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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Son still sleeps with mother

117 replies

AIBUfan · 26/12/2017 18:49

AIBU to think that (a) it's creepy that my OH's son still sleeps with his mother at 9 years old; (b) that my OH puts up with son and mother sleeping at his house, and I have to vacate.

Background history - OH's son's mother abducted him from the UK when he was very young. She will not allow her son to visit his father on his own.

OH "whispers" when on the phone to me whilst son and mother are there. The situation is delicate, as he has court orders in the UK giving him 50% custody, but they are not enforceable in the jurisdiction where his son's mother lives.

There are all sorts of issues arising from this, but one I cannot deal with is that the mother feels entitled to sleep in my OH's house (her son should of course sleep there, but why should she??); and that my OH's parents pay for her flights.

AIBU???

OP posts:
BuggerLumpsAnnoyed · 26/12/2017 18:52

Huh?

Tink2007 · 26/12/2017 18:53

I don’t think it’s creepy that a nine year old boy sleeps in the same bed as his mum. I don’t see why it would be. He is a child.

OH’s parents may feel obliged to pay for the flights as that is their grandson and they may well be worried that if they don’t pay for them they won’t see their grandchild.

LesDennishair · 26/12/2017 18:56

The co sleeping isn't really the issue here so I'm not sure why that seems to be the main focus, and no I don't think it's creepy at 9 years old.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 26/12/2017 18:57

Not creepy. He's only 9.

SardineJam · 26/12/2017 18:59

DS1 who is 8 loves to come and sleep in my bed when DP is away

Blackteadrinker77 · 26/12/2017 19:02

There is nothing wrong with a nine year old sharing a bed with his mother.
Why do you think it is creepy?

His grandparents can buy them flights any time they like.

It just sounds like you're looking for a problem.

Herewegoagain01 · 26/12/2017 19:05

YABU to think them sleeping in the same bed is creepy.

YANBU to be annoyed that she has to stay for visits to his dad. Unless they live far apart and she travels with him, or there is a back story/issued that you haven’t mentioned.

HeckyPeck · 26/12/2017 19:06

Co-sleeping isn't creepy.

Being shipped out from your home whenever the ex visits so she can sleep over is bloody weird though. If OH won't do something about I'd writing the relationship off as a bad one.

Sorry OP

Tipsntoes · 26/12/2017 19:07

Why on earth shouldn't a 9yo sleep with his parent?

Why on earth shouldn't GPs pay for their DGC and his mother to visit?

You may have some issues with your DP but I don't see what his ex or his parents are doing wrong.

SandyY2K · 26/12/2017 19:07

It's not creepy to me. You got involved with him knowing the set up..... that his parent's pay for her flights are non of your business.

She clearly doesn't want her son left with him alone...hence she stays at his home. Your OH accepts this.... so you need to as well.

RoderickRules · 26/12/2017 19:08

My DS, 9, gets in my bed.
He thinks the dark is creepy!

HTH

HeebieJeebies456 · 26/12/2017 19:08

why do you put up with this from him?

SandyY2K · 26/12/2017 19:09

that my OH puts up with son and mother sleeping at his house, and I have to vacate.

I missed this bit. Is it your OHs house or joint?

Honestly...I'd rethink this relationship. Too much hassle.

pickleypockley · 26/12/2017 19:10

Has she travelled there with her son? Maybe she's worried your oh will abduct the child as she didHmm

LuchiMangsho · 26/12/2017 19:10

Nothing creepy about it. My DCs don't regularly sleep with me but in many cultures it is fine for boys and girls till they hit puberty to sleep with their parents. It's not a big deal.

NotSureThisIsWhatIWant · 26/12/2017 19:15

Ok,

  1. not creepy, especially if there is no free bedroom for her to sleep in. It is perfectly reasonable at that age if they are traveling and there are no spare bedrooms.

  2. not unreasonable for his parents to pay the flights, mine still offer to pay outs and so do the inlaws. It is quite expensive to travel abroad when when there is a single household income and responsibility for a dependent.
    What is quite off is that your DP do not offer to pay.

  3. if she had really abducted the kid and your partner REALLY wanted to enforce the 50/50 he can. She is currently under the jurisdiction of the order and therefore the order is enforceable. If she was abroad... there is just a very small handful of countries who do not have agreements for the repatriation of abducted children so she could actually be arrested when she is abroad. It is your partner who is reluctant to act on it, if he really wanted the 50/50 the order gives him, there is quite Little the woman can do to stop him.

  4. you are being played on, in reality your partner is speaking quietly to keep YOU happy telling you what he thinks YOU want to hear. I can assure you that as soon as e hangs the phone he is behaving towards her as if she was an old friend (Ivan assure you that if that was not the case she wouldn’t be staying there, unless... does your DP still lives with his parents???)

passmethewineplease · 26/12/2017 19:17

Not creepy. My 8 year old DD regularly wants me in her bed. But I don't think thats necessarily the issue here is it?

Poshindevon · 26/12/2017 19:17

Why does your OH allow his son to be taken out out of the country when he has 50% custody?
If for example the child visiting his father in the UK and there is a 50% custody order in place why does your OH allow his ex to take the child out of the UK. He needs to apply for a prohibitive steps to stop this.
As for the child sleeping with his mother. Its not healthy, as in the long term children who sleep with a parent lack self reliance and can have anxiety and attachment issues.
That is the view of psychologists.

I personally find it creepy and as in this case ,the mothers seem to be clinging to their children for a variety of reasons.

BuzzKillington · 26/12/2017 19:17

Babyish, but not creepy.

Some 9 year olds are very young compared to others. They will grow out of it.

Tipsntoes · 26/12/2017 19:17

That's a good point NotSure. It sounds like mother and son regularly visit UK, so why hasn't DP taken steps to have the court order enforced?

Eatingwormswithwine · 26/12/2017 19:18

Yabu

Situp · 26/12/2017 19:20

TBH I don't think the co sleeping is your problem.

Clearly you and OH have issues to resolve regarding how your relationship is going to work in relation to his son. That seems to be where there is a problem

missyB1 · 26/12/2017 19:21

I’m confused about where this child lives, is it in the UK or abroad? Why do you have to move out when she comes over with the child? Why doesn’t your OH have unsupervised access to his child? Is he happy having his ex supervise him?
It all sounds very odd to me, the sleeping arrangements are the least of it!

zeeboo · 26/12/2017 19:22

@BuzzKillington you have just made yourself look really quite dim. Co-sleeping has no correlation with how 'young' or 'old' anyone is and frankly only chronological age determines that. You as a grown adult calling a small child 'babyish' now that is immature.

TheWitchAndTrevor · 26/12/2017 19:23

This is the second thread today about this Hmm

Swipe left for the next trending thread