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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Aibu- sorry, a bit long and probably very whingey!

52 replies

Snoopysimaginaryfriend · 25/04/2016 15:12

First time posting in here and fully expect to be told I am being unreasonable/hormonal/pfb or all of the above Smile sorry it's so long but I don't want to drip feed.

Background: DH and I have been together just over five years, married 18 months. DH has an 8 year old daughter from a previous relationship. I was not the OW. In fact I met DH because we started working together just after he left his ex. He waited more than a year before he asked me out as I was in a long term relationship that ended. I wasn't introduced to dsd until we had been together nearly a year. By this time dh's ex was in another relationship and had introduced him to dsd.

I have never officially met dh's ex. She seemed to take an instant dislike to me, evidenced in nasty texts and screaming down the phone at DH, and this ramped up after she split up with her boyfriend about 18 months into our relationship. Since then she has not had a boyfriend.

I have tried to empathise. I have no idea how hard it is to be a single mum and hope I don't ever have to find out. I have never replied or retaliated (don't even have her number) and have always tried to treat dsd the way I would want my own daughter treated, but sometimes I feel I've been pushed too far.

Every step of our relationship has been challenged by her behaviour. When I was just 'the girlfriend' I was deliberately trying to replace her, so it got to the point I refused to play 'families' with dsd where she would say to me 'you be the mummy and I'll be the little girl', I would say 'let's be sisters instead' in case that upset her. Nothing I did was ever good enough.
When we bought our home and got engaged she started coaching dsd to say horrible things to me and started contacting DH saying that him continuing a relationship with me was emotionally damaging his daughter. I know these things seem petty but when you hear it week in week out it starts to drain.
The worst thing though is that throughout our relationship she has sent DH inappropriate text messages. This even extended to calling him at work when she is drunk and saying he had to come and help her immediately because there were 'men following her'.
I trust DH. He has no contact with her unless it's about dsd.
DH has always maintained the best way to deal with his ex is to ignore her and not rise to the provocation. To be fair this seems to work the majority of the time.
On the other hand, DHs mum and wider family have not followed this advice to the point that they indulge this behaviour and overlook a lot of things that she has done because they are afraid she will stop them seeing dsd. To be fair to them, DH has not always told them the full extent of some of the horrible things his ex has done to us personally.

After we got married I discovered mil had given dh's ex photos of the wedding. At first I thought they were just of dsd as a flower girl but have since found out they were pictures of just me and DH. Apparently dh's ex had asked for them? For some reason this made me feel uncomfortable but I let it go.

Fast forward and, following three heartbreaking miscarriages, I am 37 weeks pregnant and petrified. Dh's ex has already said that me having a baby is going to damage dsd and baby isn't even here yet. There is no reason to believe this, DH will still see dsd as often as before and is not seeking to reduce any sort of payment. I am obviously very emotional (and hormonal) and have decided that under no circumstances do I want dh's ex to have photos of my little baby (God willing she gets here safely) even if dsd is in the photo with her. Sorry, I know that probably sounds really petty but that is how I feel.

Neither DH or I are on Facebook, Twitter or any other social media so the only way she would get them is via dh's family.

Aibu to feel this way and, if I'm not, how do I make it clear from the start to his family?

Thank you if you managed to get through all of that Blush

OP posts:
AcrossthePond55 · 25/04/2016 16:51

I'd let her have a picture to take of her and her new sister. It's a case of damned if you do and damned if you don't. The ex will make something of it either way. Your priority with DSD is to shelter her as much as possible from the 'adult' issues. How could you refuse to let her take a pic home without giving some sort of explanation? Children are pretty good at seeing through bullshit, even if they don't understand why they're being bullshitted.

Best thing to remember for the ex is the old chestnut 'give her enough rope and she'll hang herself'. Keep yourself above her level (as you are doing now) and let her self-immolate. If you find it truly harmful to your wellbeing or feel that the ex is attempting to alienate DSD from her father and her new sibling then perhaps speaking to a solicitor is in order.

