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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Is this harassment

27 replies

HarassmentOrNot · 16/06/2021 17:22

Ok, bear with me.

I have 2 dc with my ex but we split up 3 years ago due to his abusive behaviour. In this time he has caused no end of grief and aggro for me.

He is largely involved in the kids lives as I would expect him to be, but he can't seem to stop lashing out at me. He lives in a different town to me and picks the kids up from school on a Tuesday and a Friday.

On the Tuesday he makes tea at mine for all of us (I work til later on) then usually helps sort the kids with homework and getting ready for bed etc.

On Friday he will pick them up and take them back to his home and have them overnight and I will pick them back up on saturday evening about 6pm ish.

Increasingly, he is becoming more and more abusive to me and causing arguments in my home. It's getting to a point where it happens every week, then when he leaves I gets texts from him apologising but then going on to say how it's my fault and he is angry with me because I'm being 'over friendly' with him and 'fllrting' - his words.

I'm not doing any of these things, I try to remain on good terms for the sake of the kids and certainly do not flirt with him, I'm just friendly as I can't see the point in being bitter.

It's the cycle I can't stand, it's really bad. He creates an argument, then I get a text later on saying he's sorry but it's my fault he is angry as I'm too nice to him. Then when I don't reply that makes him angry too. And on and on it goes. The cycle repeats.

He hasn't got over me yet and I can't understand why but his texts are abusive and controlling and he keeps going on about me getting a new bloke and having a relationship which a) I dont have a new bloke at all, I'm not even close to that and b) it's none if his business if I do.

He says my friendliness gives him false hope and therefore he can't help lashing out at me. I rang him last night as it was the latest barrage of abuse and stated something which I have been telling him for months and months which is "I do not want a relationship with you". Honestly i have lost count the number of times i have told him this and I definitely do not lead him on or leave him with any uncertainty as to where I stand. His response last night was "well you should have been clearer". I couldn't have said it any more clearer if I tried, I've been saying it for months now.

Is this harassment? I feel harassed by his arguing then texting only to create another argument again. I'm over him and have been for a long time. 3 years later he should be over me. I don't know what to do. His texts are purely vile and he is obsessed with me. It's awful and exhausting.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Ps he told me last week he didn't want my friendship and I said ok and accepted it. Yet he is still arguing with me even though I'm being civil (not my usual friendly self) and blowing up my phone with his abuse. I am at breaking point.

OP posts:
VettiyaIruken · 16/06/2021 17:28

Well first off I'd stop having him in the house and cooking you all a meal.

He doesn't get to abuse you in your own home!

NBFJ364N · 16/06/2021 17:31

he needs to not be having the kids in your home. thats your space.

its confusing the boundaries having him there with you two arguing is not the best thing for the kids

ScrollingLeaves · 16/06/2021 17:34

I would say that having him over to cook a meal in your house on Tuesday evenings needs to stop. I am not sure what he could do instead unless you let him in your house to cook and do homework but you stay out - which doesn’t seem workable.

Could the children see him at his house for longer on the weekend instead?

InTheDrunkTank · 16/06/2021 17:36

He needs to stop coming to your home. He's continuing his abusive behaviour. He can collect the kids thursday and have them for a continuous period perhaps but no way should he be inside your home.

HarassmentOrNot · 16/06/2021 17:41

He would kick off if I asked him to have the kids longer at the weekend. Last night when he started arguing, I told him "how about you take the kids out for tea on a tuesday and fetch them back by 7.30, but the homework will need doing too" as he was lashing out again. He retorts with "and what if the homework doesn't get done". I see that as an attempt by him to make my life harder than it already is so I just left and went to my brothers house for a few hours. He does need to not cook at my house, it's just hard work with him not living in this town. He had a shower at mine and everything whilst I was still at work. I don't begrudge him doing these things provided he remains civil but he cannot manage it as he is "still in love" with me.

OP posts:
InTheDrunkTank · 16/06/2021 17:46

He doesn't have a right to see the kids in your home OP. You're not together he has no right to be in your home and it obviously isn't working. If he can't find a suitable place to take the kids on Tuesdays he doesn't see them until the weekend.

picklemewalnuts · 16/06/2021 17:46

No, he's not 'still in love', he's just trying to control you and be 'still in your life' 'still in charge' etc.

