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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To get fed up of my DP going to ExWs house regularly because of kids?

630 replies

Sunflowerspread · 10/11/2016 22:51

I've been with my DP 5 years - and mostly good but for one niggle - he's always going to ExWs house because of their kids!

He takes his two daughters to Uni every morning - they live at their mum's - so he goes around every morning. Fair enough.

When their mum goes away they sometimes come to ours, they are very welcome, one used to live with us. But more and more they don't want to, and so DP goes to their house to see them and check they are OK. If they want their computer sorting, or a lift. Again, DP goes to theirs, they are often not ready, so he gets asked to go in, he does.

I do get that he needs a relationship. I do get that they are living at their mums. But why does it always have to be there?

I've tried to entice them to ours for the weekend, taken them out for dinners, all so that they can have some Dad time in his own house, or just him and them. His ExW has been starting to ask him more and more favours which involve him going to her house. They have a half sister now, who they hardly ever see because of this new 'norm'.

I'm just getting a bit fed up, but if I don't want to say anything directly as DP will just feel like I want to stop him seeing his daughters. Which I don't. I just wish it were more at our house!

OP posts:
sterlingcooper · 26/11/2016 17:25

See I don't mind my DP having a relationship with his ex, and indeed think it's a good thing for them to remain friends and coparents. If he was at her house EVERY DAY though, that would be really pushing it...

stiffstink · 26/11/2016 17:39

But did he actually do the things you asked?

Did he help out on Thursday and Friday morning? Did he take your DD to her group today? Is he free all day tomorrow?

Atenco · 26/11/2016 17:55

ummizoomi makes a very important point. The point is he is spending unnecessary and excessive time elsewhere, while leaving you to raise your dd single-handed. I think everytime you bring the exwife into it, he just thinks you are jealous and writes off your concerns.

Aeroflotgirl · 26/11/2016 18:24

The crux of it is, he is unprepared to change, and wants things as they are. Even if he does change, I feel that this won't be sustained. Op has to decide if she's ok with this, or move on. The more op has said about him, the worse it becomes, he sounds like a thoroughly wet blanket who has absolutely no gumption.

Sunflowerspread · 26/11/2016 20:26

He did do as I asked this week, take me and DD into town, took DD to a group today and hopefully will spend all day tomorrow just hanging out with us. He also came straight back each evening, 2 hours earlier than normal.

I did try to emphasize that we do not having a good, functioning relationship as a family, that we did not have enough time. I also said I would be very happy to see more of his DDs.

It's starting to look a bit more positive, but I'm wary as I'm not sure he'll keep this up. There'll probably be some kickback and I'm afraid he'll just slip into old habits.

OP posts:
Aeroflotgirl · 26/11/2016 20:46

It sounds as though he will not keep it up! And you've said he will fall back to how it was. Then it will be your decision, do you stay and endure this forevermore, or leave and forge a new positive life. Did you talk about the will, and including your dd in it. I am sorry op, the only way with this man to get what you need is to shout and stamp your feet like his ex. You need to also do that, with provision for your dd.

ummizoomi · 26/11/2016 22:14

Have you ever asked him what he thinks a family means?

I know your situations are kinda skewed but you do have a new family unit with a SN baby/child. What does he think is normal for families to do together?

I also feel sorry for ur DP as I feel he is drowning. With guilt and god knows what crap exercise give him. Nonetheless he could do with having a chat with a counsellor of some sort.

More importantly big hug to you. If u want a decent outcome, you will need to be strong and be able to say, I'm willing to walk away unless u give our relationship the respect and attention it deserves x

Butterymuffin · 27/11/2016 00:48

I also think it might be worth (as I suggested a while back) working out a timetable of what his usual week has been like, until recently, and actually adding up the amount of time he spends with/doing things for his older DDs and the amount of time he spends with/doing stuff for your young DD. Numbers are hard to argue with. You can state that his youngest should get at least as much of his time as the others do and morally speaking more, since not only are her needs greater with the SN, but they've had their childhoods already - it's not fair that they get the majority of his time now too when they are adults. If he won't consistently commit to that and do it, you can say, you can't see how he is being a worthwhile father to her or a partner to you, and so you don't want to live with him anymore. And that means him moving out, not you.

