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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:
2bazookas · 08/08/2020 13:15

Whatever it is that your DSS will eat, keep some in the freezer. Then you can't be caught short if he comes at short notice. You can welcome him with a meal.

That night before bed, you present DGH with a shopping list and tell him that in the morning, he is taking DS on a man-bonding food shopping trip to the supermarket. This is not begotiable.

LizzieBlackwell · 08/08/2020 13:15

Also I think because of your mum needing advance warning you was coming is making you feel the same.

I could randomly turn up at my granny’s ( she raised me) house with out warning and she’d say ‘hi love I’m going bingo see you when I get back!’ I’ve done this many a times tbh Grin

MzHz · 08/08/2020 13:17

The kid Is old is old enough to arrange with his dad to collect him! Take the ex out of the drop off equation, she can collect

What kind of food does DSS like to eat that’s easy to stock? Pizza? Always keep one in for him, you only need the one meal and he’ll be far happier knowing you’re prepared than taking pot luck on food you’ve cooked and he won’t like. Don’t let his preferences alter your plans unless his plans are confirmed

Your h is a wet lettuce, your dss is over babied and the only one making the slightest effort to work all this out is you.

Stop.

Let h do the fannying about, the poncing and pontificating instead of Manning up, telling ex that it’s eow unless specified a week in advance and that he’ll liaise with ds about the pick up times and she can collect on Sunday afternoon/evening as per her plans

MzHz · 08/08/2020 13:20

ExW is the difficult one as she refuses to facilitate DSS making his own arrangements with his dad. For no other reason than she needs to control everything

Your dss knows that’s what is going on so he won’t give a shit as long as he’s his something to eat first night... he and h can go shopping together sat am.

You’re all making this so much harder than it needs to be because nobody is taking her on. Get to court and get it put in writing

spinqueen50 · 08/08/2020 13:20

I don't understand why you're running round after them. Make it your husband's problem what the stepson is going to eat. That might make him force the ex to be more reasonable if it's inconveniencing him.

Bridecilla · 08/08/2020 13:27

Agree with the whatsapp group. "Hi, I'm shopping tomorrow, can you check with your Mam what days you're coming and let me know by xxx"

I'd buy a defrosting mat and keep a few chicken breasts or whatever in the freezer.

Or batch cook some passata sauce with chicken / meatballs etc that can be put over pasta alongside your meal.

Home cooked doesn't mean cooked from scratch that very day.

Couchbettato · 08/08/2020 13:38

When my DB15 stays over with me (once in a blue moon), we just buy a shelf worth of super noodles.

Alternatively, instead of spending money stocking up for DSS, you could just save the money and offer a takeaway when he comes to stay.

I honestly wouldn't go through all that stress. It's nice that you're being inclusive but it doesn't need to be at the expense of your mental well-being.

Molly499 · 08/08/2020 14:14

I kind of get where you are coming from but you need to get your DH to step up here and be pro active with the arrangements.

People live different lives, we cook proper food always and eat as a family every day, I have young adults at home, they can opt out anytime but we all think it’s a nice thing to do. Some people don’t live like this, I would never expect anyone to eat a frozen ready meal, nuggets, noodles or any of the really shit food that has been suggested But the people who live like this wouldn’t understand where you are coming from on the food front hence the replies. People live how they want and do what works for them. Buy wanting to know when he is coming so that you have fresh decent food in for him is inclusive in my book, bunging him a frozen pizza would make him seem so under valued and just an add on and the lack of plans are not his fault. I have picky eaters but not all 14 year olds want to eat junk food.

tara66 · 08/08/2020 14:16

If the boy comes very unexpectedly - phone the ex wife and ask her to make a packed lunch for him to bring with him! She may then be more helpful in future.

BillieEilish · 08/08/2020 14:29

Good Lord, don't wasapp the boy as you're 'meal planning' and need to know his movements.

You are causing the stress here.

Get a few ready meals in that he will love more than your home cooking and concentrate on more important things. Food is not important to a 14 year old with family disruptions FFS.

A new 9 month old? Is DSS that happy to do this new limited family time? Do you know? Are you perhaps overwhelmed?

It is his home too, a pp is correct. He can come and go as he pleases.
You don't know WHAT exDW is dealing with here end. He may not be keen to come at all.

BillieEilish · 08/08/2020 14:32

Oh, he's not even 14 yet.

Seriously, chill out. Give him a break.

wingardium8 · 08/08/2020 14:51

You’re not the one who’s hard work here! You are trying too hard though, which is lovely and caring of you but isn’t working for reasons outside your control. So take your cue from DH. If he can’t be bothered to make plans, don’t make it your own problem.