Tell him he doesn't come in your house anymore due to his poor behaviour and change the locks.

You are going to have to accept he'll drop that visit or stop doing the homework. You can't make him, and he'll take the easy way out.

HarassmentOrNot · 16/06/2021 17:51

Full expect him to take the easy way out. I've just text him to say he needs to take the kids out for tea on Tuesdays as he can't be here. I'm now awaiting the back lash.

OP posts:
picklemewalnuts · 16/06/2021 17:58

Don't engage. Just repeat the message.

sparepantsandtoothbrush · 16/06/2021 18:01

I'm not sure how he can do homework with them if he's taking them out for tea from now on so I think you'll need to let that one go. How old are the DC?

Taking a shower in your house is a piss take but I think you've been giving him the wrong message letting him in to "play house" by cooking for you all. That definitely needs to stop!

sparepantsandtoothbrush · 16/06/2021 18:02

When I say giving him the wrong message I mean maybe he thinks he still has a chance as you've not quite cut him off from being in, what I assume, was the family home

HarassmentOrNot · 16/06/2021 18:07

You're right sparepants, I gave him too much credit for being mature and being able to coparent without reading anything into it but he has thought all this time he has stood a chance despite me telling him I don't want him back. He has never stopped being angry at me for leaving me and goes through phases of being really friendly and helpful towards me then abusive. It's gone on for years but happened even when we were together. It was all too toxic.

The home work, I can let slide on Tuesday. I can ask the kids to do it when they get back in. It's usually spellings for the eldest and just a bit of reading with both, they are 8 and 5. It just annoying that he gets Jones of the shit work to do whilst I get 100% of it.

OP posts:
HarassmentOrNot · 16/06/2021 18:08

None*

OP posts:
HarassmentOrNot · 16/06/2021 18:09

I also envisage that he will deduct money from his maintenance payments for taking the kids out for tea. I havent has a reply yet but I'm fully expecting all of this.

OP posts:
LoopTheLoops · 16/06/2021 18:11

Why on earth is he having them at your house, stop that immediately even if it means him seeing them less

2tired2bewitty · 16/06/2021 18:19

Make sure he doesn’t start a narrative with the kids of ‘mean mummy won’t let me come to the house anymore’, decide what you are going to tell them about the change, ‘won’t it be fun to go out with daddy’, and get in first.

HarassmentOrNot · 16/06/2021 18:20

My head is a mess and I'm so exhausted. I havent even thought about what to tell the kids yet.

OP posts:
Outbutnotoutout · 16/06/2021 18:24

Sort the maintenance through the proper channels.

Why can't he have them Fri to Sun EOW or EW?

LoopTheLoops · 16/06/2021 18:27

The kids will understand, it’s not normal for exes to come to the house to see their kids so it’s not like that’s the norm, it really isn’t.

Longdistance · 16/06/2021 18:28

If he can’t be kind and respectful to you in your own home he needs to take the kids out. I take it he has a key to your house? You need that back, or change the locks.
WRT maintenance you should be claiming through CMS.

NewlyGranny · 16/06/2021 18:28

For "in love" read "in control" OP.

klangers · 16/06/2021 18:39

He should pick your kids up, take them out for tea then drop them home. Playing happy families by having tea together is a bad idea for all of you.

Everydayisawindingroad · 16/06/2021 18:42

@VettiyaIruken

Well first off I'd stop having him in the house and cooking you all a meal.

He doesn't get to abuse you in your own home!

This. You’ve left him, your home should be yours and the dc’s safe space
billy1966 · 16/06/2021 19:13

OP,
Hugely controlling and abusive and so awful for the children to witness.

I wouldn't allow him to cross my doorstep again.

Explain the truth to the children.

You think it's best that he doesn't come to your home anymore as he doesn't behave nicely towards me.

Why should your children get the message his weekly abuse of you is acceptable.

It's not.

He sounds awful and you have been far too tolerant.

Well done for getting away.
Flowers

MatildaTheCat · 16/06/2021 19:18

I can’t believe you are allowing his free access (or any) in your home. He’s probably snooping through your stuff and coming up with his ideas about a new man based on the fact you’ve got some new knickers or something.

Make changes. You really don’t need to be so accommodating of someone who is making you miserable. Surely that’s the point of splitting up?

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