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AIBU?

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..to be upset that DP shares custody of his teddy bear with his ex?

965 replies

BearProblems · 07/12/2016 17:12

DP and I have been together 2 and a half years. We live together and have a DC. A few months before we got together, DP had split with his ex, who he'd been with for over a decade. Their split was amicable but they've hardly had any contact since. She seems to be a perfectly nice person. They have no DCs.

When DP moved in, over a year ago, his ex came to my house to collect Bear who was going "on holiday" with her. DP hadn't warned me this was happening, and I was just expecting her to drop some of DP's stuff off. DP did the handing over but it was all unbearably awkward. DP hadn't told her that he was moving in with me (we have known each other vaguely for years) so she couldn't have been expecting the new girlfriend to be a witness to this nonsense. He didn't tell her because he was hardly in touch with her and was (like a total coward) hoping someone else would tell her so he wouldn't have to. Anyway, I thought that was the end of it and she would be too embarrassed to ask for Bear again.

Today DP and I went out for a nice lunch together and, over the pudding, he mentioned, very awkwardly, that he was going out this evening... taking Bear, who is off on his Christmas holidays. He will drop Bear off with ex before meeting friends to play darts. He'll be gone a couple of hours in all.

I am 100% certain there is nothing going on with DP and his ex (or anyone else for that matter) but this has made me feel incredibly weird and uncomfortable and actually a bit insecure.

He made this arrangement with his ex and didn't tell me until a few hours before the arranged drop off. I know full well the reason he didn't tell me was because he was embarrassed about it (and rightly so!) but still, it seems disloyal to arrange things with an ex and not tell me.

And then there's the fact that it's so fucking weird! I can see, when she asked if she could have Bear for Christmas, he felt he couldn't object without seeming mean and petty or making me out to be some suspicious psycho (he knows I wasn't totally happy about the last time). He's a bit of a coward who hates conflict but also a kind man who doesn't want to hurt anyone unnecessarily.

I don't know what bothers me about it so much. I had been planning to get Bear a Christmas stocking - lucky I'm not sufficiently organised to have done anything about it yet. (I think this sort of stupid infantilism about DP's bear is fine within the confines of a romantic relationship but outside of one, it's just a bit creepy).

Sorry this is so long. It's so bloody ludicrous it was hardly worth writing let alone reading!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
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SuperFlyHigh · 07/12/2016 19:31

Marking place

StealthPolarBear · 07/12/2016 19:31

Two cubs that should have said, obviously. Apologies for typo

DramaInPyjamas · 07/12/2016 19:34

A 20 year old bear should be washing its own pyjamas.

Boiing · 07/12/2016 19:36

Ok being very generous fine he is attached to his childhood toy, perhaps he has issues with his chilhood I don't know. Bit odd that he still has it but not insane. But she is not attached to it. It makes no sense to borrow someone else's childhood toy. She is using it as a reason to see him and he is humouring her because he is deluded into thinking she genuinely loves it. That's all a bit weird and needs to stop. Tell him you find her interest in his childhood toy really weird and the situation makes you uncomfortable, ask him to stop lending it out.

SummerHouse · 07/12/2016 19:37

My suggestion is that you all go down to the woods today. You're in for one big fucking surprise!

Tweasels · 07/12/2016 19:37

Fuck me. This place is crazy at the minute.

..to be upset that DP shares custody of his teddy bear with his ex?
qazxc · 07/12/2016 19:37

Can he not tell her he has given the bear to his dc, who cannot sleep without it, so no more shared custody.
Or post / courier bear over to her when she requests it. If it the contact with your dp she wants, not having the handovers and minimum contact should take wind out of her sails.

StorminaBcup · 07/12/2016 19:37

Erm...

..to be upset that DP shares custody of his teddy bear with his ex?
AtrociousCircumstance · 07/12/2016 19:38

This isn't about a bear, it's about two adults who can't deal with being separated forever. Their attachment is to each other. Your DP needs a way to keep a bond with his ex and so does she.

Yeah I wouldn't be cool with that.

ThatsWotSheSaid · 07/12/2016 19:38

Everyone is getting carried away and forgetting the real victim in all this, Bear! Poor thing must be so confused he could have all sorts of attachment issues in the future.

TitaniasCloset · 07/12/2016 19:39

Is this you Jeffrey???

GetOutMyCar · 07/12/2016 19:44

So is Bear not getting a stocking now that his loyalties are divided?

ALemonyPea · 07/12/2016 19:50

Come back op and finish the story. So many unanswered questions!

XiCi · 07/12/2016 19:50

The bear is just the connection between the two of them. A reason, an excuse, so they can carry on seeing each other. You don't seriously think a 40 year old man and woman give 2 shits about taking a teddy on holiday do you? He needs to be honest about his feelings for her. If it's truly over he needs to tell her to stop calling round and using a stupid bear as an excuse.

raviolidreaming · 07/12/2016 19:50

Ok being very generous fine he is attached to his childhood toy, perhaps he has issues with his chilhood I don't know

Keep up with the story! The bear was a gift from an ex when he was 18.

MyGastIsFlabbered · 07/12/2016 19:50

FFS how long does it take to cook supper?

christmasmiracle · 07/12/2016 19:53

Seriously just placemarking.

This has made my day

Wondering what a teddy gets in his stocking .....

trebleclef101 · 07/12/2016 19:54

Shamelessly place marking to find out what a teddy bear gets in it's stocking Grin

MothershipG · 07/12/2016 19:56

Is your DP's name Sebastian?

DramaInPyjamas · 07/12/2016 19:56

Maybe a box of Koalaty Streets

Clandestino · 07/12/2016 19:57

Just when you thought you read it all.

wowwee123 · 07/12/2016 19:57

What a thread! Let me in Grin

SpeckledyBanana · 07/12/2016 19:58

Blimey.

1MorePiece · 07/12/2016 19:59

Blatant placemarking... NEED to know about this bloody bear 🐻 And what was going in the stocking?! Confused

MrsWhiteWash · 07/12/2016 20:00

I'm surprised the bear stuck around 20 years - the favoured stuff animals in this house get taken on adventures and wonder off DH forgets to check so they get left on busses and trains and in planetariums.

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