it for me. But still. I'd make a child miserable. So i wouldn't involve myself.

CoreOfLore · 14/01/2013 15:58

Dizzy Have you ever seen horse show mothers? The only way I can describe them is closely related to those pageant moms in america. If the SM is anything like the ones I've witnessed I'm not surprised she won't allow anyone to ride her ponies in her absences. Horses are expensive when their just hobby riding, but show horses - Phew, I don't know how anybody affords it!

pigletmania · 14/01/2013 15:59

Stop dragging them to,activities where they cannot take part in

DizzyZebra · 14/01/2013 15:59

There are lots of reasons allnew - My court case came about despite me giving the ex 50:50 care... It was out of the blue. He'd been planning it for some time though!

allnewtaketwo · 14/01/2013 15:59

Putting all this aside (and notwithstanding I strongly think things need to change regarding how the children are ferried around on a Saturday morning) -

I do think it's a great shame that the OP's children don't do any activities at all in her charge. As other posters have pointed out, many council run activities are very very cheap. Is there really nothing at all they can be doing?

DizzyZebra · 14/01/2013 16:01

Core - I have many years experience with horses of all background. I have taught children. It is quite frankly an absolute basic bit of knowledge - How to stop a child pulling your precious ponies mouth - Detatch the pigging reins. SIMPLE. AND makes for a much better rider.

I frequently ride without reins to keep myself in check!

irishkitkat · 14/01/2013 16:06

I trying to think about from the perspective of the SMs late husband. If I I had any wealth to speak of (which I don't Smile) I think I would want to make sure that, in the event of my death, the vast majority of my wealth passed to my DC, not to my DHs new children and not to his new wifes DC. From his perspective I would imagine he left the money so that his DD could have ponies and private school, not so other children could benefit. It's all foreign to me anyway because we and my DSCs DM have a similar level of income (not much!!) and we all do our best to make all the DC happy.

allnewtaketwo · 14/01/2013 16:07

"When we became a couple i still gave him a say over what we did with them, their care. That's what couples do"

Not necessarily. DH has a specific hobby that involves expense items. I don't take anything to do with it, including who can use these items or how much money he spends on them.

DizzyZebra · 14/01/2013 16:10

Kitkat - Half an hour is hardly spending his wealth on someone elses kids is it?

Allnew - Does his hobby impact your choices in life? Do you have to consider your DHs hobby if you want to go out for a meal, or visit family, or go for a family day out, Or just spend time at home with your family for once? Does your DHs hobby cause you to have to drop everything at a moments notice when it goes arse over tit in the field no matter what you're in the middle of?

allnewtaketwo · 14/01/2013 16:10

Dizzy you're sounding a bit obsessed with this reins issue. Let it go FGS.

We've already established the children are allowed to ride the ponies. The fact that the owner of the ponies is only happy for them to do this in her presence is not the problem here. The problem is that the OP's children have to sit and watch the DTs do their activities on a Saturday morning. This issue would not be alleviated by the OP's children riding the ponies on a Saturday morning, as their father is "too busy" and the SM by the sounds of it has her hands full with 5 other children

allnewtaketwo · 14/01/2013 16:12

"Allnew - Does his hobby impact your choices in life?"

But the ponies do not impact the ex's choices in life! He has the choice what to do with his children on a Saturday morning. Ponies or no ponies.

SoWhatIfImWorkingClass · 14/01/2013 16:12

So the inheritance was for Sm's first child. I get that bit and she should be the only child who benefits from it.

Then she has children with her DP and she also has stepchildren who have 2 parents actively involved in their lives.

I think the disengaging point is a very valid one. She is taking a step back and concentrating on her own children. She is a high earner and her children reap the benefits of this.

That said, as it is not really a new relationship anymore, the disengaging point could be a little bit dated now as the SC are familiar with her. I think that when the children are THERE, she could be including them more as they are part of the family.

I am a SM and I have always said that DP's daughter is part of our family and I will make sure she's happy and included when with us- and she is. We live in a two bed house, have a son and another on the way and once the baby is ready to move in to his own room, he will share with his brother and SD will have our room which we will decorate for her. When she is here I would bend over backwards for her but that's not to say I HAVE TO. But I will.

When she is in the care of her mother she is no longer my responsibility financially or otherwise. That is when I concentrate soley on my children and it is between my DP and his ex to make arrangements about anything. If it concerns me such as if DP and his ex were discussing additional expenses, for example school uniform, snack money, I'd help him to pay for that no issue.

On the whole I concentrate on my own children when SD is at her mum's, so if we went on a day out somewhere on her mum's weekend she wouldn't be missing out as she'd be doing something with her mum. But if she's here of course she will be included.

DizzyZebra · 14/01/2013 16:14

Allnew - I was just making a point that her excuse is crap!

The ponies will impact on his life in general - He will undoubtedly have to sacrifice certain things in order for them to have them. Therefore he should be allowed some say! Its half an hour fgs.

allnewtaketwo · 14/01/2013 16:14

If the SM has a FT job and 6(?) children, I very much doubt she does even part time 'care' of the horses. I'm pretty sure it's outsourced

allnewtaketwo · 14/01/2013 16:15

You weren't just making 'a' point, you've made it about 100 times

CoreOfLore · 14/01/2013 16:17

Dizzy, you keep saying it's half an hour - What is half an hour?

elizaregina · 14/01/2013 16:17

"You know the saddest thing of all? This family has the potential to be such a happy one. And the step mum is ruining it out of spite. "

totally agree dizzy - agree with all you have said - my BF at school had a pony, sometimes when I stayed over with her on a friday - we would both go to her stables, she wld go off on the horse as she was more advanced - but they made sure i was entertained - then i was allowed to trot round on the reign etc....it was great fun.

DizzyZebra · 14/01/2013 16:17

Because no one seems to be understanding that there is no reason for that shit and the ex needs to stop being a twat and tell her to sit down and have a minute! The whole situation is just ridiculous anyway and i can't believe i sacrificed my opportunity for a nap to argue it :(

I'm going to say ta ta for now ladies! Lovely discussing with you, As much as i would like a nap, It has been enjoyable.

irishkitkat · 14/01/2013 16:17

Sorry Dizzy I was referring to the idea that the ponies were family belongings when if they came from the inheritance i believe they belong specifically to the DD. I think it's a bizarre set up but then as I mentioned I have no idea how truely wealthy people operate. The OP mentioned the inheritance was the reason they keep finances separate so I'm assuming it's had caveats to protect the eldest DD. I could well be wrong but the OP hasn't clarified. Also if it were me I would just let all the kids enjoy whatever luxuries we could afford.