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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:
TaterTots · 20/08/2016 17:33

'Maybe cousin's going to leave second wife for first wife'

He'd have a job. They've been divorced five years.

OP posts:
nappyrat · 20/08/2016 17:34

Sorry OP but you sound unreasonable. For the sake of the kids if nothing else she is doing the right thing & I don't see why you can't just be nice.

user7755 · 20/08/2016 17:35

Blimey, it's been a really long time then. Why are you still so cross?

VeryBitchyRestingFace · 20/08/2016 17:35

He'd have a job. They've been divorced five years.

He's onto wife number 3?

TaterTots · 20/08/2016 17:36

It does happen.

OP posts:
RockinHippy · 20/08/2016 17:37

He's onto wife number 3?

No surprise really, with extended family so overly invested & interfering in his relationships

WannaBe · 20/08/2016 17:38

Ah, three wives already. Not exactly a catch then is he?

TheRealAdaLovelace · 20/08/2016 17:39

Could be number 4 for all we know......

TaterTots · 20/08/2016 17:39

Do you want a stick to stir the shit with Rockin Hippy, or are you happy doing it by hand?

OP posts:
WannaBe · 20/08/2016 17:40

I suspect that he's still shagging them all really. Grin and the OP is merely his bit on the side....

RockinHippy · 20/08/2016 17:41

Do you want a stick to stir the shit with Rockin Hippy, or are you happy doing it by hand?

I take is back - you sound about 10 Hmm

TheRealAdaLovelace · 20/08/2016 17:41

bu' Ta'er...it's FAAAAHHHHMMMLLLLLYYYYYYY

AyeAmarok · 20/08/2016 17:42

This thread is nuts!

TaterTots · 20/08/2016 17:42

Whereas mocking someone's failed marriages just screams maturity.

OP posts:
VeryBitchyRestingFace · 20/08/2016 17:42

My point being, if he fairly goes through them, you'd think keeping very cordial relations with all of his exes would be a good idea.

WannaBe · 20/08/2016 17:42

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

VeryBitchyRestingFace · 20/08/2016 17:46

It's like the Tudors!

Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived.

No beheadings yet, I take it?

TaterTots · 20/08/2016 17:48

It's tempting.

OP posts:
Roussette · 20/08/2016 17:50

The ex has put her past to one side for the sake of her kids and your family. Why can't you?

What's done is done and to be honest, you all have to meet up at christenings, funerals, weddings etc, so isn't it better that you can all be civil?

OK the marriage broke up because she had an affair. She is now with that bloke. Time has passed, that crime is over and done with. It's happened in my family a lot, we are all civil for the sake of the intertwined family. At some point the ex husband or wife has to go to a wedding when their children marry. Rather than be awkward, it is bordering on pleasant. If we all wanted to make the guilty party pay for whatever they did (whether that's affair, leaving someone yada yada) ad infinitum, it is not exactly harmonious is it? It sounds like the ex you have referred to has grown up. Whereas you are just going over old history and wanting things to be unpleasant. No idea why.

PresidentOliviaMumsnet · 20/08/2016 17:57

Ahem

puglife15 · 20/08/2016 17:59

Oh, it's a classic "ask AIBU, then shoot down anyone who disagrees with you or points out any possible flaws (which happens to be the majority of posters)" post.

OP you certainly seem rather defensive and unwelcome to criticism or feedback in your replies. That's all we have to go on, alongside the very little, almost certainly subjective, information you've given us on this woman and your family.

DoitotmeSheldon · 20/08/2016 18:04

This isn't real is it?
Sounds like one of those Jeremy Kyle episodes where they all fall out over FB posts.
I didn't think anyone over 14 cared about what people put on Facebook.

Lelloteddy · 20/08/2016 18:05

Awwww right Peggy Wink

NOBODY disses your boys Grin

Yellowbird54321 · 20/08/2016 18:07

I haven't really got an opinion on the facebook thing but I am enjoying OP's replies Grin

MadisonMontgomery · 20/08/2016 18:07

I don't get it - why shouldn't she comment on family pics? My parents divorced, but my dad is still part of the family - my cousins still see him as their uncle, everyone asks after him etc. Yes, legally you stop being family when the divorce papers are signed, but life isn't that black & white.

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