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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Partners STBXW irritating me and I don't know how to deal with it

128 replies

yetanothermanicmonday · 20/11/2019 15:04

Been with my boyfriend for about 14 months. Great relationship, truly. He is my best friend and all the boxes are ticked. The only thing that annoys me about our relationship is his ex. They were married for about 12 months, they were together for about 4 in total. No DC together.

I met him on around 6 months post-separation. I didn't know he existed until we had our first date. I was not the OW, there was no OW, they split because they both made each other miserable (I've seen her messages confirming this, I'm not being naïve). Divorce proceedings have started although is a slow process. After we had been dating for around 3 months and had the "exclusive chat" etc I posted a photo of us together on social media, and since then she just will not go away. The night I posted the pic she sent him an insane rant, posted about us both publicly on FB calling us for everything. She had obviously been watching my social media for some time before this event - how she even knew I existed is a mystery, but anyway....

She still clearly stalks my social media even now and is frequently messaging him about anything I post. Sly digs, claiming that places we go that she also visited with him was "their place" and he's an awful person for ruining the memories. We are talking about entire countries here, btw. She thinks she can actually call dibs on entire countries! She calls me fat/ugly etc, calls him names and implies we are terrible people basically.

I have really tried to remain the bigger person and just alter SM privacy setting etc, however she always seems to still find access. I don't see why I should be changing my routines to counteract the ravings of a mad woman. Boyfriend does not want to engage with her as she does have some MH issues and we all know how it can be trying to argue with someone who just doesn't see logic. But it's really beginning to cause me anxiety. I feel like I'm planning my life around what will be acceptable to her i.e. not posting pics of days out with us all. I feel like he filters his posts also which although I understand, it also irks me because I suspect he just does so to not antagonise her (so is she winning?). I know SM is the devil and all that, but I find it entertaining and again, I don't see why I should have to change things I have always done or enjoyed just because of her unreasonable behaviour. He ignores her messages 99% of the time, but I feel like he should be...I dunno, defending my honour here, or some shit! I wouldn't let someone call him names, for instance. If he visits his dads house she appears at the door within 10 minutes always wanting something, using him as her sounding board for how terrible life is etc. I feel like her feelings are being put before my own at times and that doesn't sit well with me at all.

So, AIBU in getting annoyed/anxious about this? I don't know the logical way I should be perceiving this. I don't know how to discuss it with my boyfriend as "please tell her to fuck right off" doesn't seem very reasonable. I'm prepared to be told that she is technically still his wife and he needs to communicate with her (even though its all vitriol?) Like I say, he usually just ignores her but I feel that by just remaining passive it is almost inviting her to continue in this way. I would 100% appreciate some of your insights and suggestions on how to deal with this.

LTB is not a realistic suggestion. I do genuinely love him and I wouldn't let her push us apart so permanently. I suspect that is her main goal here. But I do feel like I need to communicate how this is affecting me, in a calm rational way.

OP posts:
yetanothermanicmonday · 20/11/2019 17:34

@CheeryB It's been almost 2 years ffs. She's had several relationships in this time period herself. She's not some holier than thou woman who's had her man robbed from their warm bed. As I mentioned in previous comments, my own divorce took 3 years to come through and was I buggery sat there waiting for the paperwork to come through before I carried on with my life. Her obsessive problems are not mine to fix. Nor is it a courtesy I (or my boyfriend!) owe her.

OP posts:
CheeryB · 20/11/2019 17:43

Nor is it a courtesy I (or my boyfriend!) owe her
Maybe not. But it might help solve your current problem.

wafflyversatile · 20/11/2019 17:48

. you say you've never met her but she's turned up when you're at his dads.

Anyway how can she know he's at his dad if he is not telling her, not telling a mutual friend, not checking in on fb or his dad's neighbours aren't spending all day every day looking out the window in case he turns up so they can pass on information.

sounds like she might have some sort of tracking on his phone.

