Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

How do I stop being the evil stepmother?

61 replies

NorfolkAndAround · 09/09/2017 21:34

My OH had a fling during the early days of our relationship with an ex and she became pregnant. Before the baby was born me and OH moved out of the country (This was planned long before and for OH's work). Through OH's family OH still communicated with DSS and saw him at Christmas. I would go to my own family so wouldn't see DSS. However when OH spoke to him on Skype ect I would always join in.
Now we are back in the UK and OH sees DSS every week. I try hard with DSS and we take him places and do nice things with him. However after we take him back to his mum's there is always a laundry list of things I have done wrong. Never OH. Just me. I find this incredibly hurtful as obviously the situation is far from ideal and I have suffered a lot mentally from what happened (Obviously DSS is not to blame but OH cheating and various complications have had an impact) but I have tried so hard to make DSC feel at home with us.
I have tried to speak to his mum but she makes it difficult. She doesn't reply to texts and face to face she just ignores I exist if we happen to be in the same room.
I'm worried that DSS doesn't like me because of what she says about me. AIBU to think I will never be good enough for her child in her eyes?

OP posts:
bimbobaggins · 10/09/2017 07:47

I'm guessing
Fuck the fuck off and then fuck off some more

Cailleach666 · 10/09/2017 07:49

This man has a primary responsibility.

And it is not to the OP.

BanyanTree · 10/09/2017 07:51

Yes Bimbo Grin

I originally wanted to put FTFOAWSGTFOSM (including And When She Gets There) but it was pushing it.

SimplyNigella · 10/09/2017 07:52

You have my every sympathy. DSS's mother was desperate for him to come back (I wasn't the OW, they had separated well before I met him) and I too used to receive a long list of things I'd done wrong. Everyone would tell me to ignore it but I couldn't and I let it affect me far more than I should have done.

It does get easier as they get older and are less influenced by their mothers. DSS is now 17 and we haven't had direct communication from his mother in more than 4 years. Arguably that is far from ideal either, but still better than how it was before.

I'm not usually one for self help type books but this was really helpful for me.

BananaBottom · 10/09/2017 07:53

TBH I'd be wondering if the ex knew she was a 'fling' at the time it happened. From the very little that has been said it sounds like the OP's partner has a shaky relationship with being open and truthful with the women in his life.

bimbobaggins · 10/09/2017 07:54

Ha ha banyan
My dad used to send me messages with the first letter and I got quite good at deciphering them

RonSwansonsMoustache · 10/09/2017 07:59

Your "D"H sounds horrific. Who fathers a child (while in another relationship no less), fucks off out of the country and only sees him once a year, and on top of that, fails to tell his partner about the affair until she's stuck abroad with him?!

I actually feel sorry for his ex, because I'm betting the story he told her is not what he's told you. He got her pregnant then fucked off abroad with another woman, leaving her to raise their son on her own.

The victim here is DSS. He's six and has a dad who had nothing to do with him for three years (Skype hardly counts for a baby/toddler) and when his dad does see him, his new wife is there!

Do you have children? If not I would honestly consider leaving - you deserve much better than a man who treats his child, mother of his child an wife like this.

Cailleach666 · 10/09/2017 08:02

I actually feel sorry for his ex, because I'm betting the story he told her is not what he's told you. He got her pregnant then fucked off abroad with another woman, leaving her to raise their son on her own.

Exactly. I feel sorry for this woman too.

TeachesOfPeaches · 10/09/2017 08:03

What a horrible situation you're in OP. You must really love him to put up with all this rubbish.

Underthemoonlight · 10/09/2017 08:07

Are you married op you say OH (other half) not DH if so I would leave. It's not going to get better and life is too short to put up with this. Your oh has shown his true colours to wait till your moved abroad to tell you about the affair which he must likely did when she told him she was pregnant. I wouldn't be surprised if it was more than once and told her a different story.

SonicBoomBoom · 10/09/2017 08:07

Your DH sounds like a total shit.

abbsisspartacus · 10/09/2017 08:12

If she won't communicate with you how are you getting this list.? And what sort of things are on there

SisterMoonshine · 10/09/2017 08:15

So is your DH telling you the list of what you've done wrong?

SemiNormal · 10/09/2017 08:15

Was she aware she was an 'ex' when she fell pregnant? or is that something he 'forgot' to tell her?! If she knew she was an ex did she know you were both together? How long had they been apart for when you came on the scene?

I guess even if she was an ex she likely imagined that having his baby would perhaps make him want to at least try and work things out for the sake of their baby.

It seems like whatever the situation she is blaming the wrong person and that's not on. Your OH needs to speak with her and tell her that HE is at fault and to lay the blame at his door, not yours.

Is this something that you think you can ever fully forgive? It's been 6 years already but this child will be in your lives forever - and therefore so will that childs mother (to some extent). Even when this child is an adult there will be events where you'll be coming face to face with her. You need to think if this is really something you want long term, especially given the fact he failed to mention the circumstances until you'd already moved abroad! Flowers

You're a saint to have put up with what you have and I do hope your OH is genuinely remorseful. I also hope that he really fucking appreciates you!

misscph1973 · 10/09/2017 08:17

Dear OP, I am sorry you are having such a hard time. I can't help but think that the pain and hurt from when you found out that your OH cheated is a big part of the pain and hurt you feel now? It must have been very hard, and perhaps you relive the pain a little bit every time you are critizised by your OH's ex?

