My partner and I have a very strained relationship with his child’s mother and her partner. Everything is always difficult and digs are given left right and centre by them wether that be about the amount of money he earns or about his relationship with me. My partner is currently trying to get his child involved in sporting activities but the child’s mother is refusing to take him on her weekend as she has other things to do - which I fully appreciate - but has to come back with comments regarding myself and money always gets brought into it.
He pays maintenance for his child and has done for several years without fail however he wasn’t regularly paying for about 2 years which is another thing to dig at.
I feel these people like to live in the past and hold onto things that happened years ago and I feel that it’s the child who really suffers (missed sporting activities, refusal for verbal contact with my partner during the week) and I don’t see why we can’t all just get on. I personally have zero contact with these people for the aforementioned reasons. The child is realising there is an issue and in rare occasions when I take him home he doesn’t speak a word to me when his step father is at the door, step father ignores me when I say bye - not that I’m saying goodbye to him specifically but surely it’s best to be civil and act normal with someone in front of an impressionable young child.
Aibu to think that they could try a little harder to make the relationship run a bit smoother for the sake of the child?
I tell my partner that this is how the relationship is but do feel it is unfair having to deal with petty behaviour (an example is not sending important items needed for weekend activities back which should be kept at our house and we’re bought by us and having to set off earlier on a Saturday to collect them from outside their front door - bearing in mind we have a 2 year old and I am heavily pregnant).
Any one have any success stories on how relationships of this sort were improved or do I just need to accept this is the reality and keep them at arms length?