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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Is this just being vindictive?

14 replies

WoodchuckChuckers · 24/01/2021 16:19

My DP and I are planning to get married soon (ish, obviously difficult at the moment) and started making plans regarding it. We're not going to exclude kids, especially our own from our previous relationships, and want to make them central to the day, in fact, there's no question over that from our point of view. Mine live with us full time, occasionally visiting the DF, my DP's live with both us and their DM on a week on, week off basis.

Earlier in the week, my DP's ex (significant mental health issues) contacted him to tell him that the kids want him to get back together with her, and as such she thinks they shouldn't attend the wedding, that it will be bad for them and we won't like it.

Firstly, it's ridiculous that they should ever get back together. Well before he met me, that was most definitely not going to happen! Secondly, his DC have not said anything like that in a very long time with my DP and he has always been very clear with them about the situation there (without going into details about her mental health, or the things she did around the relationship ending) that it would never be possible. It's not like it's a recent break up or anything, they have been divorced for years, and were divorced before I came into his life.

AIBU to think that she's just being vindictive, and may attempt to prevent the DC attending the wedding? Is this a common issue? It just seems so unbelievable to me that anyone would want to keep their own kids away from their wedding! Also worried that she might be telling the DC things like this (that they'll get back together) and if so, what else she might be saying to them. It's so unhealthy to mislead your own children like that.

OP posts:
londongirl12 · 24/01/2021 16:23

How old are the DC?

SleepingStandingUp · 24/01/2021 16:24

If you have them for a week at a time, I'd make sure the wedding is within or at the end of your week.

How old are the kids?

WoodchuckChuckers · 24/01/2021 16:26

His DC are 7&9 slightly younger than mine.

Yes, we've already made sure the date is on one of our regular days, and we'll be involving the DC's in the preparation.

OP posts:
BornIn78 · 24/01/2021 16:27

Keep your plans quiet from her.

Buy the kids their outfits and shoes, make sure the wedding is on a day/weekend you’d normally have them, pick them up as usual, enjoy your wedding, job done.

Notimeforaname · 24/01/2021 16:29

She cant deal with him getting married again. Yes shes being unreasonable. I'm not sure I can call it 'vindictive' as I dont know the mental health problems.

Notimeforaname · 24/01/2021 16:30

And yes just say nothing about that subject n talk about the wedding as normal amongst yourselves and the children. If there is an issue from the children (which I doubt) then they will make it known eventually. Til then,just ignore.

AnneLovesGilbert · 24/01/2021 16:33

How old are they? Just plan it for when they’re with you and leave her out of it.

My DSC mum told them they weren’t coming to our wedding, no reason, she certainly didn’t want DH back, the DC didn’t want them back together, she didn’t mind me looking after them on my own, she was just jealous and being difficult. We booked it on our time with them, didn’t tell her when it was, we’re vague with them and they weren’t old enough to care about the exact date and at some point in the couple of months we were engaged said she’d “allow” them to go though she couldn’t actually have stopped them without ceasing all contact. And she wasn’t going to do that as then she’d have had no time off.

We picked them up, drop to where we were having it, got married, took them back two days later as usual, she never said a word. It was years ago and she’s never acknowledged she knows we got married, or subsequently had a child, which is perhaps weirder.

The kids had an amazing time at the wedding, it was tiny and very relaxed but they had special outfits and DSS did the rings etc and we wouldn’t have changed a thing.

WoodchuckChuckers · 24/01/2021 16:35

I mean she was never going to be involved in plans or anything, but if it were my DC going to their DF's wedding I'm sure I'd be excited for them... As long as the relationship was stable etc... I guess I'm just shocked and worried that she might be telling them she wants them to get back together or something, and what that might mean she's saying about me.

I guess on the whole it's just a shock and is worrying me... But does this sort of thing happen a lot?

OP posts:
WoodchuckChuckers · 24/01/2021 16:37

Oh that sounds lovely @AnneLovesGilbert! So it seems it does happen a lot then Sad

OP posts:
AnneLovesGilbert · 24/01/2021 16:45

My post was riddled with typos, sorry. Hope enough made sense! And I x posted with you on their ages.

What have they said to you and their dad about you getting married?

Do you know what sort of wedding you’d like?

Ours ended up being much more weddingy than we’d planned, purely because of my DSC. DSS wanted a three piece suit like his dad (now won’t wear anything but joggers so a happy if distant memory now!) and DSD’s dress cost about double what mine did and she had pretty shoes and a small bouquet Grin

They insisted on confetti so I made up little baskets with ribbons on the handles and we had freeze dried rose petals. I ended up making the cake and DSD helped me choose my dress. It was just family so he was the best man and she was my bridesmaid and they really wanted lots of jobs and moderate weddingy fuss so we just went along with it and had a ball.

Mamamia456 · 24/01/2021 16:45

I honestly wouldn't worry about what she is or isn't saying to them about you. You cannot control that. Just concentrate on your plans for your wedding. She can only get to you if you let her.

WoodchuckChuckers · 24/01/2021 16:51

@AnneLovesGilbert We're going quite traditional wedding-y tbh, looking forward to pretty dresses and smart suits, but going to make sure there are activities for them and things in place if DC's need space away from noise etc. Me being me, far more attention will go into making sure the kids are happy than about myself! Grin

Thank you @Mamamia456 We just want all the DC's to be happy and healthy, if they're worrying about one of their parents, that's going to affect them. I wish she could see that.

OP posts:
AuntyMabelandPippin · 24/01/2021 17:36

Give her the idea the date is a couple of weeks later than it is. She can't jinx it then.

YoniAndGuy · 24/01/2021 17:44

Honestly I would tell her a false date, later than the actual wedding.

Make sure you have them as normal on the wedding week, and make the wedding towards the end of it. Their mum should be given a date two weeks after the real one - ie she thinks it's on your next contact.

Then as soon as the kids are with you tell them you've had to bring it forward and it will be this Friday etc. Give them time to adjust.

Honestly better for everyone, her included - as in the future if they are told that no, they weren't at their dad's wedding as planned because their mum upped sticks to their granny's/took them away for the week at the last minute so that they would miss it - well, they won't think well of her for doing it.

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