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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To message his girlfriend about socks?

400 replies

AnothermanicMumday · 26/02/2018 09:59

My ds (5) goes to his dad's every other weekend and usually comes back on the Sunday evening. He's moved in with his dp 30 mins drive away but still works locally to me so occasionally he asks if he can drop him off on the way to work which I've said is fine if not too early for ds.
This morning he turns up at 7.10 am (so ds probably had to leave by 6.40am). Ds is in his pjs, baseball cap, trainers, no gloves or socks. His feet were absolutely freezing and when they started warming up they were really hurting. At the time he was dropped off the temperature was -1 but realfeel temp was -4. Not long after it began to snow.
I warmed ds up, got him hot drink and thick socks etc then messaged his df asking him to please make sure ds has socks on especially in this weather. It's not the first time I've mentioned it to him. He read and ignored my message but was online.
I sent a very polite message to his dp explaining what had happened again, apologised for messaging her and although it's not down to her there's only so many times I can talk to him about it so could she please remind him to provide socks for ds. The other point was ds has a verucca which I told his df about and it should be covered up especially since she has 3dc.
He messaged me saying he is LIVID I messaged his dp and don't do it again and if I have a problem then to contact him. He only seemed concerned that I'd contacted her and not that his ds feet were freezing and painful. He then started throwing out anything to try and get back at me for my polite request. I ignore the fact that he doesn't clean his ears or cut his nails etc as he's usually only there for a couple of days but I felt I couldn't ignore this.
Was I wrong to message his dp due to him making same mistake again?

OP posts:
HoHoHoHo · 26/02/2018 17:23

Would those of you who think that being with someone who already has children take full responsibility be ok with a gf taking you to task on what they consider to be less than optimal parenting? Because it goes both ways if all are responsible.

Lizzie48 · 26/02/2018 17:27

But it's not about an argument between the OP and her ex. It was partly fuelled by concern about her DS having verrucas. Wouldn't you want to know if a child staying in your house had verrucas? The OP couldn't trust the DP to pass that on to her.

She was polite and apologetic, just at the end of her tether after several instances like this.

AnothermanicMumday · 26/02/2018 17:43

I did not expect or ask his dp to supervise or check my ds had socks on. Merely asked that she reminds df that ds needs socks on when it's -1 (maybe even colder there) and he's getting in a car at 6.40am . I have reminded df in the past but he's forgotten that kids need socks on especially in winter

OP posts:
Idontdowindows · 26/02/2018 18:28

Thing is, your communication is with him. Not with her.

No matter if she does or does not look after the boy when he's with his father, your communication is with the father and not with the father's partner.

AnothermanicMumday · 26/02/2018 18:32

And I communicated my concerns with him several times in the past and he always reverts back to forgetting basic needs. If I believed he'd understood and that it wouldn't happen again I wouldn't of felt the need to contact her!

OP posts:
Idontdowindows · 26/02/2018 18:36

Your (lack of) communication with the boy's father is not her concern though.

And now you went and put her in the middle of you and her partner. She's not going to appreciate that at all (and I wouldn't have either, even though my partner's ex and I get along really well) and she's never going to choose your side.

You don't put her in the middle. It's not her job. Not her mess to clear up. Not her issue.

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 26/02/2018 18:40

So he doesn't listen even though you have mentioned certain things more than once, so it made no difference whatsoever whether you messaged him first thing or spoke to him later in the day. All you've done is probably piss him off even more.

There's certain ways of communicating with people when hoping to get a message across.

YearOfYouRemember · 26/02/2018 18:41

Funny how partners are expected to love their dp kids but aren't allowed to be involved in the child's life.

Considering he says he has a life now, i.e.his GF is his life not his child, I wouldn't be bothering sending your child for contact. Doesn't seem it's up to much.

i saw my mother once in a blue moon. Was so obvious she didn't really want me. Made a point of saying she didn't want me on Christmas Day.

