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

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

DC, bed time cuddlies, age and removing them....?

202 replies

Nocuddlies · 08/07/2016 17:08

NC obviously.

My DC are barely 9 and 6. The last three years my ex and I have been divorcing. Things have pretty terrible, he's passive aggressive and I've been in counselling two years coming to terms with his behaviour, including the affair he had. Not the point of this thread.

So bedtime cuddlies. My two DC both still very much have to have their favourite cuddlies for bed every night.

Ex has not allowed them to have their cuddlies at his house last weekend. He says they are fine about it. He walked DC to the wheelie bin outside my house and made them throw their cuddlies in. DS ran away from him clutching cuddly but now doesn't want to ever visit again. DD is far more compliant to him and threw them away. I'm not going to say any more about her reaction as I'd like to gage MN response.

If your DC still have cuddlies, how old are they?

OP posts:
hunibuni · 09/07/2016 00:19

My hulking great DS (soon to be 19)Read the OP over my shoulder and declared that the ex is a cockwomble (DS if you're here, tidy your room!)

He has Fred the Ted (who is allegedly going to meet his namesake Freddie Ljunberg Grin )and Yellow bunny (who was gifted to him as a baby by my side of the family) who have been allowed to venture into DD's room under strict instruction that they are to sit on the shelf. They always make back into his room for bedtime Grin

DD has Freddo, a small freddo bar frog that DS won for her when she was 3. She's 9 and Freddo still goes to school in her school bag (in the small zip compartment) on the days when she has to do things that she doesn't like, and he's probably going to be turned into a keyring so that he doesn't get lost.

junebirthdaygirl · 09/07/2016 00:22

I travelled all around Europe with my friend in our 20s. She brought her cuddles everywhere. She had him in her bed in youth hostels etc. We all watched out for him as knew he couldn't be left behind. Don't understand doing that to a child. Surely it's especially important as they move back and forth between the two of you. Its nice to have something in both beds. Poor things.

fishandlilacs · 09/07/2016 00:37

This made me feel a bit sick. Your poor kids. Honestly I think he is being cruel and I would be withholding contact.
Children's cuddles are the personification of love and comfort.

minatiae · 09/07/2016 00:48

Your ex is mean. I still have mine. Not on my bed any more but they sit on a chair in my bedroom, and I still slept with one when I was 17.

OfficiallyUnofficial · 09/07/2016 00:54

Just email back "thank you for reminding me why I'm divorcing you, you unutterable tosspot"

Seriously though I'd just say that you strongly disagree, that it is totally normal to have an attachment to items and that doesn't prevent a child growing up. But that you respect he doesn't like them so will be keeping them at home. However it may be necessary to skip next contact until DS is able to rebuild the trust you damaged with the harsh actions the other day. You'll be in touch shortly to rearrange."

Then never speak to him again and hope he becomes the type to fade away.

At worst he's a suite, at best he simply lacks emotion and empathy and genuinely didn't compute how devastating they would find that. How was he in the marriage? Abusive of just emotionally off track?

OfficiallyUnofficial · 09/07/2016 00:55

Suite Confused *sadist

HopeClearwater · 09/07/2016 00:57

My god.
What a sadist.

OhHolyFuck · 09/07/2016 00:57

Ds2 doesn't have a special cuddle/nighttime toy, just never bothered, or hasn't yet, maybe he will (he's 3)

Ds1 (5) has 4, they still all sleep in bed and he feels safe and happy going to sleep with them there
I don't care when or if he ever gives them up, a teddy at night that brings my child comfort and security in his own bed can only be a good thing as far as I'm concerned

Actually, I associate one of his toys so much with his baby/toddlerhood that he ever decides he doesn't want it in bed anymore, I'm going to keep it, just for the memories

OhHolyFuck · 09/07/2016 01:07

Sorry forgot to write what I was going to say about your exs behaviour- unbelievable.
To make a child give up a special toy that provides security in a turbulent time for him, utter fucker.
Does he have anything special? His car? Or record collection? Watch?
Think it would be appropriate for him to lead with his own behaviour and bin his own beloved thing first.

