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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

A message to the woman sleeping with my husband and about to introduce your kids to my kids

205 replies

mojoawol · 13/04/2016 20:09

Please please think about it. Me and DH have been separated 6 months, you've been together 2 months. Making family introductions a) this soon after our separation and b) this soon after you've known each other is complete madness.
I know you're in the same place I was several years ago - he seems like the most amazing person you've ever met, you get each other, you connect blah blah.
You don't really know him yet. Slow down. My kids have been through alot recently. I'm sure your kids have too. There's no need to rush things. This is too soon.
Please.

OP posts:
WannaBe · 14/04/2016 11:55

It is far more damaging to the children to be pulled between parents who don't agree with each other. It is not possible to know how damaging or otherwise it might be to the children to meet a partner early on.

As I said upthread my eXH was the one who insisted DS be introduced to my DP early on because deep down I think that he hoped that DS would be upset and because he knows I wouldn't have risked that. But my DS gets on well with my DP. Conversely however my eXH also introduced his new DP to my DS early into their relationship and things have been much different there. But IMO the outcomes would have been the same regardless of timeframes. It's often about the people not the timing or the situation.

And it's also worth bearing in mind, for those posters who say they simply wouldn't allow it, that the ex isn't actually obliged to tell the ex when he/she is planning to introduce a new partner.

It's not wrong to feel apprehensive about a new relationship and a new partner being introduced into a child's life. But it is wrong to put those feelings on to the children.

And trust me, it is far, far preferable that the DC see a new partner as a positive experience, and that their experiences with their other parent and new partner/children are positive ones rather than negative ones. There is nothing to be gained from children who do not like their other parent's partner. Nothing at all.

So be careful what you wish for.

LaConnerie · 14/04/2016 12:01

Hmm some funny old posters on this thread...

IrishDad79 · 14/04/2016 12:20

By the way, I'm generally sympathetic to the idea of not introducing children to new partners early in a new relationship, especially if the ex is not comfortable with it, but the op's inflammatory thread title, I feel, doesn't reflect well on her.

Bearlyknitted · 14/04/2016 12:22

Do you think your posts reflect well on you, IrishDad?

The Op is going through a shitty time. Compassion eh?

LitteRedSparke · 14/04/2016 12:22

summerdreams "Why can't you say who he has around your children? Yanbu in my eyes aslong as there is a breath left in my body I would fight to not have people I was not comfortable with around my children. My seripus advice is dont allow it"

er right, if the person does not have a reason not to be allowed with children, then you have no right to stop it - you might not agree with your DC meeting your (STB)exs new partner, but thats tough really - you have to be a grown up for your DC

Just another spin on it from another thread - from a poster living with her new partner "He is not happy with DP 'babysitting' and would prefer to pay for a babysitter." - and the majority of answers are "he's being a U twat"

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/2614167-AIBU-about-EXH-organising-babysitting?

PosieReturningParker · 14/04/2016 12:26

I would!! I would go in very gentle and talk about if you all are going to make it work for the long term these things must be taken slowly.

notonyurjellybellynelly · 14/04/2016 13:00

Eustace, I hear you and I think you've offered good advice but the mention of masturbation has detracted from things.

MrsBoDuke · 14/04/2016 13:27

YANBU.
Vent on here as much as you want - it's a horrible place to be where you are now.

If anyone is genuinely offended by your thread title etc then they are exceedingly precious and to be ignored.

Thanks
wibblewobble8 · 14/04/2016 13:30

YABU. He's your ex. Detach yourself from him and his way of parenting the children when he has then (unless it places them in mortal danger). Otherwise it will just lead to both of you trying to control everything the other does. Im in agreement with Irish Dad tbh, your op is pretty crap and doesnt reflect well on you. It sounds less about your kids needs and more about yours.

Kingfisherfree · 14/04/2016 13:36

YANBU Flowers Sorry about what has happened to you and your family.