Shumpalumpa · 10/09/2017 08:18

So the ex should be fucked off with her ex, not OP.

OP, what is on her list? Does she expect you to do things her ex should be doing?

And yes, he is a twat for only telling you about the affair when you had 'trapped' yourself abroad, so to speak.

SisterMoonshine · 10/09/2017 08:29

Good question, did she even know she was an ex?

Oldie2017 · 10/09/2017 08:31

So she emails you the laundry list of things you have done wrong but does not reply or take messages back from you? Why not just block her number and email then - no need for her to communicate with her at all.

Well done to your other half for regularly seeing his son. He might be better off living half the time with his father actually - I support 50/50 deals.

Do you have children yet with your partner? I assume you are not married.

Janeismymiddlename · 10/09/2017 08:36

He might be better off living half the time with his father actually - I support 50/50 deals

Deals? A child's life is not some kind of business negotiation. I am struggling to see how 50/50 with a man who has an affair and buggers off abroad for half his child's life without mentioning it to his partner is a suitable 50/50 parent. Courts would certainly be sceptical. OP doesn't particularly sound like she is enjoying step parenting.

twattymctwatterson · 10/09/2017 08:43

Sorry op. Your OH really is scum. It sounds like both you and OW are taking out the hurt he caused you on each other rather than where it belongs.

kateandme · 10/09/2017 08:52

are things good between you an dp now.does maybe the hurt you still feel show do you think toward dss.not saying this is true but sometimes we don't no how much our emotions come out onto others...
sounds to me like you pretty amazing though.to stick with him and this situation.braver than me so big hugs.and from the outer I would say how brilliant it is your trying like you are.
from their point if my dad moved away,didnt see me then did all of a sudden and only wen he moved back id be so hurt byt him.but him still being my dad id want to love him all the more so the step mum would be my only OUT for the pain?
do you think for deff she is saying stuff bout you.should this be where your dp steps in and has a word.to me he needs to do all it take to make this right for you.youve given up so much and put your trust back in him so he needs to make you feel safe in this situation.
have you ever talk to her.brave thing to do but could you arrange a coffee and really get down to the rawness of it.might you even find a closeness and not so much separate hut at one mans actions.
could she have wanted more than a fling and not expected you to stay together then move away.did he in her eyes chose another woman over her.
I'm trying to think...if the father of my child moved away if be heartbroken because to sleep with him id have to have felt something for him(just me?) then to only come back and remind me when he sees the dc would add more hurt.and for him to have hut you and me would add more pain. then to move home and want to see more of child.it would be all kinds of hurt. that not to take away your pain.no no I'm just thinking of where she could be coming from?
ive not been very helpful here have I.
I am thinking of you hun.sounds like a trucky situation.
for what to do now?figure out what you need to move forward.
it might just be a case of sticking with it so that when he matures he actually sees your consistency.kids feel so unsafe with speerated family. so if you stick by him,keep loving him he will push and psu hto make sure your going to be there.if you are then he will turn around with maturity I can almost be certain of it. that will take time and I'm sure a few upset moments.but sometimes time is all you have to mend and grow with these things.
good luck

Cupoteap · 10/09/2017 09:06

To answer your question you can't. If his mum is determined to do this it will carry on and get worse.

What sort of things are they saying you are doing wrong?

NowtAbout · 10/09/2017 09:30

I would put money on the fact that she views you as the other woman. Your DP is the one to blame for the situation. You need to think long and hard if this is who you really want to be with.

swingofthings · 10/09/2017 09:53

OP, I'm wondering whether the problem is that you are too involved and trying to hard. Doing so can result is the same frustrations that if you were unpleasantly ignoring him.

It's a very very hard situation and I find it very admirable that you stuck by your man despite it all and so desperately want to be a good SM to your SS who you could, without helping it, resent dreadfully.

The issue though is that from the perspective of the mother, and probably your DSS, and even maybe your OH, this child comes to your house to see his dad, not you. From the ex's perspective, it must have been hard to allow your OH to be part of his son's life, I expect it would have been much much easier for her to pretend he wasn't there and raise her son without his involvement, but she -hopefully- realised how important it is for a child to have both his parents in his life, however, that doesn't extend to having a SM in his life. Similarly for the child, it might very well be that he is only happy to come over to spend time with his dad, not you.

He has now been seeing him regularly for 3 years, so really it should be getting better in the child should start considering you as part of his life too, however, if you are too expectant that way, it might be having the exact opposite effect?

If that is the case, then the best thing you can do is to take a step back. Don't reject him, don't show resentment, but do allow him to have a relationship with his dad without your involved in every, or almost every step of it.

Hopefully time should help as he chooses himself to grow closer to you.

OhWhatFuckeryIsThisNow · 10/09/2017 10:54

Basically, there are three wronged parties here and smuggo dh. I bet he's fucking loving having duped two women, being part time Disney dad AND having his wife helping to look after the child he had as a result of an affair.
So I bet ex actually sees you as the ow (guaranteed he spun her a tale) and thinks she has prior claim-hence resentment.
You are tearing yourself in two trying to be part of son's life and not be seen as the baddy (I bet he doesn't btw) I really would be taking a step back, like I said before, it's your husband's responsibility to parent. And obviously you want to be part of son's life, but maybe make sure that the majority of care is done by dh. (And if he comes along and says ex doesn't like x and y, well that's his look out.)
This is totally not taking into account that he is an absolute prick and I'd be asking why I'm still with the lying cheating scumbucket.

Swipe left for the next trending thread