mummyto2monkeys · 09/07/2016 01:48

my two children have their own worry eaters, ds is autistic and really struggles with anxiety. I bought both children the keyring form of their worry eaters and they lived attached to the zip of the bag. We had the little worry eater that save up any worries when at school and they were fed into the big worry eaters once home (I removed them and place them on my bedside cabinet so we can share / discuss the worries in the morning)

I am absolutely devastated for your children, my ds is 9 and has two favourites, his teddy lovingly called Eddie, the first toy he was ever given (my dh bought it just after he was born) , the second his very own velvateen rabbit. He also has a bed full of cuddly toys and will never be forced to bin them. My dh still has his childhood toy, our son has looked after him since babyhood. Our 6 year old dd has about six teddies she sleeps with, most of the dog variety bar the velveteen rabbit. Her favourite a little pink wolf cub. I have a muscly, strong 38 year old dh who lovingly shampoos, blow dries and brushes dd's wolfie, because dd was terrified wolfie would drown in the washing machine!. Wolfie unfortunately lost his nose during an altercation with our puppy. I turned plastic surgeon and now have a collection of different sized teddy noses so that immediate repair is possible!

I mentioned what your ex husband did to my dh, he is absolutely horrified. We both agree that this is evil. Be prepared, next you will have two children who have been told that Santa/ Father Christmas isn't real. Your ex is cruel and obviously enjoys hurting your children. He sounds like a narcissistic sociopath/ psychopath. I bet that your children have been distressed/ missing you OP and that this is a punishment for their behaviour. To the person who said that OP was trying to send part of herself to infiltrate ex's home, NONSENSE. Teddie's/ lovies/ cuddles are personal and important belongings of each child. OP hasn't sent her cuddly toy, these are her children's belongings. Being forced to bin their favourite belongings is absolutely abusive. If an adult was being forced to do this we would call it what it is, ABUSE!

OP perhaps you could send a silk scarf/ handkerchief with your perfume on that your dd could smell and feel safe/ comforted. You could sleep with a hankie/ spray it with your perfume for ds too, your smell would be comforting. I did this for ds when he was at school (we choose to home educate). I would buy a small bottle to hide in dd's bag . So she can top them up if the smell fades.

I am even more horrified that your ex was able to veto your dd's counselling sessions. I'm guessing the counsellor saw straight through your exdh and he didn't want anyone seeing how truly abusive he is. I would make sure that she is 're referred straight away. Your exdh has no right to veto anything you do with dd in your time. It's time he was exposed as the abusive animal he is. The ideal situation would be contact in a contact centre.This man is frightening, he takes enjoyment out of hurting your children in order to spite you. Was he ever physically violent? Please log everything, dates, abuse, children's reaction. Particularly watch out for regression when they return, bed wetting/ thumb sucking/ nightmares/ extra cleanliness. I would ask for your youngest to be referred for counselling too.

blueturtle6 · 09/07/2016 06:28

As an interim.solution could you ask the children if the cuddlies can stay with you whilst visiting their dads place, make a thing about them keeping bed warm or something, id be concerned that he'd throw them away again at his. Maybe get smaller ones they can hide in bag for visiting him? As a longer term id be looking to reduce.contact. Hope dcs are ok now xx

Ilovenannyplum · 09/07/2016 06:45

I'm 28 and my childhood cuddly (Kylie the once pink but now white and quite bald bunny) sleeps in DS's room. Prior to that she was on our bed (DS is 1 Blush)

I think your ex husband was mean to make them throw them away

BitOutOfPractice · 09/07/2016 07:06

OP I wouldn't even bother answering the email. Like you say, what's the point? You won't win an argument with this twat. All that will happen is you will get wound up and upset and he will enjoy that. As an added bonus your silence will really puss him off so it's a win win.

