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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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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MumsTheWordYouKnow · 08/12/2016 21:06

WTAF why do you mention buying the bear a Christmas stocking and expecting us to take this seriously. If this is your actual partner and you have actual children with him and he is doing this I suggest he is definitely not over his ex... but suspect you already know this Hmm

TheDowagerCuntess · 08/12/2016 21:09

m0ms - it's unlikely a toy bought by an ex-girlfriend would be chosen to represent a child that the subsequent girlfriend and DP had lost...

ItShouldHaveBeenJingleJess · 08/12/2016 21:16

But it might be stuffed with ashes, dowager Grin

ScoobyDoosTinklyLaugh · 08/12/2016 21:28

Just read this thread and it made me dead happy.

I don't think the bear thing with you and DP is weird. Just normal relationship stuff and quite cute. But the situation with the ex is strange. Glad your DP has seen sense on that. Can't wait for the photoshoot!

Pumpkin2010 · 08/12/2016 21:35

This is the weirdest thread I've ever read Hmm

gemma19846 · 08/12/2016 21:42

I seem to think this is some way of them keeping in touch with each other. Suggest that "bear" arrives and departs by a courier and see how long this nonsense lasts then. I suspect if they dont see each other neither will be that interested in the bloody bear

Areyoulocal · 08/12/2016 21:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ollieplimsoles · 08/12/2016 21:44

Not rtft but 'Bear' would have had his head removed and mailed to the ex...

KerrytheBerry · 08/12/2016 21:46

^^I don't think the bear thing with you and DP is weird. Just normal relationship stuff and quite cute...

Really?? 👀 If you're 17 maybe!

Adala · 08/12/2016 21:48

... Or just different from your "norm" perhaps Kerry? I'm betting everyone does something which someone else could insult and name-call over. It's not necessary.

The problem here isn't the object, or anything about it - it's the ongoing relationship.

mummytosophia · 08/12/2016 21:59

This cant be for real surely??

MommaGee · 08/12/2016 22:34

Seconded nichito and considering they have a child together perhaps there's a better option than dumping his cos he has a teddy. Sure DC loves the play aspect of it as they're very young and sure they'll tell parents how embarrassing they are as they get oldee

MiddleClassProblem · 08/12/2016 22:47

I just feel this is so derogatory to Bear's DP. Does she even have a name? Everyone pandering to his every need and she has to borrow clothes of someone else. Bet he's got a soft toy bunny at the ex's that he's stuffing and prob something else at the step mum's.

And her son is missing! The heartache...

BreakfastAtSquiffanys · 08/12/2016 22:48

I think the fact that it has taken the OP two months to start a serious search for Kevin shows that OP is not a proper bear-parent.

MsMarvel · 08/12/2016 22:55

This has got to be one of the strangest threads I have ever read on mumsnet. And that is some achievement! 😂🐻

KerrytheBerry · 08/12/2016 22:58

Indeed Adala Grin

Pillsburyb · 08/12/2016 22:59

I think what is important here is the emotional distress this bear is going through.

harrypotternerd · 08/12/2016 23:17

I was told off by my 8 year old DS for laughing so much while reading this thread. I have sat here for the last hour and a half reading this. I love it!

Maybe Kevin got sick of his father disappearing and ran away? Mrs Bear must be frantic.
I need to see this fashion shoot.

Smeags · 08/12/2016 23:29

Wow. I only read up to around page 20. I was thinking this tbh and then i feel it was confirmed with your post on page 20 or thereabouts

Hes had the bear for 20 years so I can kind of understand him being attached to it. And at first, i thought the custody thing was weird, but i can understand with his reason (you said he felt guilty about their relationship breaking up and wanted to cheer his ex up). He maybe should have just lent it for a bit and not let the whole thing escalate like it has done.

Ex is a nice girl so i dont think shes taking bear just to stop him having it. I think shes not over him, like you said. And she wants bear cus she reminds her of him. Maybe has his scent there or something.

I'd nip it in the bud though if i were you. Or it could all build up to her professing her love for him or something. Maybe lie and say something like you've given bear away to some child you know.

Or be tough with the ex and say no more. Deep down, ex probably knows its quite weird.

I wouldnt say to him "just give her the bear" though like others have said. Like i said, its understandable that hes attached to it, given hes had it 20 years.

ProlificLurker · 08/12/2016 23:32

Place marking for the inevitable fallout when ex hears there will be no more Bear access
Bear

Ferrisday · 08/12/2016 23:43

I know this is a bit of a laugh, but ffs sort it out

ruthie2k · 08/12/2016 23:43

There are issues, let her have full custody with no visitation rights at all from DP.
Odd.
When I met my hubby he had loads of his ex's child hood soft toys in his house that she hadn't packed (and he had moved into a new house).
I told him she needed to collect them, he emailed and she didn't reply so I took them to the charity shop.
She used to drunkenly phone him to ask how they were, so when we moved we changed number.

VoldemortsNipple · 08/12/2016 23:58

I'd love to know what the ex actually does during her visitation time. I can imagine this grumpy old bear being dressed up in fairy wings and having a tea party with ex's porcelain dolls, plotting revenge on OPs dp.

Do you reckon she does the whole spoil him rotten, buying him loads of new clothes and port so he loves her more than dp.

Or do you think he gets left in the back of the boot until she has to return him.

ItShouldHaveBeenJingleJess · 09/12/2016 00:22

lurker. I know.......

harrypotternerd · 09/12/2016 00:27

I am so shamelessly involved in this teddy bear custody that I have failed to get ready to go out

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