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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

According to ExH my days with DD are numbered (Lighthearted)

40 replies

HeHatesMeStill · 18/07/2021 12:49

Background: Split with now ExH when DD was 2, she’s now 7. He has her for 1 night EOW and 1 extra night over Christmas (so 27 nights per year). I’ve offered him more but he never takes it. We split due to his violence and control.

DD has some SN, which according to ExH are all my fault and it’s my parenting that’s caused it if she was with him she’d be absolutely fine Hmm

Last week I had a meeting with DDs Year 2 teacher and her new teacher for Year 3 who is also the SENCo about how to support DD. She has an EHCP so this was the review (school set it like that deliberately but we do also have a short term review at October Half Term and if needs be at Easter.

It was at 5pm and I’d told the teachers when booking it I’d have DD with me as I’m a single parent they said it was fine.

I took DD with me, along with some snacks and her ipad. The snacks included a packet of crisps and a box/carton of ribena.

ExH has bought DD back to me and said I am disgusting but he’s grateful I’ve “finally shown my true colours to school” he’s saying that 1 of the members of staff there the other night is “on his side” and he cannot wait to prove me wrong.

Neither of the teachers said anything negative about the snacks, the SENCo connected the ipad to the schools wifi so DD could watch Netflix while we talked (her words to DD not mine), the year 2 teacher stole a crisp off DD in the jokey way people do.

DD usually has a packed lunch but I’ve been told by several members of staff that her meals are healthy – they always include a least 1 fruit or vegetable, she usually only drinks water while there (but will have squash if offered it with special meals like the Christmas meal). She’s a healthy weight, small in height but that’s caused by her SN and another medical issue not through me not feeding her.

Headteacher has told me multiple times that DD is polite, kind and happy at school. Same HT has said several of the other parents in the class have told her I’m a good parent and she doesn’t disagree (it was relevant to the context of the conversation we were having but also relevant here).

I actually hate being complimented because of him. I am not and never will be the perfect parent, actually I feel like I’m treading water most days and counting down the –seconds—minutes until bedtime.

For even more added context school finished on Friday for the summer, meeting was last Monday (12th July), I’m certain by now I’d know if school were reporting me to SS for giving my child crisps and a carton of squash!

I’m not worried. Just think it’s hilarious that after 4 and a half years ExH is still trying to bring me down. He’s told me several times he hates me and one day DD will “open her eyes” and hate me too.

AIBU to roll my eyes and move on?

OP posts:
HollowTalk · 18/07/2021 12:51

Who is the person he said is on his side? He sounds insane, frankly.

HeHatesMeStill · 18/07/2021 12:52

@HollowTalk

Who is the person he said is on his side? He sounds insane, frankly.
He didn't say he just said "Someone who was at the meeting" considering the SENCo has met him once and the Year 2 teacher never has I very much doubt it's either of them.
OP posts:
HollowTalk · 18/07/2021 12:54

Are you sure he's talking about the snacks?

HeHatesMeStill · 18/07/2021 12:55

@HollowTalk

Are you sure he's talking about the snacks?
What else will he be talking about?
OP posts:
Whiskycav · 18/07/2021 12:55

I would tell him you went to ofsted and dofe and put a complaint about the school. They have a member of staff that is feeding him information, in a non professional setting and you are demanding a full investigation.

I am not suggesting you do it. Its likely that he asked dd what she did whole you were having the meeting and she told him.

See what he says then. He unlikely to know wether this is something you can do or not.

Just be careful though. One of my best friends abusive husband started seeing a TA from the kids school and the pair of them caused all sorts of issue. It ended with the TA losing her job and the ex disappearing from the child life.

MzHz · 18/07/2021 12:55

Oh yeah… someone in the meeting

All these abusive wankers use this trick

It’s bollocks.

If there was an issue, you’d know it. He’s just projecting because somewhere in his pathetic little life he knows he’s a shit dad.

Ignore him

HollowTalk · 18/07/2021 12:58

Sorry, I don't know what he could be on about! It sounds as though he's pumping your daughter for info and making up whatever he likes. Lucky you're not together any more - take comfort from that!

HeHatesMeStill · 18/07/2021 13:01

@Whiskycav

I would tell him you went to ofsted and dofe and put a complaint about the school. They have a member of staff that is feeding him information, in a non professional setting and you are demanding a full investigation.

I am not suggesting you do it. Its likely that he asked dd what she did whole you were having the meeting and she told him.

See what he says then. He unlikely to know wether this is something you can do or not.

Just be careful though. One of my best friends abusive husband started seeing a TA from the kids school and the pair of them caused all sorts of issue. It ended with the TA losing her job and the ex disappearing from the child life.

The only member of staff he could possibly have any kind of relationship with is the 1-1 TA of another child in another year group to DD, all the others are too old (as in old enough to be his mother) - school has low turnover of staff, most staff only leave because they retire or get a promotion. We've not had any staff leave at all the last 2 years.

I suspect it's like @MzHz and @HollowTalk said he's asking DD to tell him what she did while we had this meeting.

OP posts:
Laserbird16 · 18/07/2021 13:08

Roll your eyes so hard you see brain.

Funnylittlefloozie · 18/07/2021 13:26

Yeah, he's just trying a different tactic to get to you. Noone is going to be reporting you to SS for giving your kid crisps. Heroin, yes, crisps, no.