Atenco · 27/11/2016 01:28

Whatever you do, OP, see about getting your financial situation sorted. Your dd needs to be in the will, at the very least, but you could really do with some rights over the house you are living in.

Aeroflotgirl · 27/11/2016 08:26

Totally agree with Antenco it's equally important he makes financial provision for your dd, and you need to be really putting your foot down on this, as it's unacceptable!

Aeroflotgirl · 27/11/2016 09:55

Obviously its up to you what you do, stay or go. You know deep down this won't change, you will be in the same position as you are in five years time. That is not what I would want for my dd, to be 4th best, in favour of his 2 dds and ex, because that is what it is.

Sunflowerspread · 28/11/2016 10:46

Have you ever asked him what he thinks a family means? I think for him it's still tied up in his first marriage, where family means he has to provide, but also take the kids to and from school/college, go to everything school/Uni wise (Mum never had any contact with school), wash clothes, dishes, all housework, all bills, entertaining the kids. It was never about expecting anything back, his DDs didn't remember his birthday this year, and then didn't get a card.

I am still angry enough not to want this at the moment, and posting here did make me assertive enough to throw DP out. He is starting to spend more time here, yet does not see the cause of his behaviour. Buttery I did add up the time spend during the week with his DDs and around ExWs house for example, and said that to him but he genuinely did not get this at all. He thinks it adds no time to the day. He also did not get that each weekend he spends 2 hours ferrying DD1 to her work and back. It's not the time so much I told him, it's that we can then never do anything as it's right in the middle of the day.

He's sleeping in the spare room as he says he's got nowhere to go. I said that I would much prefer that he moved out. He's been to a solicitor and is drawing up a new will, and all papers done for the divorce which is going through. I asked him to imagine the insecurity that I felt.

I've said that as a minimum I'd want a day each weekend with no ferrying about of DDs, and two mornings a week he takes me and DD into town. He also comes back earlier from work so he can spend at least an hour with DD each evening. I don't know if it'll work and feeling a bit despondent before Xmas.

OP posts:
stiffstink · 28/11/2016 16:18

I'm glad he's at least taking steps to sort his will out!

ummizoomi · 28/11/2016 17:25

Looks like things r moving in the right direction. However, Was just wondering, does he seem bothered at all that you have brought up potentially splitting up?

Has he made any commitments towards you and DD as a family?

Where is he spending xmas day?

Sorry for asking you all these questions. Just hope that you use this thread as a way to realise what you deserve and to empower yourself so u can stand up to him.

Atenco · 28/11/2016 17:50

Glad to hear about the will, I hope the house you are living in would go to you.

It sounds like he has a long way to go, the question is will you still want him when he has finally turned this all around.

rollmeover · 28/11/2016 18:17

He clearly is a people pleaser, which isn't necessarily a bad thing but ExDW is taking advantage.
Along with the family time and financial security I would be demanding counselling as a condition to staying together. He is so wrapped up in his old life he will help to get out of it and make peace with his changing relationship with his adult daughters.

Aeroflotgirl · 29/11/2016 11:10

Glad to hear some action is being taken, it shodent have to take you throwing g him out and stamping FC or him to realise. Looks like you do have to do this for him to listen.

Sunflowerspread · 30/11/2016 18:59

He's agreed to go to counselling, and he's kept up coming home earlier.

Although his ExW did phone him last night at 11.30pm! I think that helped as it was obviously intrusive, we were just spending the first evening together since I kind of blew up about it.

I do feel very different. At the moment I've reached a point where I've tolerated it so much that now I'm still quite sick of everyone, DP and ExW and DSDs can all just clear out of my life and either be in my life, or go away to live theirs.

OP posts:
Atenco · 01/12/2016 16:59

That sounds like progress, OP. I would be furious at someone phoning me at that hour of the night if it wasn't emergency, especially with a small child to look after.

