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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU DH ExW not letting us know contact plans for DSS

76 replies

CowgirlBride · 08/08/2020 10:08

I really need an external perspective on this without ending up being bashed by people thinking I'm BU to the ExW/DSS.
DH and his ex have a difficult relationship but I don't get involved in general. I leave it to DH to make the arrangements with her to see his DS (my DSS) who is nearly 14. The contact arrangements are just a family arrangement, nothing court appointed and DSS generally comes over on a Sunday, but sometimes on a Saturday to stay overnight and sometimes other days in school hols.
ExW has always been a bit controlling and would often not let DH know what was happening until the last minute, which pre-covid although frustrating was manageable. But more recently we have had our DS (9 months) and obviously having to deal with the restrictions that lockdown has brought. (Pre-lockdown we would often go out for food but obviously now we eat at home) This means that I have felt that it would be helpful to have a bit of notice about what was happening in order to make plans, particularly for food (in our house I deal with most of the food/cooking related things as DH is fairly useless at that! Grin)
DSS is quite a fussy eater, only eats very limited veg and no fruit and is fussy over other things. I am pescatarian so when I cook a meal for me and DH we've agreed that we eat the same (he'd have meat with a takeaway or eating out) and we eat a lot of vegetarian stuff, lots of veg, salad etc - which DSS obviously won't eat. Hence me needing to plan! I am happy to buy things he likes and include meat for when he comes but don't really want it taking space just in case (our fridge and freezer are small) or ending up being wasted.
DH ex increasingly hasn’t let DH know until the last minute what the arrangements are, what meals DSS is here for etc, and sometimes expects us to drop everything to accommodate.
Much as I try to not get involved, I am getting very frustrated and have said before to DH that ExW needs to stick to a deadline (eg we need to know by Thursday or we’ll make other plans) but he’s tried that with her before and it just results in her nose getting out of joint and then she makes excuses for DSS to not come over for several weeks, saying he’s busy. And I don’t want to be responsible for DH not seeing his son.
Also, much as I realise it is not DH fault for these last minute arrangements, I am also annoyed that it is always me who has to organise the food situation and run around like a crazy person trying to sort something. If I ask what to get for DSS, DH just says “I don’t know” and I think “if you don’t know, how do I?”
I am honestly at the point of saying either ExW needs to give us sufficient notice for me to sort something or DH is in charge of the meal arrangements.
I have never ever wanted to create a “not my child” situation as I feel we are one family (we don't even refer to the two boys as step brothers, they're just brothers). I love DSS very much and want him to see his dad and baby brother, but at the same time I don’t see why I should be the only one impacted by the situation. DH will just tell me when DSS coming and expect me to sort something.

OP posts:
UgaBaluga82 · 08/08/2020 10:14

Your DSS is 14, he must have a phone.

Set up a WhatsApp group for you, DH and DSS and if you're meal planning drop a line saying "I'm picking up food for the weekend, let me know by X time which meals you'll be here for."

Hopefully he'll respond, if he doesn't and turns up, he'll have to have DH's share of the food.

But really DH SHOULD be sorting this out. It's nice that you think of him as your son, but he's not.

He is DHs responsibility and you need to pass the parenting (which includes meal planning) back to him.

tabulahrasa · 08/08/2020 10:15

Um... tbh with a teenager, I’d just stick a couple of things in the freezer, have some noodles or something in the cupboard and tell him if he doesn’t want what I’m cooking he can make himself one of them...

CowgirlBride · 08/08/2020 10:17

@UgaBaluga82 the WhatsApp group is a really good idea but I can see that working if ExW has committed to when he is coming so I know what meals I am sorting.

OP posts:
Feralkidsatthecampsite · 08/08/2020 10:20

Ime you need to accept the exw will never do a jot to make your life easier...
Leave the whole planning caboodle to dh.
His choice if he let's her dictate then isn't it? -and he can deal with it all..
Instead enjoy your baby and be less stressed!
Win win..