As far as his family, do they see DSD on their own? I don't understand why they'd fear not seeing her as long as your DH has her for access as (I assume) that he would make sure she spends time with his family. Do they think she has that much 'power' that your DH would bow to a command from her that his family not see their own grandchild/niece/cousin?

Snoopysimaginaryfriend · 25/04/2016 16:54

Ah ok. Was a bit confused there haha

tinyterrors that sounds horrible. How long have you been dealing with these issues?

The thing is I don't feel averse to everyone eventually getting together and (hopefully) trying to muddle along. I hope dsd never has to know some of things that have happened.

It's just when the baby is so little, I wouldn't want to think that someone was thinking bad things about her.

I had an acquaintance who went through a much more extreme version of this situation, courts and social services involved, and when the husband's ex saw a photo of their new baby boy with her daughter she emailed (phone had been blocked) to say that he was the 'ugliest little rat' she had ever seen.

OP posts:
YelloRoses · 25/04/2016 16:58

Excite reported.

PaulAnkaTheDog · 25/04/2016 16:59

Ignore Yello's post, it's bizarre. I totally get where you're coming from, your dh ex sounds massively difficult. There is really no reason for her to see any pictures of your baby. Yanbu.

YelloRoses · 25/04/2016 17:00

Sorry you said your dh just came out of a relationship to you

Snoopysimaginaryfriend · 25/04/2016 17:01

acrossthepond they do see dsd a lot independent of DH, especially his mum.

I see your point that it would be hard to refuse if dsd actually asks for a photo. With the previous photos my mil texted them as far as I'm aware. Dsd doesn't have her own phone or iPad so any photos would have to go to her mum.

I know dsd is excited because when she's here she's told us that 'grandma told me the baby is now this big' and she's excited because we've done up the bigger bedroom for her and baby will have the smaller room .

OP posts:
YelloRoses · 25/04/2016 17:01

Paul im asking you nicely to stop stalking and trolling me. Its very creepy and uts harrassment.
I will not let you try take over the ops thread to harrass me.

Snoopysimaginaryfriend · 25/04/2016 17:03

Sorry if it wasn't clear yello, it was me who had just come out of a long term relationship. But the relationship had been over emotionally for a while, just needed to get my arse in gear and leave. DH asked me out when he heard I had left my ex Smile

OP posts:
19lottie82 · 25/04/2016 17:06

Yello...no one is stalking on trolling you. No need to be dramatic. they've just pointed out that you read the OP incorrectly, so please re read it before making any more false accusations.

YelloRoses · 25/04/2016 17:08

19 i wasnt talking to you.
Please do not address me this isnt my thread.

19lottie82 · 25/04/2016 17:10

It's a thread on an internet forum love, you're talking to anyone who wants to read it!

YelloRoses · 25/04/2016 17:10

Sorry snoppy i think i read your post to fast. Sorry for confusion also just read you been together 5yrs my darn eyes lol

YelloRoses · 25/04/2016 17:11

19 you know nothing. So be silent and stop seeking attention from me.

Op i will remove myself from your thread since my stalkers have come hre. I dont want them to get your thread deleted.

Hope everything works out for you Smile

PaulAnkaTheDog · 25/04/2016 17:12

Anyway OP! Back to you.

19lottie82 · 25/04/2016 17:12

be silent? stalkers? oh my sides!

Snoopysimaginaryfriend · 25/04/2016 17:13

Haha oh no, this is probably much more interesting

OP posts:
19lottie82 · 25/04/2016 17:14

OP, I don't think you can actually directly tell people not to send photos to the ex, as you'll look a bit OTT (although i totally understand where you're coming from!), just put out a general request that people don't share photos or put them on social media. I think that's all you can do without seeming unreasonable, I'm afraid.

PortiaCastis · 25/04/2016 17:16

Well I've read it all now
Be silent children

PaulAnkaTheDog · 25/04/2016 17:19

just put out a general request that people don't share photos or put them on social media.

This is probably your best bet, not dramatic and the ex can't have any issue with it. It seems to be a fairly standard request nowadays with a lot of new parents.