Pollyanna9 · 04/12/2016 06:06

Whilst you've made great progress OP (bloody good for you), this is what bothers me, when you say this:

I've said that as a minimum I'd want a day each weekend with no ferrying about of DDs, and two mornings a week he takes me and DD into town. He also comes back earlier from work so he can spend at least an hour with DD each evening.

What?!

You still seem to be happy with and asking for the leftovers after he's been once again to his exes either for the purpose of seeing her or his grown children from that previous relationship!

Shouldn't it be the other way round? He's with you guys 90% of the time and his old family 10%? Fundamentally he remains considerably and significantly more invested in the previous family than his current one. I say his current one but you're not his current one yet.

I just worry you're asking actually for so little when you deserve SO much more and you should be demanding so much more at this point than you are although I'm really glad you're getting some of the legal stuff sorted.

I'd be DEMANDING,:

  1. Absolutely no more routine lifts to uni or work for the grown children
  2. He's at home with you guys morning and evening 5 days out of every 7 to include 1.5 days with you on weekends
  3. He tells ex and DDs what the new arrangement is and that he won't be budging from it
  4. Any communication from exw when he is with you are ignored and not responded to
  5. Should your DD be unwell or have healthcare appointments any more existing arrangements with the other family get cancelled

Let's see if he can truly kick the habit of his highly excessive involvement with his ex because you're still getting the dregs and I say this not as a criticism of you or an attack on you - you are clearly lovely and kind but even on the level of contact you've asked for, nothing is going to change. Not until there is an obvious clear and unequivocal unmistakable (to both him and the ex wife) break with him and his ex wife that should have happened when they got divorced!

I really really hope things continue to improve for you op.

Giselaw · 04/12/2016 06:55

Pollyanna, they're not divorced yet Sad

Pollyanna9 · 04/12/2016 08:07

Yes, sorry, I should have said 'when the relationship ended'.

The fact they aren't divorced is just another indicator of the value he places on that old relationship and how not final it is to this day.

Even if I'd said 'when their relationship ended' it would still be the wrong terminology wouldn't it.

And THAT is what needs addressing because only when that is achieved will anything truly meaningful happen for the lovely OP.

Aeroflotgirl · 04/12/2016 08:14

Op I am afraid I agree with polyanna, your still asking for so little from him considering he's meant to be your partner, you and dd are his family unit, not ex and the adult dds, which is what it is. The split is the wrong way round. He shoukd be spending mist with you, and the 20% with his adult dds, and 5% ex at the most. Unacceptable, tbh you and your poor dd deserve better, not to come at the bottom of the pile, which is what happening now.

Pollyanna9 · 04/12/2016 10:25

OPs other half is in a committed relationship - it's just with another woman and that is the entire and total crux of the matter.

That is the thing that needs sorting out first and foremost (aside of course from the will and all that side of things which I'm so glad is now getting looked at).

It's got to be virtually the near 100% break that most people have when they split from their previous partner, divorce or no divorce being involved. Most people want either nothing to do with their PP if they were a particular git or if they just drifted apart and decided to divorce, they'll keep the peace and be civil. But it would highly, highly unusual for the type of relationship that these two have to exist - it's extremely unhealthy for everyone concerned, and I mean everyone, you, him, her, his other kids, your DD. Everyone.

He needs to be willing to relinquish whatever it is that he gets out of being at her beck and call because there will be something that he gets out of it - it alleviates guilt if he was the one to say let's split up (why did they split up did you ever say why or what the circumstances were?), or he gets some twisted 'buzz' out of being bossed around and dragged back repeatedly by the ex even though he probably at the same actually doesn't particularly enjoy it and wishes it would stop.

He needs to end it in all the ways that matter - that will then translate into the switch to the 90/10% ratio that it should be sitting at (in your favour) and should have been sitting at from the moment he/they/she decided not to be together any more and he and you got together and he had a child with you.

Maybe a full on ultimatum from you will give him the momentum that allows him to release himself from this highly unhealthy relationship that he is in.

