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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To call it day due to ex and stepchildren

111 replies

Isthisenough237 · 21/10/2020 17:48

So name change for this and please bare with me. Me and DH have been married 3 years together 5 both were split with ex’s before we met. I have 3 DS from previous marriage and he has 2 DC from previous marriage, we have no DC together. My DS go to ex EOW and we have his DC 50/50 (3 days one week and 4 the next- so 7 out of 14).
His ex is constantly causing issues turning up at house with sweets for her children, demanding we have them on her days, wanting us to do her school runs, wanting money for clothes (she claims all benefits for both children and we provide all clothing here, school, holidays etc). Even on her days we are bombarded with messages every single day despite them being 9 and 13.
Today the 9 year old (DS) has stated he doesn’t want to come here tomorrow as when playing in the garden last time my DS hit him. EX is now kicking off about my son being a thug etc! I tend to supervise the garden bar popping in for the toilet and the only things I am aware of was her son kneeing my son in the face- both my DS said was a pure accident on the trampoline and despite being the same age as my youngest he weighs about 4kg more so caused a large bruise to his face but wasn’t a big deal as accidents happen. The other was him weeing in the garden on purpose when I went to fill the dogs water bowl so he was sent in side as that’s not acceptable.
There is always some sort of problem or drama from DH ex and it’s so draining but now my children are being bought into it I am literally at the end of my line

OP posts:
Isthisenough237 · 21/10/2020 19:29

So they go home Monday morning 9.00amfe tomorrow after school, come back Tuesday at 9.00am and stay till Friday at 9.00am. Mine are here until Wednesday at 10.00 and come back Sunday evening

OP posts:
RedMarauder · 21/10/2020 19:34

@Isthisenough237

Half term seems to always fall on our 4 days to have them and he is running behind on a job so couldn’t take it off- she will NEVER have them extra and is always trying to palm them off more while maintaining she is super mum Hmm I booked it off to have time with my DS and then there dad planned a family break with his new partner and her kids and asked if they could go and they wanted to so we split the week so they could do both so from Wed- Fri we just have DH kids here before they go back to mums.
Either cancel your annual leave or go somewhere.

Stop being a mug. His children are not your responsibility particularly if they show you no respect and their parents aren't grateful for you looking after them.

Isthisenough237 · 21/10/2020 19:38

I have made plans Wednesday I am meeting my friends for a girly lunch there will be 6 of us going so can’t take anymore, and Thursday there was a lovely 12.5 hour overtime shift at work going so have booked that so out the house 14 hours Grin

OP posts:
RedMarauder · 21/10/2020 19:40

Good OP

forrestgreen · 21/10/2020 19:40

Yes to cancelling the leave so you're not available for his kids.

He needs to know that the lying about your child has meant this situation has crossed a line. They're his children and as you're not allowed to parent them he needs to be here when they are. Free childcare has stopped. But you need to make sure he isn't asked to look after yours. I think the way he handles this will tell you, but you need to make your feelings clear.

oakleaffy · 21/10/2020 19:40

LEAVE.

Nightmare.

Livelovebehappy · 21/10/2020 19:42

You’re being very defensive about your DS being accused of hitting DSS. The problem is unless you witnessed the matter you can’t take sides, and that’s what’s happening. You can’t assume your DS is the innocent one every time there’s a situation. It’s not a healthy environment for the DCs, and maybe it’s best to call it a day and go your separate ways.

willowmelangell · 21/10/2020 19:42

Listen to @arcof and @stackemhigh
You do have options. Your DH had these dc. Shame about his work load and all that. He really must come up with a solution.
Just keep your nose out as per your instructions.
Seems to me you are useful when it suits someone else.

EL8888 · 21/10/2020 19:44

It all sounds too much like hard work to me and l would probably throw the towel in. Your DH needs to put his ex in her place, she’s being allowed to run wild

Jenstar123 · 21/10/2020 19:52

  • Isthisenough237

I have made plans Wednesday I am meeting my friends for a girly lunch there will be 6 of us going so can’t take anymore, and Thursday there was a lovely 12.5 hour overtime shift at work going so have booked that so out the house 14 hours grin*

Good for you OP! I think another day should be a spa visit, it’s YOUR annual leave to do what you want, not babysit someone else’s bratty kids so their actual Mum can sit on her ass Grin

MsStillwell · 21/10/2020 20:00

No we share a house and so that’s not an option- I wouldn’t be willing to live apart as a married couple as that would clearly show it doesn’t work

I'm curious about your last sentence here.