I see peach has back peddalled a little from her first post but please don't think you've done anything wrong by allowing the kids to have cuddlies and take them to their dad's. As this thread shows, many many kids (and adults! Grin) love their cuddlies and it's not a sign that they're bring emotionally manipulated by a parent.

WhyCantIuseTheNameIWant · 09/07/2016 08:54

My grandad is 82. We still have his old straw filled teddy.
Sometimes he comes for a holiday with me (and dcs).
Sometimes he stays with grandad.
He is a treasured member of the family!

Believeitornot · 09/07/2016 09:00

I think he's a horrible man. Sometimes my dh would be very black and white about things (eg with dd having a dummy) and he couldn't comprehend how the DCs might feel about something - so I've made sure I remind him. But he wouldn't do anything like that without checking with me first.

I would reply, because I can't help myself with these things, along the lines of "regardless of what you think, the DCs will be upset. It is normal to have comforters especially when there is upheaval or change. However it is clear you disagree so I will be keeping their comforters at my home".

RandomMess · 09/07/2016 09:04

I would bother responding either, the whole thing is about getting a reaction out of you. It would appear that he will stop at nothing to hurt you and I also would be keeping a close eye and recording what goes on/what the DC report back.

I think in this instance I would firmly tell the DC that what Daddy did was wrong and you disagree with it.

I'm another one really hating your ex, that one act alone speaks volumes SadAngry

DisgraceToTheYChromosome · 09/07/2016 09:05

DW and I are 56. She has Pandy, who is 50 this year. I have Elephant, who is 47 and papiermache so has to be stroked lightly every day. We would suck the marrow from those who would harm them.

Your STBX is a weaponsgrade spunkdribble.

Believeitornot · 09/07/2016 09:06

I think in this instance I would firmly tell the DC that what Daddy did was wrong and you disagree with it

^this

Owlytellsmesecrets · 09/07/2016 09:09

Jesus this is awful.... I'm nearly 40 21 and I still have mine and I sometimes sleep with him if I'm sad.... He called Toby!

CPtart · 09/07/2016 09:22

13 and 11. The 13 year old has one. The 11 year old has several!

nessus · 09/07/2016 09:27

Your ex sounds like has issues...

DD is 15.5 and still has her snuggly in bed. We also still do the ritual of tucking in, unless she has been a right madam or deems me to have been a tyrant on some matter or another! She doesn't take her snuggly to sleepovers or to her dad's but I doubt he would bat an eyelid if she did.

Dawndonnaagain · 09/07/2016 09:31
  1. Me. 31 Ds1. 21 Ds2 19 Twin 1 19 Twin 2. They all have cuddlies. Ds2 has some here, some at university with him. The twins are debating which to pack for uni this year and which to leave and 'don't put them in the loft Mum, they'll be sad!"
WhooooAmI24601 · 09/07/2016 09:39

I'm 35 and have a Sven teddy on my bed from the disney store.

DS1 is 10 and loves Tsum Tsum things, has dozens of them all over his bed. Takes Chewbacca teddy to sleepovers.

DS2 is 5 and has a mountain of teddies and tat in his bed each evening. Stripping his bedclothes involves 15 minutes of throwing the things onto the floor to try and find the pillow.

I will never remove any. They will never be too old for them. They make the choice as to when they stop needing them, and I hope it's never because everyone's bedroom needs a Sven on the bed. I daresay even the Queen has one.

Yika · 09/07/2016 09:43

I think in this instance I would firmly tell the DC that what Daddy did was wrong and you disagree with it.

I agree with this.

Your DC know now that their father can't be trusted to protect their needs and interests. You need to show them that you will.

I also think it qualifies as emotional abuse and personally I'd be looking to reduce contact after this.

Ticklethosetoes · 09/07/2016 09:50

What a cruel man. I'm sure it gave them comfort coming from house to house with their cuddly, a constant that goes with them wherever.
I'm so relieved you got them out, the fact my bears were thrown in the bin would have given me nightmares at that age, I'd have woken in the night worrying about them being cold wet and at the rubbish dump.
What an arse!

Swipe left for the next trending thread