And I also wonder that if it went on as it is now in the way you suggest (if it didn't all slip back since nothing, fundamentally, has changed and she might only need to have a strop and it all slips back again, who knows), I wouldn't be surprised to see in the future maybe him ending up with a mental health breakdown and then where will you be? How long could he exist under this pressure where he is effectively trying (and failing) to maintain two families at two different addresses? And if you got frustrated and resentful (understandably) and started asking him for a little bit more and a little bit more that could tip him over the edge into depression or worse (that's the kind of scenario I could see as one possibility) - and I say this because it would then present you with a whole host of difficulties - just further down the line.

Have you ever sat down with him and said "What do you get out of it you must see that it's waaayyyy beyond anything normal and that you're her whipping boy" - what does he say? Does he realise that effectively he's being controlled/abused and he's allowing an EX partner to control is current relationship to boot?

It could actually be doing him and thus you and your DD, the power of good if you tell him "These are the terms from two days time and they're non negotiable". It's black and white for him.

God it's such an awful situation and I so feel for you. It must be so difficult and especially at this time of year and looking after your daughter still, essentially, pretty much on your own. The rest of the time you're caring for her, looking after the house - he just comes over a few times a week to play with her/put her to bed? No, it's just not good enough it really isn't.

What's your thinking at the moment after the last few days, how's it going? I have been thinking about you. I've almost posted about three times when you've previously set out the visiting scenario that you've written about for him - it is just visiting not being a proper father (or family member), and it's really totally unacceptable in duration, frequency and honest to goodness genuine commitment. This is almost the behaviour of some of our wonderful non resident dads - not of the parent of the current family that should be the active priority for him without question.

It's one thing that he still wants to do things for his existing children (wish my EXH would do that!!!) but there are limits and his are totally out of whack and highly extreme. It's not normal - you're not asking him to sever all ties with his children, just be appropriate to their need to be independent adults and to be fair to them and to you. Undoubtedly all the running them about is at the insistence of the EXW and just a further extension of her control and guilt tripping.

Your visitation scenario doesn't do anything to bring to an end the weird controlling relationship that he continues with his ex.

I am SO sorry but to me it's still timid half measures/solutions rather than the definitive - "You will do x y and z and if you don't, we're done".

How long can you wait for realisation and genuine insight from him because he's not had a lightbulb moment yet - if getting into the relationship with you wasn't the trigger, if when you got pregnant wasn't the trigger, when his DD was diagnosed as SN, why wasn't that the trigger? He's very likely NOT going to get it any time soon, the current situation will continue and drag on - and on and on and on and this solution is just a sticking plaster to the issue but underneath the wound is still festering - it's called his ex (who isn't his ex).

So awful for you OP and very complicated and tricky unless until I guess you break it down into the one main issue. He needs to not be in a relationship of the type he's in currently with his soon to be ex wife from right now, today.

Sunflowerspread · 16/12/2016 11:19

Thanks pollyana. I was going to post a reply before, but instead I've read everything you and other posters have put very carefully, and am trying to change MY mindset. I've just been accepting a situation for years that has ground me down.

Unfortunately today my DP has let me down. I guess it isn't that unexpected. I had asked for at least once a week where I go in with him in the morning and he doesn't take his (adult) DDs, and he gets our DD breakfast. He's been fine for the last month, until today when 10 mins before we go he announces we have to rush earlier to pick up DD1 as 'no one else will take her'.

If I hadn't posted here, I would have just said 'fine', but I didn't. It's just a slippery slope again. It's really not that much to have asked him, he can take his adult DDs to Uni and sit outside ExWs house, or go in, most mornings.

But to ask for one morning just us, it's not that hard. He got very angry to me and called me unreasonable. DD1 is perfectly capable of taking the bus for one morning. DD1 also refuses to ever come and visit us. ExW obviously kicked up a fuss or DD1 did, or they both did. I don't know.

I just took the bus in with our daughter instead. It's a week before Christmas but I just have had enough.

OP posts:
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