PatriciaPerch · 21/10/2020 20:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

moggiek · 21/10/2020 20:03

I think your boss has had to cut short your annual leave ...

PatriciaPerch · 21/10/2020 20:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PinkiOcelot · 21/10/2020 20:10

2 words - fuck that!!

Jenstar123 · 21/10/2020 20:12

@Livelovebehappy
You’re being very defensive about your DS being accused of hitting DSS.
OP is hardly being that defensive! Also love how you choose to ignore the part about him pissing in the garden, that’s alright is it?

Isthisenough237 · 21/10/2020 20:18

So my youngest son has some additional needs so hates touch so moves away and only touches me physically by choice, is very reclusive and if things get to much goes to his room to be alone, hence why I like to supervise him to watch for early indicators for him but I also didn’t punish step son when my DS was caught in the face despite the 3 hour withdrawal that followed as it was an accident. His brother’s are 2 and 8 years older and he never has got physical with them in the last 3 years and will tend to hide away if something happens and withdraw from everything

OP posts:
Isthisenough237 · 21/10/2020 20:18

So am not being defensive I just know my child

OP posts:
Enoughnowstop · 21/10/2020 20:18

His children are not your responsibility particularly if they show you no respect and their parents aren't grateful for you looking after them

Why should mum be grateful? As far as she is concerned, they are spending time with their dad. If he isn’t available, it is still his responsibility to make alternative arrangements on his time. The ex doesn’t need to be grateful he does that. It’s what he has signed up to.

What SBTLove said - you will not be providing any childcare because ‘you’re not their parent’

Parents don’t provide childcare. They are parenting when their children are with them. If you allow yourself to see it as ‘babysitting’ then huge resentment of mum develops. She is allowed to sit on her backside and do sod all if that suits her. Or go out and get blind drunk and sleep with half the local football team. She is not needing to get home for the babysitter - her children are with their other parent.

If DH can’t because he is working then their Mum can look after her OWN bloody kids!

No, their father can do what he has already agreed and if his new wife has found a pair of balls, he can arrange childcare/holiday clubs. You don’t go back on an agreed period of contact with your children because your wife won’t help out. You man up and deal with it, remembering you are a parent and that is what parents do. If he doesn’t like it, he renegotiates with his ex for future holidays or less time overall. He doesn’t change an established arrangement because it no longer suits him.

she will NEVER have them extra and is always trying to palm them off more while maintaining she is super mum

Except in cases of emergency, why should she have them longer than has been agreed? Are all separated mums ‘palming off’ their children when they are with their fathers? Presumably your OH is super dad yet he is the one palming off his children on to you!

EL8888 · 21/10/2020 20:19

@moggiek you know, l think you’re right. Your manager is oh so sorry but work is snowed under and you are desperately needed back their. You can take the leave a bit later in the year (coincidentally when it works for you and you can’t actually enjoy your leave, rather than being the hired help)

EL8888 · 21/10/2020 20:19

Their = there

tenlittlecygnets · 21/10/2020 20:24

Your h is at fault. But tbh his ex is so fucking unreasonable that I'm not surprised he doesn't try to confront her every time she's batshit, as she's never going to sit down and have a reasonable discussion, is she? She can't even see how unreasonable she's being, asking you to have her dc in half term yet saying you can't tell them off! She gives women a bad name.

I'd be very tempted to bin the whole lot of them off. Think how much more peaceful life would be.

If you and your h want to stay together, you need to both sing from the same hymn sheet: say no consistently to his ex. Say no to anything that doensn't suit you or that hasn't been agreed. Be very firm.

Isthisenough237 · 21/10/2020 20:24

When I say palming them off I mean booking a weeks holiday the day she is meant to have them back for her week so we have them 3 weeks in a row, not wanting any days swapped even though she won’t see them at all and this is her 3rd holiday this year without them.
Despite having 26 weekends a year without kids booking 3 weekends away in the last 12 months on her weekends with the kids as she ‘didn’t realise’ and then saying will
Swap days to make up the days she missed but then not being able- when we calculated last year we actually had them 61% of the year.

OP posts:
SBTLove · 21/10/2020 20:25

Another entitled first wife, I have to deal with one like this, has encouraged her kids to be rude to me, refers to me as her or ‘your friend‘ to DP, but expects me to change my work hours to accommodate her. It’s laughable the sheer cheek of some of these women.

lunar1 · 21/10/2020 20:28

Life is way to short for this, I'd rather be single and concentrate on my own children's well-being.

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