JacobReesClunge · 20/11/2019 17:51

Her problems might not be yours to fix but they are yours to deal with in the current situation, especially if your partner keeps telling you all about it. Personally I would delete SM simply because however tight your privacy settings, if you post something then it might get back to her.

Ohyesiam · 20/11/2019 17:54

don't see why I should be changing my routines to counteract the ravings of a mad woman

Because it will give you what you want.
Otherwise ( And I mean this gently)there must be a part of you enjoying the drama. Don’t feed the fire. The woman is clearly mentally unstable, no amount of defending your honour will help.

Dillydallyingthrough · 20/11/2019 18:03

OP I always find on here everyone hates SM. I don't think you should change the way you use SM, it's your SM, your life to share as you wish. Also find there is some support for the wife in any post!

Can you clarify the relationship between the ex and his parents? Do they see her regularly?

I would do as others suggest change passwords on everything and log out of all devices. Ask your BF as they don't have DC why he hasn't just blocked her. Then ask him to send a final message telling her due to her abusive messages he will be blocking her and to only contact him via the solicitor on the divorce. Then get him to block her - I don't think your unreasonable at all to ask this. Good luck, hopefully she gets bored and this might sound cruel but I don't think her MH issues are your/your BFs responsibility.

DisgruntledGuineaPig · 20/11/2019 18:07

I'm afraid I agree that the main problem is that he shares this.

I know you don't want to be told to leave him, but the fact is he is not ready to let go of the drama. He's sharing it with you, he's not blocking her.

They were married for such a short time, and 'made each other miserable' enough to divorce, without other parties involved, in only a year - it seems like being mean to each other and winding each other was a big part of how they reacted to each other. It must have been all very dramatic.

He's now continuing that drama and winding up - both with her by not taking steps to break the contact - and with you, telling you about what she's said, making you get angry and wound up about it. Dragging you in to the drama with her.

You got together with him before he was over the relationship and was still married to him - your relationship has become part of their drama.

I would step away and tell him you'll date him again when he's moved on.

BlueEyedPersephone · 20/11/2019 18:08

You have a bf problem, if he won't block/change password and change number, he is enjoying the attention.

She sounds crazy but are you sure it's not because he had mad her???

BlueEyedPersephone · 20/11/2019 18:09

Made her not mad -🤪

AnyFucker · 20/11/2019 18:18

They split because "they made each othervmiserable"

The opposite of love is indifference

Your boyfriend should have blocked her a long time ago. He should not care what she does and certainly should not be winding you up by sharing it

Yep, you have a boyfriend problem

They are both getting something out of the "hate". At your expense. Have a good think about that.

CheeryB · 20/11/2019 18:19

As pps have pointed out, and I agree, it's not ideal behaviour from your dp to be showing you these texts, especially as he knows they upset you. I'd be wondering about that. And telling you when she turns up. If it wasn't for his info sharing you wouldn't know anything about it, or at least you'd hear less about it.
It sounds like he's a large part of your problem.

Dillydallyingthrough · 20/11/2019 18:29

I disagree with pp, I would want to know if it was my DP isn't the point of a relationship to share problems, concerns and support each other? I think he needs to block to not get any messages in the first place.

Moanranger · 20/11/2019 18:32

Snowball28 up thread makes some good points. Your BF defo needs to cut contact. You must make this very clear and insist on it. It sounds suspiciously like she has got spies, given she shows up in RL, so look into this.
Finally, I would write her a very firm letter, saying if she does not stop harassing you, you will contact the police & ask them to investigate her for harassment. I did this when my XH would not stop harassing me & it worked very well. There are at least 4 laws prohibiting harassment. But your BF is defo shirking & needs a bit of a kick.

greeneyedlulu · 20/11/2019 18:33

My partners ex was a bit possessive when we first got together and he would jump through hoops because he wanted a quick divorce.
One night she badgered him as to why he hadn't liked a picture of her with another man.... really?
In the end I messaged her as him basically laying down the law saying that it was great she's moved on but she was no longer his priority and that it was not appropriate to be messaging all the time for stuff like help around house changing light bulbs and helping her run errands. It worked wonders and she backed off. That said, there were no mh issues. I think you need to go radio silence on sm for a while but talk to your partner, tell him how you feel, dont bottle this up

RandomMess · 20/11/2019 18:40

Actually why isn't your BF considering reporting her for stalking because that is what she is doing.