TimeToMuskUp · 14/04/2016 13:40

DS1's Dad introduced four different women to DS1 when he was tiny and we'd first split up. There have been plenty of others since. It wasn't ever my place to object or complain so I kept my head down and my mouth shut but it was horrid. Not for me; I was happier without him, but for DS1 who would ask me "where's so and so" after a visit.

You can't control what the other parent does. I'm a complete control freak and hated, and still hate, that there are elements of DS1's life I'm not in charge of. But accepting it and getting on with your own life so that the DCs are secure and happy is the absolute only way to handle this.

Nothing wrong with a vent on MN, though. YANBU.

MrsBoDuke · 14/04/2016 13:40

your op is pretty crap and doesnt reflect well on you. It sounds less about your kids needs and more about yours.

Hmm And...??
Ciggaretteandsmirnoff · 14/04/2016 13:44

irish if the title bothers you, makes your eyes bleed or offends you - hide the thread it really is that simple.

wibblewobble8 · 14/04/2016 13:46

And...

Well is this is just some random letter intended to go no further than mn then it means jack shit why even bother posting really. But if the op is going to act on her feelings then putting your needs above those of your kids in this situation is pretty fucking shitty.

DuckAndPancakes · 14/04/2016 13:48

Long post deleted.

Bollocks.
Condensed version:
You're doing brilliantly. Of course you are emotional. Of course it's a shitty and upsetting situation. Of course you should be concerned for your children's welfare.
If he proceeds to go through with all of this, continue being a superstar rock for your kids and let them know you're there to support them if they aren't happy. If this situation negatively affects them, I don't think you'd be unreasonable to ask him to reprioritise. If he can't, then maybe he doesn't see his kids.

DuckAndPancakes · 14/04/2016 13:50

Wobble - quite obvious to me that her kids are their stability is her priority Confused
Not her feelings or needs.

Ciggaretteandsmirnoff · 14/04/2016 13:54

It's really surprising that posters flock to threads like these just to say 'it's none of your buisness' keep your nose out' almost in enjoyment at being able to say it to another person.

It's not fair on the child when there is a succession of fleeting new partners as it can effect the child ability to form lasting relasionships when older. It's NOT unreasonable to expect your ex to just bloody wait a while.

Some idiots on here lately Hmm

LitteRedSparke · 14/04/2016 13:55

here is probably the only place OP can vent and say how she is actually feeling surely you can see that wibble?

you cant say stuff like this in RL as its 'just not done'

OP its fine to feel pissed off with this, but in the nicest of ways, you're going to have to let this one go and just do a lot of support for your DC and practice "thats nice dear"

PeppermintPasty · 14/04/2016 14:07

I think the OP has a right to come on an online forum for support. Some people seem bothered by her OP title/content. I'm not sure why. It's clear from that post and subsequent posts that she's after some support, some discussion about this.

The thing is, you can't change people, or make them see your point of view OP. He will think he is right, as will his new gf. Time will tell as to whether any introductions are hasty.

Although you say you are done with him, and I believe you, I think six months is quite early on in the process and that you have some further detaching to do.

That's easier said than done, but as others have said, you need to be the stable secure one for your DC in this situation. If he is a narc/has narc tendencies, then you won't stop him anyway. I feel you must don your tin hat and ride it out, looking to the DC and their reactions as your guide.

My DC have amazed me frankly, with their ability to cope with a father (in their case) who hasn't seen them now for 19 months and counting, but lives in the same village as us. He has been acting like a Jeremy Kyle reject, so the decision for me to be firm in the face of his shit has been easier and clearer than your situation sounds.

Keep on keeping on. I get that sense of desperation from you that comes across in your OP, but keeping the DC safe and happy at home when they are with you, being open and honest with them, making it clear that they can come to you for an unbiased discussion with you about things, is worth its weight in parenting gold in my opinion.

Re the unbiased discussion point, you're only human! I find it quite easy to be reasonable, and as objective as possible when talking to my DC about their father, all the while having an inner conversation with myself about how exactly he might meet his untimely doom and where exactly I would bury him in the garden if I could get away with it!

