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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:
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Lillygolightly · 07/12/2016 20:21

Perhaps the best is significant in some way that your DP hasn't told you about - for instance perhaps it a symbol for a lost baby...miscarriage/termination and it was a physical thing to hold on to to grieve the loss. I only say because I did something similar, I bought small teddy bear when I had to sadly terminate my first pregnancy 16 years ago. It was very precious to me and I used to hold and cuddle it when I feel sad. Many years later when I had my firstborn she had it in her room and still does somewhere among a huge pile of other teddies.

It might be something very personal like this that your DP hasn't discussed with you. Perhaps it's as significant and precious to him as it is her, or he is simply keeping up the pretence so as not to hurt her feelings.

Hope that helps.

yellowpostitnote · 07/12/2016 20:21

OP, did you go down to the woods today? I hope it wasn't a big surprise. Flowers

Lillygolightly · 07/12/2016 20:21

bear sorry flipping typo's 🙄😣

WellErrr · 07/12/2016 20:21

Oh what a load of shite.

Ilovenannyplum · 07/12/2016 20:22

I have nothing to add because I think it's pretty much been covered

But seriously. What the actual fuck? HmmShockConfused
Shared custody of a bear, I've seen it all now.....

BearProblems · 07/12/2016 20:23

Sorry for the delay! The website was down and then I had to put the DCs to bed. I haven't read all the posts yet, I'm only up to page 8, but I thought I'd give you a photo of the bear to be going on with (most definitely called Bear not Samuel, although it's reassuring to know DP and his ex are not the only weirdos in this situation!)
Here he is at the football, wearing a scarf that I knitted for the occasion.

..to be upset that DP shares custody of his teddy bear with his ex?
OP posts:
yellowpostitnote · 07/12/2016 20:23

Cross post lilley Flowers

DearMrDilkington · 07/12/2016 20:28

Loving the scarf, although I feel he should have a very small car seat to travel in, not a bagShock

WellErrr · 07/12/2016 20:30

Good gracious.

DramaInPyjamas · 07/12/2016 20:31

Ok seriously though, if you think its infantile and weird why on earth are you indulging in this bizarre behaviour by knitting scarfs and doing Christmas stockings?

BBQsAreSooooOverrated · 07/12/2016 20:32

I don't understand how his ex is attached to a bear that his ex ex gf bought him and wtaf at washing his pj's. Hehe @ PJs. Does he actually have a wardrobe of outfits or a little bear case of clothes for going between households?

AndNoneForGretchenWieners · 07/12/2016 20:32

Does your DP have women all over the country knitting outfits for this Bear?

GlitterIsTheEnemy · 07/12/2016 20:33

Your kids must be mortified that their parents hang about with a bear!!

Stokey · 07/12/2016 20:34

He goes to football and you knit scarves for him?

Have you got so involved with the Bear because his exes did? it's very odd.

Questioningeverything · 07/12/2016 20:36

If you split would you share three way custody??

DramaInPyjamas · 07/12/2016 20:36

This has got to be some weird fetish or control thing, he's had all three partners involved in this bears 'upbringing'

ALemonyPea · 07/12/2016 20:36

Seriously? Why are you indulging in this weird fantasy, stop feeding the crazy!

BoreOfWhabylon · 07/12/2016 20:37

DotForShort · 07/12/2016 20:38

What the hell?

Chiyas · 07/12/2016 20:39

The ex has to be told that bears not going on holidays anymore Hmm as it's not hers. but don't destroy/hide/bin the bear, I'm always Hmm at posters saying to destroy OHs stuff that they don't like/approve of.

HeadElf · 07/12/2016 20:40

That's my bear!!!!!!! Mine and my exes Shock

RoseGoldHippie · 07/12/2016 20:41

What fresh hell is this all about?

I think it's real - I've known people weird enough to do something like this!

OP what were you going to give the teddy in its stocking? Will your DP be sad on Christmas morning that the teddy isn't with him?

Soubriquet · 07/12/2016 20:41

I would love to think you're kidding HeadElf but then this thread happened....

DramaInPyjamas · 07/12/2016 20:42

Ursusagalmatophilia - a sexual fetish where you become aroused by teddy bears

Every day's a school day on Mumsnet!

RoseGoldHippie · 07/12/2016 20:43

HeadElf please please please be the ex in this scenario! It would make my entire week!

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