YearOfYouRemember · 26/02/2018 18:57

All the posters saying nothing to do with the GF, if you had a friend of your child's round to play and they didn't have suitable clothing would you send them out in their shorts and sandals or would you lend them socks and thick trousers for the kids to play together in the snow , you know what with not having responsibility for the visiting child?

Oh, wait...

It's about common decency and care for anyone who needs it when you're the adult tasked with giving it.

AnothermanicMumday · 26/02/2018 19:01

It's not about sides or anyone being in the middle! It's about my son's welfare. I would love nothing more than not having to contact either of them about basic care of my ds!
He doesn't have a right to be pissed off when he caused my son to be in pain and so cold! It's only about ds so why is the main point from a lot of people on here that I've pissed them off and shouldn't have? He hasn't even asked how he is. He's pissed off with me so now my son hasn't had his usual call to see how sports after school tonight went!

OP posts:
AnothermanicMumday · 26/02/2018 19:02

Well said yearofyou.
Sorry about your mum, sounds awful

OP posts:
GreatDuckCookery6211 · 26/02/2018 19:14

Ive no doubt you have issues with your ex surrounding him not doing things you've asked but you are really blowing the cold feet out of all proportion! He didn't walk home in the snow in his bare feet. He was in a car that had the heating on.

AnothermanicMumday · 26/02/2018 19:28

They were beyond cold and really were hurting him. Not talking about a bit chilly!

OP posts:
Nicknacky · 26/02/2018 19:29

I cannot understand how a car can be so cold after a 30 minute drive.

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 26/02/2018 19:30

Has he been checked for Raynauds? I saw that you have it.

RadioGaGoo · 26/02/2018 19:32

I cannot understand how someone who hasn't had the opportunity to feel cold feet say the OP is blowing it out of proportion.

FreudianSlurp · 26/02/2018 19:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AnothermanicMumday · 26/02/2018 19:33

He'd got out of a warm bed, put shoes on and got in a freezing cold car. No breakfast or drink. The car had not been warmed up. The heating doesn't blow on his feet

OP posts:
SandyY2K · 26/02/2018 19:36

You were wrong. It's not her responsibility..it's his dads.

Just because she's a woman doesn't make her responsible for your child.

Would you have messaged your Exes partner if he was gay? Don't think so.

Sirzy · 26/02/2018 19:37

I would be worried what was wrong with his circulatiob if after 30 minutes in a car with shoes on his feet were that cold!

RadioGaGoo · 26/02/2018 19:40

Oh hang on, I missed the bit about him having trainers on. Great Duck, I apologise and stand corrected. You may be right.

43percentburnt · 26/02/2018 19:46

I think you were right telling her about the veruccas and I'd appreciate that. No doubt if her children had caught them he would have told her you had never told him.

It got his attention, maybe he will communicate with you going forward.

I'd watch out with the overnights and maintenance.

But I do agree your dc is not her responsibility.

Aridane · 26/02/2018 19:47

I am embarrassed by and for,the OP

Aridane · 26/02/2018 19:47

Fuck him, he can't be bothered to get his own son properly dressed, why should you give a shit if you've got him in bother with his girlfriend?
To an extent, yeah it's not her problem, but would she let her own kids leave the house like that? It's your ex being a lazy sod, and ignorant to boot. Not a drama if he messaged you back going "yeah I know, was a manic morning, missed the alarm then the cat was sick on his clean socks but I just had to get him out the door". I reiterate, fuck him. Tell him to do some basic parenting and dress his child properly then you won't have to give his girlfriend shit about it.

Hmm - a tad over invested perhaps

SandyY2K · 26/02/2018 19:52

You exposed him for being inadequate in dressing his DS....that's why he was angry. Shame on him...but hopefully it won't happen again.

It's very neglectful and lazy of him.

Funny how he suddenly found the time to text/contact you after that isn't it.