He needs to methodically ensure she doesn't have access to any online accounts of his, not tracking his phone or car. After that if it still continues he need to report to the police...

JacobReesClunge · 20/11/2019 18:44

Personally I like SM. It's just that it does give people a way to get information about your life. There's nothing wrong in that per se but if you have someone harassing you then the risk benefit calculation looks different.

TheDarkPassenger · 20/11/2019 18:56

I think your biggest issue is that he won’t block her.

Something isn’t right

billy1966 · 20/11/2019 18:56

I would be thinking he is getting his ego massaged by all this drama.

Oh to be so loved!

He's not upset.

And you are developing anxiety because of his ex-wife that he was briefly married to and doesn't share children with.

The loser in this scenario is you OP.

If he really cared about you, he would be all over this.

He would not want you distressed.

I think you need to have a good look at him.

He doesn't sound like any prize to me.

💐

FirstTicket · 20/11/2019 19:09

My ex read my FB messages for 3 years after we broke up, in the settings there's a way to check which devices are logged in. Have a look through and you might be surprised

You have a right to a peaceful 'normal' life OP, hope things work out for you!

Polydactyly · 20/11/2019 20:13

I think she’s got access to his accounts etc. Some people just see their partners and ex partners as their property and not a human being. Even if they say they don’t want to be with them any more. If he has an iPhone or google maps see who he shares his location with. Also get him to change passwords to all of his accounts and log out of all devices... I reckon things will stop once he does all that. He could also just turn his mobile on airplane mode before he goes to his dads and if she doesn’t turn up she could well be tracking his phone through find my friends or similar.
A friend of mine suspected her partner of cheating and uploaded an app to his phone that hid itself. It sent all his messages (sent and received) to her phone and showed her a number of other things. It took a week of messages to prove her right. A year later she still had it set up despite them splitting. I was amazed she did it in the first place but keeping hold of it was really weird. It just shows some people can and will do that sort of thing. She always seemed to randomly know where he was/would be as well so I suspect the app tracked him or she had that set up somehow as well

Cherrysoup · 20/11/2019 20:40

You have a DP problem. He won’t block her, she can still track him. He is the issue, because he’s loving the attention.

GettingABitDesperateNow · 20/11/2019 20:43

It sounds like she is stalking and harassing him. He should mention to his solicitor and get advice, maybe a police visit would shock her into stopping his behaviour.
I think he should send a message along the lines of. It's been two years. I dont want any contact from you again and am blocking this number. Please direct any future contact through my solicitor. If you attempt to contact me through any channel I will take legal advice and involve the police

Longfacenow · 20/11/2019 20:47

Given their past short marriage and the history to date I wonder why he hasn't changed his number and has maintained relationship with her? Are you sure he isn't still involved? Or invested? Does it bother him? Is he seeing this as a problem?

AnyFucker · 20/11/2019 21:12

Where have you gone, op ?

glitterfarts · 20/11/2019 22:52

I think you should test - at your BF's house, talk about something completely made up but really shocking - ie fake pregancy etc.

Do not post this on social media, text about, email about it etc.

On email to each other only, talk about something else really shocking but made up and only there, do not discuss it in any other manner/out loud.

In the car, something else.
On whatsapp something else.

etc.

When she rants to your BF, you'll know where she's stalking you from.

Seriously, it's harassment and you can go to the police for help.