FuckCalmRhageOn · 14/04/2016 14:13

Emotions are a bitch.... matches some of the comments on this thread perfectly!
What's wrong with just letting her vent and get it out of her system?!?! If the ex is truly an asshat then of course the OP will worry over anything concerning the DC.
Personally I'd just be a constant support for the kids. Regardless of how much of a dick he is, he is still their dad and there is nothing worse then warring parents. Kids are resilient little creatures. Stay strong OP. And vent as often as you need to

summerdreams · 14/04/2016 14:20

Can I say I've been reading this wrong the ex is introducing them to the new partners kids sorry too much Wine last night.

WannaBe · 14/04/2016 14:27

It's fine to vent. It's ok to be upset. But as much for her own wellbeing as anything OP needs to acknowledge that this is about her rather than the children. Because this won't be the only thing which could cause upset. In fact the children may love this woman and may go on to form a happy healthy relationship with her, and this in itself could be upsetting to the OP.

At the moment there is just one woman. There is currently no talk of a string of women or anything like that, so for anyone to be suggesting that there is, stop projecting.

For the OP, clearly this split isn't something you wanted, and it's evident that it hurts that he has moved on and more importantly, is now looking to introduce your children into his new setup. Detaching from that is hard, especially as you're still in the grieving process for your own relationship.

But you need to put a brave face on this for your DC, and vent here, or to friends, or family or wherever is your support afterwards. But don't let the children see your discomfort at there being another woman in their dad's life. As hard as it is, she may be around for the long hall. And as difficult as it is, your children are allowed to like her, to have a relationship with her, and the more you enable that, the more your children will feel that they are not caught in the middle between the two of you.

And if your children are unhappy with the way things turn out, simply listen to them. Don't coach them, because their feelings are theirs to own, be those good or bad.

And he will make decisions which you roll your eyes at. Similarly though you may make decisions which he may be Hmm at. You're no longer a unit, so no longer run suggestions past the other.

My eye roll moment with my ex was when he announced just two years in that his GF was pregnant. For me it stung partly because we tried for a second baby for six years without success, a fact which he then chose to tell my DS. But on the other hand they weren't living together at that stage, but also there would be a thirteen year age gap between DS and the baby, and I couldn't imagine how DS might feel. As it was he wasn't happy. But a pregnancy is not a real baby is it, so I very much had to enable him to keep an open mind to the fact that actually, he might like this baby once it arrived. And he does.

And for those suggesting stopping contact. None of you are saying that with the interests of the children in mind either. We're talking about one introduction to a woman who may actually remain in their lives for the foreseeable future. If you honestly think that stopping children seeing their father, going through the courts, getting cafcas involved (because that is what would happen) is preferable to the children being allowed to meet daddy's new GF, then you need to take a long hard look at yourselves, and your children better hope to God that your marriages never break down - because of the damage you can inflict on them.

Views like "withhold contact" should have no place on a thread like this. Those views are not supportive of the OP either.

Doingmybestmum · 14/04/2016 14:31

tentative thoughts, hopefully helpful: having been the child in the situation (albeit a long time ago) the "new" children found out our address and started hanging around, they were as confused as we were. The adults were silent and confusing. Now, some decades on and with DCs of my own, I am afraid that there is only one way forward if you don't want your children pulled into a secret with their dad. Y
ou and your children's father will need to talk about the children (and only the children) and agree a narrative that you both stick to: you are and will always be their parents, they will always come first (he will need to mean it) but he wants them to be part of his life and you both would like to be honest with them, as painful as that may seem. This is not easy and may not work, but if he was ever decent enough to have children with hopefully he will step up. I send you an enormous hug - and get some Fluoxetine, it will help! xxxxxxxx

Petal02 · 14/04/2016 14:40

OP - I feel your pain. When I split from my first husband, I wouldn't have wanted the OW within a million miles of the cat, so god knows how it feels when there are children involved.

But I promise that it does get better, you won't always feel so raw.

fastdaytears · 14/04/2016 14:46

The woman in this case is not the OW.