My exH has called me disgusting a number of times in the 6 years since we split up. Its his go-to word when he feels helpless. DD let slip to him that I had a new boyfriend about 18 months after he and I split, so he told me I was disgusting for that. Then when the pandemic hit, my current DP moved in with me. That triggered another wave of "disgusting ". He also said it to DD via text on Christmas Day and made her cry. She's forgiven him for that, but I haven't.

Eventually you get to a point with these sad case men, where you can predict their behaviour and comments, and just laugh at them.

toomuchtooold · 18/07/2021 13:35

@MzHz

Oh yeah… someone in the meeting

All these abusive wankers use this trick

It’s bollocks.

If there was an issue, you’d know it. He’s just projecting because somewhere in his pathetic little life he knows he’s a shit dad.

Ignore him

"someone in the meeting" - it's probably one of those same someones that's also an everyone, as in "everyone says" and "I said x and everyone agreed". They're not actual people, just the fevered imaginings of the narcissist's brain.
WunWun · 18/07/2021 13:37

Why would you offer more overnights to someone violent and controlling?

HeHatesMeStill · 18/07/2021 13:38

@WunWun

Why would you offer more overnights to someone violent and controlling?
Because our court order states he has more than he takes.
OP posts:
JanFebAnyMonth · 18/07/2021 13:46

YADDNBU!

These men all use the same lines, it’s hilarious.

“Several (important - they like important) people agree with me about you”

“Finally shown your true colours”

“On my side”

I’ve had all of those.
Just note it quietly and then ignore.

They hate being ignored!

The telling him you’ve reported the school to Ofsted is quite a good wheeze actually. Pretending to utterly agree with them and act accordingly makes them go a bit puce IME.

Topofthepopicles · 18/07/2021 13:51

I doubt the school are feeding him information. More likely he rang and they were mildly appeasing to get him off the phone such as "if there were any concerns we would definitely report them". This doesn't mean there are any concerns but he probably heard what he wanted to hear.

I have experience of this as a SENCO when abusive dads still have contact and PR. You have to tread carefully but his true colours I'm sure will be obvious to the school staff whatever he says.

Oh and I agree OP no-one is going to worry about your DD's snacks.

GrandmaSteglitszch · 18/07/2021 13:52

Because our court order states he has more than he takes.

So what?
Just be glad that DD has such little influence from him.

MushMonster · 18/07/2021 13:56

He is just stupid! Do not even bother to roll your eyes! Too much fuss for that amount of bullshit!
Some people are black in the inside OP.

Bloodypunkrockers · 18/07/2021 14:01

@JanFebAnyMonth

YADDNBU!

These men all use the same lines, it’s hilarious.

“Several (important - they like important) people agree with me about you”

“Finally shown your true colours”

“On my side”

I’ve had all of those.
Just note it quietly and then ignore.

They hate being ignored!

The telling him you’ve reported the school to Ofsted is quite a good wheeze actually. Pretending to utterly agree with them and act accordingly makes them go a bit puce IME.

I've had these plus

"I've bent over backwards for you"

"You're sick in the head"

Etc, etc

It's all bullshit

Now DD is older, funnily enough she likes my "true colours" , doesn't hate me and sees
Ex as the shit dad he has always been

You're doing just fine OP Thanks

Birkie248 · 18/07/2021 14:01

I would find it hard to believe a teacher would give a shiny shite about a child eating crisps and drinking Ribena at 5pm.
Don’t give him the satisfaction of any response.

chocolatesaltyballs22 · 18/07/2021 14:05

What a complete wanker - don't even give his comments the time of day. He's just trying to get a reaction from you. I had the same from my ex and funnily enough my 18 year old has made a decision not to see one of her parents (and it's not me).

Tistheseason17 · 18/07/2021 14:06

I just feel for all you parents out there having to go through this shit with your exes Flowers

Penistoe · 18/07/2021 14:10

What else will he be talking about?

He could have been lying, knowing you would fill in the gaps with something. So your brain went ‘he meant the crisps’ when actually he meant nothing, he was just trying to get at you. It’s easy to say something you said/did made them see who you really are when in fact it’s just a tactic to freak you out.

HeHatesMeStill · 18/07/2021 14:24

@Topofthepopicles

I doubt the school are feeding him information. More likely he rang and they were mildly appeasing to get him off the phone such as "if there were any concerns we would definitely report them". This doesn't mean there are any concerns but he probably heard what he wanted to hear.

I have experience of this as a SENCO when abusive dads still have contact and PR. You have to tread carefully but his true colours I'm sure will be obvious to the school staff whatever he says.

Oh and I agree OP no-one is going to worry about your DD's snacks.

I doubt he rang them, apparently apart from this one unnamed member of staff they all hate him because of me...
OP posts:
Wavingwillowtree · 18/07/2021 14:49

He sounds thick and horrible. Thank goodness you got away from him!

Couldhavebeenme2 · 18/07/2021 15:04

*YADDNBU!

These men all use the same lines, it’s hilarious.

“Several (important - they like important) people agree with me about you”

“Finally shown your true colours”

“On my side”

I’ve had all of those.
Just note it quietly and then ignore.

They hate being ignored!*

I had this for 11 years op, with my ex only seeing the kids max twice a year. As he was so worried about the kids whilst in my care, obvs.

Not 2 weeks ago my nearly adult dc turned round and said to me 'dad has really shown me who he is hasn't he mum' over yet another crushing disappointment.

Sure, the kids will work it out one day op, and you can be sure they'll figure out who's the bad guy.

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