Friendlystories · 25/04/2016 17:21

I'll start by saying your feelings are totally understandable and there's nothing unreasonable about feeling you want to protect yourself and your baby from someone who obviously has issues with you. Having said that I would try to let go of the photo thing, she can't hurt your baby through a photograph and I would want to appear entirely calm and reasonable, even in the face of her being completely unreasonable. As WannaBe says your dsd will start to be able to figure out the dynamics of all this for herself before too much longer and maintaining her relationship with her dad, her new baby sibling and you is the most important thing. My DH's ex has made things difficult for us with the DSC over the years and I hit a point where the only way to get through it with my sanity intact was to stop letting the things she did and said wind me up and just focus on the kids, after all they were the only reason we had to have anything to do with her and trying to make sure they came through the whole thing as unscathed as possible was what really mattered. It's hard, I won't pretend otherwise and our issues were different to yours but I found it helped to focus on the possible fallout for the DSC rather than letting the ex wind me up on a personal level. The result is that the relationship between them and my DH, me and our younger DD is really strong (the DSC are more or less grown ups now) and it means the world to me that my DD is so close to her only siblings. I feel that not reacting to the ex's bullshit (even to the point of giving in to her stupid demands sometimes as long as there wasn't a detrimental effect to us, probably much as your DH's family are doing with his ex) took her power away a bit, I think she wanted the drama of us fighting back sometimes and it took the wind out of her sails that we didn't if that makes sense. Pick your battles is my advice, stand up to her when it really matters or would adversely affect your DSD if you didn't and leave her to get on with it the rest of the time. She would probably thrive off the drama of you refusing to let her see photos of your baby so I wouldn't give her the chance, I would also be wary of anything that might put your DSD in the middle or make her feel excluded with regard to the baby so the more relaxed and encouraging you can be about her relationship with her new sibling the better. There are so many emotions from all sides in this situation and it says a lot about you that you have tried to empathise with the ex and take her feelings into account while building your relationship with DSD, if you can rise above what she's doing and be the bigger person it can only be good for you all long term. I wish you luck (and strength, and patience!), it's a long road but worth it if the outcome is a happy DSD who can see you always did your best for her Flowers

Snoopysimaginaryfriend · 25/04/2016 17:22

lottie the funny thing is if I heard someone else do it I would probably think it's a bit extreme.

That's another good idea actually, about asking for photos not to be on social media.

Some really good suggestions here, and it's nice to hear from people who have been in both sides of similar situations, makes you appreciate how things can be perceived differently

OP posts:
Snoopysimaginaryfriend · 25/04/2016 17:27

fern, sorry I can't type fast enough to keep up with replies.

I'm so glad things worked out for your family.

Actually writing how I feel down has made me consider a few things too. I think the miscarriages have made me a bit over cautious and protective ( I still touch wood when I talk about baby Blush) and I really don't want to be that way for my own baby's sake as well as family cohesion

OP posts:
Friendlystories · 25/04/2016 17:32

I understand that totally OP, I had 3 m/c's before I had DD and wanted to put her in a bubble and not let anyone else touch her when she was born, including DSC I'm ashamed to say Blush It does get better and it's brilliant that you're emotionally aware enough to be addressing how you (understandably) feel even before your baby is born. Go easy on yourself, you sound lovely and like you'll be a great mum Flowers

Snoopysimaginaryfriend · 25/04/2016 17:34

Thanks fern, that really means a lot.

OP posts:
AcrossthePond55 · 25/04/2016 20:59

Well, if they see her independently I guess I can understand their fear. But that doesn't really excuse them throwing you under the bus or make you feel any better, does it? Nor does it mean that DH can't talk to them about being a bit less indulgent and perhaps clue them in as to things that have happened.

As far as the picture, perhaps you and DH could take one posed as a PP's suggested (with baby's face a bit obscured or turned away) and have a print made for her to take home with her 'for her room'. I'd think that'd be a bit better than pictures being texted to her mother. Her mother (in her present state of mind) might find being sent pictures of her ex's new baby a bit 'goady', no matter who sends them.