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Cousin's ex wife playing happy families on FB

178 replies

TaterTots · 20/08/2016 14:00

My cousin is long since divorced from his first wife. I hadn't seen her since until two years ago when it was their daughter's 18th. I and most of the family were perfectly civil with her; the day was about her daughter, not old feuds, and my cousin now has a civil, if not friendly, relationship with her after much antipathy in the early years.

The next day I'd put some pics on FB and she popped up saying how lovely they were. (She isn't my friend on there, but can see things her daughter is tagged in). Fair enough - but now she pops up every time there's a family do saying how lovely it all is and what a happy occasion. Then the other week I uploaded some old pics of my (deceased) nan, tagging family members I thought would be interested. There she was again. My nan hated her!

Today my other cousin's daughter (cousin 1's sister) turned 21. Ex-wife has posted long flowery update about 'Where has the time gone, your parents must be so proud'. To give this context, she isn't FB friends with the birthday girl - she's just posted on her timeline of her own accord. This is despite the fact that one of the proud parents - my cousin's sister - utterly, utterly despises her. Why would you actively engage in those circumstances?

I had a nosey at her FB and she has my cousin's surname listed under Other Names - yet not her maiden name. Wouldn't people who wanted to find her be more inclined to search for that than a married name she hasn't used this century (and went by for less than four years)?

She is remarried with two more kids, so unlikely she is looking for a way back in. Is this just for show ('look how civilised I am with my ex's family') or is she really wearing rose-tinted specs about the whole marriage and her relationship with our family? (As background, she was delighted to marry into a big close family at the time, but after the split we were terrible controlling people who never gave her a chance.)

OP posts:
RockinHippy · 20/08/2016 16:31

but after the split we were terrible controlling people who never gave her a chance.)

Sorry, but your post, ridiculous snooping & general attitude to her shown here, suggests that she actually had a good point.

Wind your neck in, she sounds far more grown up & well balanced than you do

TaterTots · 20/08/2016 16:32

Rockin Hippy - You know what precisely sod all about it.

OP posts:
8misskitty8 · 20/08/2016 16:35

Block her. That way she can't see your posts and you can't see hers. Problem solved.

Careforadrink · 20/08/2016 16:37

She sounds nice

In contrast to you OP and your family. Sorry but this thread doesn't reflect well on you.

user7755 · 20/08/2016 16:39

It sounds like she has let it go and moved on with her life and is happy to be friendly with people that she had had close relationships with in the past.

Not everyone feels able to do this and for some reason, those people sometimes feel suspicious of those people's motives. But sometimes people are genuinely nice, and genuinely feel affection for the people they have had on their lives, nothing more than that.

TaterTots · 20/08/2016 16:41

Careforadrink - I'm glad I'm not related to you.

OP posts:
user7755 · 20/08/2016 16:42

Why are you so angry?

SaucyJack · 20/08/2016 16:42

Well. This is awkward.

zerrydeeer · 20/08/2016 16:43

OP, did you have a specific problem with her or is it that you were taking your cousin's side? (genuine question).

motherinferior · 20/08/2016 16:45

I imagine she thinks that it might be possible to pick up a friendship. Some people do, you know. She might even have decided she likes you all.

I've been involved in that "we graciously welcome you to the dynasty/fuck off you bitch, how dare you trouble us now the golden boy's gone off you" dynamic. She's more generous than I was, that's for sure.

Amelie10 · 20/08/2016 16:46

Geez get a life! You've spent some time on here writing a lengthy post about her and you think she's the one with an issue?

Amelie10 · 20/08/2016 16:47

Geez get a life! You've spent some time on here writing a lengthly post about her and you think she's the one with an issue?

Vodkatonicmummy · 20/08/2016 16:47

Going completely against the flow, I'm with you on this one Tater. I'd find it weird and a bit uncomfortable that someone wanted to rewrite history to include themselves as part of a family they chose to leave. I'm a bit biased about this, as my XH does the same stuff. He turned up at my father's funeral last year (my father loathed him) and made a big fuss over my elderly aunt (he'd met her once), saying how much he missed her, and wishing her a happy life, as he'd "probably never see her again". He made our family and friends feel incredibly uncomfortable by introducing himself as part of the family ("I'm Vodka's husband"), although we'd been divorced for 7 years then. XH also made a big fuss when he found out that he hadn't been invited to my sister's baby's christening.
I find the whole thing creepy and actually do want him to stay in his box with his family (I don't have any contact with them - regard them as my past not present), and I very much don't regard him as part of my family, just the father of my children.
I find it a bit bizarre when people divorce, and the X still wants to be counted as part of the old family TBH.

Amelie10 · 20/08/2016 16:49

Geez get a life! You've spent some time on here writing a lengthly post about her and you think she's the one with an issue?

TaterTots · 20/08/2016 16:49

Zeerydeeer - I didn't have a problem with her before the split, but not unnaturally my family sided with my cousin. She wasn't a great mother to her daughter in the early years, but the daughter has moved on from that, so I feel if she can, we all can. My only issue is the airbrushing.

OP posts:
zerrydeeer · 20/08/2016 16:49

Did she cheat on your cousin??

zerrydeeer · 20/08/2016 16:51

Then, with the greatest respect, you really shouldn't have a problem after the split.

TheRealAdaLovelace · 20/08/2016 16:51

moving on from the past IS 'airbrushing' though isn't it?
And why are you now bringing it up that she wasn't a good parent?

Careforadrink · 20/08/2016 16:55

Tater

You see you've just proven my point.

You're coming across as quite nasty. Virtually everyone on this thread is saying much the same.

Maybe look inwards?

zerrydeeer · 20/08/2016 16:57

Are you friends with your 'cousin's' second wife?

SestraClone · 20/08/2016 17:01

Crikey, there is some fairly strong evidence coming through on this thread and it certainly sheds some light on the situation Grin

TaterTots · 20/08/2016 17:01

Zeerydeeer - Yes, she cheated.

No, I'm not an angry second wife. His second wife definitely WAS.

OP posts:
WannaBe · 20/08/2016 17:06

I can never understand this need to bear grudges for years and years or even for ever. People split up, they move on, they grow up, and they find their own place in the world. Her children are part of your family, and therefore by definition, so is she. If you don't like it then don't engage with it. But that is your issue to deal with not her's.

Ironically I had a lovely catch-up with my ex ILs yesterday as I dropped my DS with them for the next few days. I haven't seen them for four years since me and XH split, but they were/are lovely people who I always got on with wen me and XH were together. And in the interim four years life has dealt them some pretty horrible crap. And DS is the common bond between us. He is my DS and their grandchild. The idea that I would refuse to engage with them in order that he be able to go and stay there is ludicrous. The idea that we wouldn't catch up for a coffee rather than do a split second handover doesn't bear thinking about. It was lovely to see them again actually. If anyone else had an issue with that that would be their issue to deal with, not mine.

Grow up.

TaterTots · 20/08/2016 17:07

Ada - I'm bringing it up now as I was asked if I had a specific problems with her. It wasn't relevant to the original post, but I brought it up when asked.

Careforadrink - You have no room to call anyone nasty. You described my family as 'unhinged' and seem to have no comprehension of supporting those you love. If one of your family was cheated on, what would you do - bake their ex a sodding cake?

OP posts:
user7755 · 20/08/2016 17:11

But your OP implies that it was many years ago, that both parties have moved on. Why haven't you?

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