Lowprofilename · 08/08/2020 10:22

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ for privacy reasons.

HebeJeeby · 08/08/2020 10:28

I feel your frustration but would it be possible to just have a few packs of sausages/burgers/chicken/frozen veg in the freezer (sorted pre-freezing into portions for 1 person so you don’t have to defrost the whole pack) which you can then defrost at the last minute if DSS does come over. You would save yourself a lot of angst that way and DSS has a meal he will eat.

CowgirlBride · 08/08/2020 10:33

@Lowprofilename thank you for saying that! I have been saying that for ages!! DSS is not a little kid so I feel that apart from the politeness of checking with his mum that there isn't something else planned, why does he need his mum's permission? Trouble is that ExW is incredibly controlling and quite babying to DSS so won't allow that to happen and I'm not sure how I can impose that to happen.

OP posts:
LizzieBlackwell · 08/08/2020 10:39

Your focusing on food too much. And tbh it’s not a huge deal. Most kids eat crap, especially teenagers. Just get some freezer stuff that he likes and cupboard stuff. You don’t have to prepare a gourmet meal every time he comes.

Crisps
Noodles
Rice
Frozen chips
Frozen chicken fillets
Pies
Beans
Pizza
Garlic bread

He is normally only their for one day. Get a small second hand chest freezer if you can’t bare for his food to be near yours.

Failing that get him a chippy! Which I’m sure he will be fine with! It’s such a non issue.

I think your out of order telling your dh that that they have to give notice before a dead line because YOU are basically saying he can’t come after that - and that’s not your call.

I think you should stop trying to control your dh and sons visitation.

Gizlotsmum · 08/08/2020 10:42

I would just have some meals he does like ready in the freezer, replace when used, DH can grab them on the way to get son. Minimal effort and stress.

Blanca87 · 08/08/2020 10:42

Sorry, I get past you running about and cooking your dss meals whilst his father acts indignant at the very thought of having to think of a meal solution for HIS son. Seriously, he needs to step up and parent and you need to step back and let DH sort this out himself.

Drumple · 08/08/2020 10:43

Keep a rehash meal in the freezer that would do as an emergency or just do him beans on toast.

Drumple · 08/08/2020 10:43

*ready

forrestgreen · 08/08/2020 10:46

Tbh I'd cook 4 meals that suit him and put them in the freezer, then if he comes round you can give him a hot meal. Other than that dh can pop to the shop with him. And back off, the less you care about notice the more it will annoy exw. She's only doing it to annoy everyone.
Good idea re a watt app group, just a text on Wednesday "when would you like to come round this weekend" if he doesn't answer, that's fine too

blackcat86 · 08/08/2020 10:51

I do get your frustration as DSS and DHs ex would do this. We wouldn't know for ages when he would be coming if there had been a change to the usual pattern and then suddenly we would be expected to drop everything at the last minute. I ended up feeling like I couldn't make any plans for weekends (we both worked FT) because if I wasn't around DSS and ex would start going on about how shit it was that I had other plans. Plus we had the food issue with fussy DSS who inevitably would hate whatever we had in regardless of what it was. As a bit of advice, just let it go. Stop trying, its not your circus or monkeys. If his own father isn't that bothered then stop trying yourself up in knots because you will never get to the point where there is a decent open conversation or plan. Let DH sort it all out. Tell him you're finding it too stressful and whilst you love DSS and he is always welcome you are done second guessing and bending over backwards. Him and DSS can always pop to the nearest shop and buy some nuggets and chips or something.

AdaColeman · 08/08/2020 10:55

Can you not just keep a frozen pizza, tins of beans & soup available? Does the teen eat eggs?
Don’t get your self into such a state about meals. If the kid is coming at short notice then he can take pot luck on food.
Save your emotional energy for life’s real problems. Thanks

WiseUpJanetWeiss · 08/08/2020 10:57

We have this a bit. Less of a problem because DSS eats pretty much anything, but it’s a bit annoying if the planned meal won’t stretch to three. However, DH will always say “well he can have egg & chips”, and never makes it my problem.

