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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

..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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Spudlet · 07/12/2016 21:33

She did not. Her forebearance (BOOM BOOM) was little short of saintly. He was doing a voice! And demanding she gave the little fucker a kiss!

Can't find it on google but I swear, it was one of the 2015 episodes because I watched it while pregnant then had a suitably incredulous discussion about it at my antenatal exercise class the next day.

1MorePiece · 07/12/2016 21:34

So OP what does DP intend to do about sharing with the ex?! Seeing as that was the point of the thread, YADNBU

HurricaneSwallows · 07/12/2016 21:34

Well I've heard it all now.

Is today national Batshit MumsNet day and I've missed the memo.

WineConfused

saffronwblue · 07/12/2016 21:35

I can't work out if I feel better or worse about life after reading this thread. The issue is not the bear but that the ex continues to engage in cutesy, coupley, shared madness behaviour with a man she is no longer in a relationship with.

Toocleverbyhalf2 · 07/12/2016 21:35

f you're having bear problems I feel bad for you girl
I got ninety nine problems but a bear ain't one
I got the paw patrol on the remote control
Fools that want make the stuffing explode
Mn critics say he's "a honey seeking ho"
He's from the woods, stupid
what type of facts are those?

I got ninety nine problems but a bear ain't one

OMG I can't breathe Grin best laugh I've had in ages.

YoureAllABunchOfBastards · 07/12/2016 21:36

Fucking hell.

Winterc00kie · 07/12/2016 21:36

This reply has been deleted

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paxillin · 07/12/2016 21:36

Does he worship other random stuff? His old friend Special Teaspoony who has three sets of clothes? Old Wellie McWellingtons that get Christmas stockings?

Boundaries · 07/12/2016 21:36

OP am I correct in my reading of this thread? You wanted to buy a stocking for the bear? You knit for it?

How has this man convinced 2 women to behave like this about a teddy?

Is he a particularly good cook? An amazing shag? So funny he makes your sides split and your stuffing fall out?

What sorcery has he performed?

53rdAndBird · 07/12/2016 21:37

Find out the make/model of the bear, and we'll help you source an identical bear he can fob Ex off with.

You said they were together for ten years? Probably she started off with a Hmm attitude towards Bear, but after ten years of humouring him about it she's started thinking like it's a sentient being herself. (Beware, OP - this could be your future...)

MyDarlingWhatIfYouFly · 07/12/2016 21:38

They are both using this bear as an excuse to be in touch with each other. There's unfinished business there, it's a totally ridiculous reason to maintain contact. For some reason you're going along with this. Why? Put a stop to it now.

pieceofpurplesky · 07/12/2016 21:39

I have friends who take a baby meercat (from the adverts) everywhere and photograph him. He gets Christmas presents and everything.

OP I would buy him a puppy for Christmas and when bear returns get puppy to chew it. Cold turkey style.

Ladycakescc81 · 07/12/2016 21:41

Whatttttttttt??? joke surely!!!

Soubriquet · 07/12/2016 21:41

I must say Spudlet

Most of the men on OBEM drove me mad...most of them were incompetent. Others were annoying.

He sounded like a twat

NC1nightstand · 07/12/2016 21:42

So sorry if this has already been addressed OP, I have read the important bits but have skimmed a lot of the thread (normally hate when people don't read the thread.) But what does your dp say when you ask him, really truly tell him, that the bear has to go? To her. Then you buy him something you can both love and enjoy together. Or just focus on your lovely baby.

TheDowagerCuntess · 07/12/2016 21:42

Ironic that your DP is hurt and upset because people are being so unkind to his bear.

But he's not that bothered about your feelings over the issue.

SimplyNigella · 07/12/2016 21:42

I get the outfits and presents for Bear thing, we have a similar bear in my extended family and it's basically an affectionate in joke within the family. Not something that would make much sense to other people, but as a family eccentricity I've seen worse.

The shared custody I don't get. I think your DH needs to stop it. Surely your own DC will want Bear for Christmas as they get older?

PinkSquash · 07/12/2016 21:42

I hope your dp is bearing up to the flack

christmasmiracle · 07/12/2016 21:44

I think bear is wonderful! I think you should get him an Instagram account so I can follow is travels. I love Bear!

Fwiw, I made a bunny at build-a-bear once. She has a name and lots of clothes. She even got dressed up when I got married. It's not that weird. And if it is who cares? Life is for living, screw the grumpy party-poopers

Natsku · 07/12/2016 21:45

Am I asleep and dreaming this? Because this thread is just too fucking weird.

Although, that said, I did half want to ask to take my ex's teddy (it was a Snoopy to be precise) because I had grown quite attached to it and slept cuddling it every night, but instead I went and bought a body pillow and cuddled that instead because I'm a fucking adult.

paxillin · 07/12/2016 21:45

I'm not sure I could have sex with somebody who presents as a 5 year old. It would be me or Teddy McFluffyCuddle.

DearMrDilkington · 07/12/2016 21:46

Yes set bear an instagram page up!!Grin

MommaGee · 07/12/2016 21:46

Tell exG that child will cry if bear ever leaves again (and it's damaging for Kevin to have two grandmother's)

MrsWhiteWash · 07/12/2016 21:47

OP doesn't need to destroy the bear.

However if her DP is so lacking he can't tell the ex no it's not happening any more surely he can say bear got lost while remaining safely hidden away.

NC1nightstand · 07/12/2016 21:48

Paxillin Surely the winner of funniest response to this most curious of threads.

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