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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU To be annoyed with my DS mother switching her phone to speaker phone every time I call him ?

88 replies

HughHonour · 05/09/2014 22:44

I am a separated father with a 50-50 contact split with my son who is eleven . Occasionally I call him on his mother's phone to chat as he has no phone of his own . I found it annoying and a lack of and respect of privacy that she switches the speaker phone on and adds to the conversation or responds to a question I ask my son . Completely over-involved . I would simply never do the same if she phoned on my phone . I should say that she lacks boundaries and completely no self awareness .

OP posts:
OddFodd · 05/09/2014 22:48

How about you get your DS a phone then?

ButtonBoo · 05/09/2014 22:48

On the face of it, no YANBU.

Have you asked her why she does it?

ashtrayheart · 05/09/2014 22:49

Yanbu but might be an idea to get hi a phone.

ButtonBoo · 05/09/2014 22:50

I don't think it had anything to do with the fact he calls on her phone. What's wrong with a conversation between father and son? I assume you see your son on his own?

thereturnofshoesy · 05/09/2014 22:52

can't judge without the back history

WooWooOwl · 05/09/2014 22:56

If you have 50/50 care of your son then YANBU.

Get him his own phone, just a cheap little pay as you go Nokia will do. You won't even have to put much money on it if it's just going to be used for you to phone your son.

HughHonour · 05/09/2014 22:57

The back history is negative but not something that should get in the way of me asking about a couple of days in his new school . It's as if she feels she is entitled into knowing and listening to everything I tell him . She knows I'm and excellent father and has expressively said so herself ....

OP posts:
bellarations · 05/09/2014 22:57

Out of interest how old is your ds?

Assuming there is no history of ill treatment she sounds like a controlling nosey Parker.
Just tell her, you have called to speak to your ds, could you put him on please, thanks. You need to tell her.

ArabellaTarantella · 05/09/2014 22:59

with my son who is eleven

OddFodd · 05/09/2014 23:00

The OP said his DS is 11. Frankly, I'd expect most 11YOs to tell their mum to butt out if they insisted on having the speakerphone on.

Why don't you just buy him a PAYG phone so you can ring him on it?

HughHonour · 05/09/2014 23:01

She is controlling . New phone looks like the way to go . Thanks

OP posts:
TalisaMaegyr · 05/09/2014 23:07

Be prepared for her to control that too though. Does she use MN?

bellarations · 05/09/2014 23:14
  1. Oh missed that! Sorry. It's tricky, you need space to communicate so a phone of his own is a good idea but do ensure everything is out in the open.
Thefishewife · 05/09/2014 23:14

Sorry but their must be some back story of mistrust

I would have to do this with my son if his father was interested

All I will say a letter was once sent to my son I have since discovered in the said letter my ex was trying to find out if my son was able to get hold of his passport with out my knowledge oh the letter it's self was also supposed to be kept a secret but luckily my son has had it drummed into we don't keep secrets

I would trust him with a barde poll

TalisaMaegyr · 05/09/2014 23:17

Sorry Thefishewife but that's bollocks. You have no idea about a backstory.

HughHonour · 05/09/2014 23:25

She has been diagnosed with anxiety issues . She does not use MN . Has few friends . The anxiety issues have led to many irrational incidents . Has a tendency to blame me and the world for everything . A victim .

OP posts:
dawndonnaagain · 05/09/2014 23:28

You sound unsympathetic and unpleasant.

TalisaMaegyr · 05/09/2014 23:39

Have you actually asked her not to do it?

MexicanSpringtime · 05/09/2014 23:42

dawndonnaagain I think your comment was uncalled for

HughHonour · 05/09/2014 23:43

I have asked her kindly . She may stop I just find it intrusive and overbearing .

OP posts:
minkah · 05/09/2014 23:47

I expect she has her reasons.

dawndonnaagain · 05/09/2014 23:51

He has a son with special needs, his ex wife suffers from anxiety and he calls her a victim on a public forum.

HughHonour · 05/09/2014 23:55

Minkah : if she knows I'm a good father then what possible reasons could she have ? Self worth ?

OP posts:
steff13 · 06/09/2014 00:06

I expect she has her reasons.

Must we always assume that the mother is in the right and the father is in the wrong? Some men are actually nice people, who are good fathers. True story.

SaucyJack · 06/09/2014 00:10

I'm sure she does have her reasons.

But her reasons are quite possibly because she's a nosy control freak,

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