As always, you have a DH problem.

Aguarai · 08/08/2020 10:59

Dh needs to put some effort in when it comes to the food, be that preparing some freezer meals or just buying some cupboard junk or organising a takeaway when he comes.

tabulahrasa · 08/08/2020 11:00

“Trouble is that ExW is incredibly controlling and quite babying to DSS”

In the nicest possible way... isn’t that also what you’re doing?

I mean, it feels like you’re coming from a nice place in that, you want him to have proper meals that he enjoys and that’s hard without planning...

But honestly, he’d probably be happier with the choice of what you’re having or frozen pizza, potato waffles and beans, super noodles - and it’s less stress for you, it won’t do him any harm for one day a week.

TwentyViginti · 08/08/2020 11:05

Your DH needs to step up and parent HIS child. Tell him to shop for frozen stuff and some snacks for his son.

AnneLovesGilbert · 08/08/2020 11:10

How did he feed himself and his child before you care along to do it for him? As if he can’t cook or shop for food, don’t be ridiculous.

It’s DH fault he’s put up with his ex yanking his chain and being so last minute for so long, but it’s not going to change now and currently it isn’t him being inconvenienced is it, it’s you, so he clearly isn’t bothered. In the future it’ll also be your son but you can cross that bridge when you get to it. He’s more upset about pissing his ex off than his wife off, not unusual but still aggravating.

DSS food isn’t your problem. All the people suggesting you fill the freezer with meat or batch cook what he likes are missing the obvious solution which is that his father does so. By running around like a headless chicken you’re enabling them to take the piss out of you. You’ve got a baby to look after, that’s plenty without stressing about accommodating your spineless DH, his inconsiderate ex wife and a teenager who needs mummy to run his whole life.

You’re making work for yourself and no one appreciates it so take a step back and just stop.

ThankyouPeter · 08/08/2020 11:15

I don't really think this is about the food as that is fairly easy to resolve. It's about his ex having control and power over your husband and I can see why that is extremely difficult to swallow. Unfortunately I think you are stuck with it unless you go down the route of formal access arrangements. The only thing I can think of is if you could start asking 'could we have DS next Saturday because we are planning xyz?" She would still retain the power of making the decision but you might get a bit more advance notice. I expect you have tried that but it's really difficult to see what else you can do. All I would say is that it won't be long before you will be able to make arrangements directly so just ride it out.

LizzieBlackwell · 08/08/2020 11:16

Also why isn’t the ds making his own arrangements with his dad?

Chloemol · 08/08/2020 11:21

You are making a mountain out of a molehill. I get you say you have small fridge freezer but surely you can fit in a couple of bits of chicken, or a pack of sausages other something else he eats for when he suddenly appears, then send dh out for anything rise of he stays for longer than expected

beachcitygirl · 08/08/2020 11:30

Ok. You're being unreasonable. Teenagers have their own lives. Your dss has a phone. Set up a WhatsApp group & let him come over whenever he wants. Stick a few pizzas in the freezer.
Tell him this is his home too.
He should also have a key. If her doesn't warn you in advance that he's coming over -no biggie but he'll get a chippy or pizza for dinner.
This no longer has anything to do with ex wife so you & dh drop her from
The equation. Communicate with your dss. No. You don't need to know when he's coming. No. You don't get to create deadlines.
It's his home too. You would never ever ever ask your own child in the future to come over like a planned guest.
No wonder step mums get a bad name on here.
Sort yourself & your dh out.

AllsortsofAwkward · 08/08/2020 11:35

You sound hardwork as someone get afew things in or tell him to go to the chippy. He must likely out about and with his friends at that age.

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