You can still be welcoming, while noting that you’d have done nice food if you’d known he was coming but as it is, DH will sort him something.

I doubt DSS will care, but if he does, he’s old enough to raise the no notice thing as an issue with his mum

jay55 · 08/08/2020 15:36

Can you get some long life pizza bases? Then make pizza with whatever you do have to hand?

CowgirlBride · 08/08/2020 16:12

@BillieEilish I'm not sure what I said that makes you think this is a new arrangement? This has always been the situation with the restricted contact in all the time that me and DH have been together, so is nothing to do with the new baby. ExW wants to make it abundantly clear that SHE is the one in control. She has always limited the opportunities for DSS to stay overnight because she (and I quote) "misses him". (Cos of course DH doesn't miss him the rest of the time Hmm)
DSS and DS are as thick as thieves and I have never seen a teenage boy so devoted to a baby brother as he is, so I know there isn't a problem convincing him to come over.

OP posts:
CowgirlBride · 08/08/2020 16:18

@Molly499 yes to all of this - I would hate it if we were all eating something home cooked whilst he ate a ready meal or some other crap. I'd never do that to my own child unless I really had to, so wouldn't do that to DSS.

OP posts:
titchy · 08/08/2020 16:36

I too think this is a mountain out of a mole hill. You could easily resolve the meal planning by being ever so slightly flexible. Unless he turns up literally at dinner time, just adapt whatever you were going to cook (replace the lemon sole with a frozen sausage, replace the spinach and asparagus with frozen peas and baked beans), or give him whatever you were planning anyway. If he doesn't like it he either goes hungry (I have a low tolerance for fussy eaters Grin) or you let him bung a frozen pizza in the oven afterwards.

Have you honestly never had an unexpected child for dinner and had to adapt?! Lucky you!

BackwardsGoing · 08/08/2020 17:29

Why can't your DH explain all this to DSS and exW? At 14 he's old enough to understand.

tabulahrasa · 08/08/2020 18:07

[quote CowgirlBride]@Molly499 yes to all of this - I would hate it if we were all eating something home cooked whilst he ate a ready meal or some other crap. I'd never do that to my own child unless I really had to, so wouldn't do that to DSS. [/quote]
But that’d be his choice... if he doesn’t like your home cooked food, he’ll not go hungry, that’s the point.

Or just make an extra portion of stuff he does like next time you make something he likes and freeze that...or make your DH responsible for feeding him... whatever.

Just stop turning into some sort of power struggle where you’re creating extra work for yourself.

user1471590586 · 08/08/2020 18:43

I don't think teenagers of that age care about home cooked food. Offer him what you are having but if he doesn't want it just stick a pizza or chicken burgers in the oven. I bet he really doesn't care.

user1471590586 · 08/08/2020 18:46

You wouldn't like it in my house Op. My autistic son won't eat a lot of things due to his sensory issues so I am always having to adapt his portion or sticking something different in the oven for him.

NailsNeedDoing · 08/08/2020 19:01

Honestly OP, from reading your posts, it sounds like the biggest problem you have is your own standards. The situation sounds really difficult and I think I understand completely where you’re coming from, but you do have choices. It might mean waste sometimes, or it might mean that sometimes DH has to pop out last minute or get something for DS on the drive home, and of course that’s not how you want it to be, but it’s the way it is. You can only control how you think about it, you’re choosing to worry about something that is beyond you. It’s not like you’d be completely excluding dss from meals, you can still offer him what you’re having. He’s 14, he has a choice, and it won’t harm him to realise that his own fussiness is part of the problem.

doodleygirl · 08/08/2020 19:10

Honestly I think you are making a mountain out of a molehill. When my SDC were that age they would often pop in for dinner if they felt like it. I would tell them what we were having and if they wanted to join in great, if not they would make some beans/eggs/noodles etc.

I really think you would find life so much easier if you just chilled out about it. Worry about what you can control not what you can’t.

Nanny0gg · 08/08/2020 19:26

Why doesn't your DH go to court and get it properly set up?

Feralkidsatthecampsite · 08/08/2020 19:49

At 14 they would expect a dc to make own arrangements... Nobody would force an order at a teen.
My ds went nc with exh at 12. Exh didn't do anything as he knew it would be pointless..

Molly499 · 08/08/2020 21:11

Surely what he likes to eat will depend on what he is used to, lots of 14 year olds like proper homemade food, I can’t believe everyone is still suggesting that they can eat such crap, a diet of nuggets and noodles, pizza, sausages etc is no good for a young person, it’s almost neglectful.

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