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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Enough is enough or am I being petty

127 replies

toohotoday · 22/07/2021 15:48

Background: OH and I have been together 4 years. He has 2 adult ds 30 and 34. They have never accepted our relationship. After split with their mum they decided he should be on his own if not with her. There is no OW scenario here, I came on the scene well after.

The 2 DS dictate elements of our lives. We can't frequent certain pubs and restaurants, can't post things together on social media, they will not see their dad if I am present, they will not visit our home and they have said if he tries to 'push the issue' they will have nothing to do with him. To me this feels like blackmail.

They both live at home with their mother, pay no rent and have what shall we say, not a great attitude towards women in general.

They contact their dad only if they want something, usually money or a problem solved (think collect something for them, give them a lift somewhere). If he does see them he has to organise and pay for whatever they do and this is few and far between. They don't even bother to see him on his birthday or fathers day and never even a card. They live a 5 minute walk away.

He accepts this as he wants to maintain a relationship with them (which I do understand). But I'm starting to lose respect for him as he gives in to what I can only call entitled behaviour and blackmail in staying part of their life. They have bad mouthed me, they don't even know me, have met me a handful of times, for a few minutes when paths accidently crossed.

I would understand if they were stroppy teens, straight out of their parents divorce, but I can't get my head around 2 grown men dictating like this and refusing to see him ever if he continues to acknowledge me in his life.

OH is doing nothing about it. Just accepting it all - for an easy life. He has also paid for their sport which they do since they were 17, which is about £100 a month and when he recently told them they need to start paying it themselves they were not impressed.

I'm actually very hurt over it all and I do get angry they can treat someone like this when I have done absolutely nothing to affect their life in any way. And I get angry at OH for not dealing with it.

As they dictate areas of our life, affecting what we can and cannot do and OH refusing to do anything about it.

AIBU to say enough is enough. They want nothing to do with me, after all this time, Thats fine.
I therefore want nothing to do with them and when OH is at my house I do not want him taking begging phone calls or texts when he is spending time with me. They won't see him or visit him at his if I'm there, So same goes when asking for money and favours in my house.

If they want money or problems sorting then OH can deal with it when he is not with me in my house, as for every other aspect they dictate I not be there.

I feel petty but I'm honestly so fed up of their crap and if OH is not going to call them out on it, this is my way of saying they can't have their cake and eat it.

OP posts:
WeatheringStorms22 · 22/07/2021 16:13

They both live at home with their mother, pay no rent and have what shall we say, not a great attitude towards women in general

Ime the attitude boys develop towards so women is strongly influenced by the male role models they have in their life.

I'd stay well clear of any man who had sons that treated women like shit tbh. They learned how to do it somewhere.

toohotoday · 22/07/2021 16:14

@MartyHart Only back story I know if is that he wasn't a very present dad in their lives growing up, he workeed long hours, and they resent this.
Their mother didn't work, So ds's had a parent there full time until I think youngest age 12.

So I'm not sure how 'not present' he actually was as he says he was there weekends, but not always, he took them to clubs and on holidays. So its all a bit vague. Theres obviously resentment there and I think guilt on his part for not being there as much as he probably could have. But then why have the problem with me? It makes no sense. If they resent their dad, surely just refuse to see him full stop.

OP posts:
SquirrelCrimbleCrumble · 22/07/2021 16:16

Erm, OP, who exactly do you think they learned this behaviour from....?

Run. A. Mile

MartyHart · 22/07/2021 16:17

Blimey, they need to get over it. They sound like teenagers.
Also your DH needs to stop pandering. Doubt he will though.

Aquamarine1029 · 22/07/2021 16:17

Theres obviously resentment there and I think guilt on his part for not being there as much as he probably could have. But then why have the problem with me? It makes no sense. If they resent their dad, surely just refuse to see him full stop.

I think it makes perfect sense. They are punishing their dad through you and by controlling your relationship. It's not enough for them to make their dad suffer, they want you to suffer, too. Perhaps to get revenge for how their mum suffered during their marriage with an absent husband.

toohotoday · 22/07/2021 16:21

The youngest has a GF- been with her about 2 1/2 years. Oldest does not. However, the GF was 17 when they started dating and is classed as vulnerable with a medical condition. He would have been a man of 27/28. Which makes me feel a bit ick to be honest.

OH thinks its ok that he started to date what is essentially a school girl. because its his son. To me it just hammers home how controlling he is and a bit groomy. I haven't met her. She's not allowed to be 'exposed' to me. His ds's words.

OP posts:
Aquamarine1029 · 22/07/2021 16:24

Are you really still questioning what you need to do?

Dontbeme · 22/07/2021 16:25

I haven't met her. She's not allowed to be 'exposed' to me. His ds's words

Probably scared witless she might catch some sense from you and run. I would leave the lot of them to it, this is going nowhere is it really.

toohotoday · 22/07/2021 16:26

Good to know I'm not being unreasonable.
Need to put my foot down. Hard I think.

OP posts:
ittakes2 · 22/07/2021 16:36

Please tell your husband they are treating him like a doormat because he is acting like one. They will never respect him until he respects himself.

spotcheck · 22/07/2021 16:37

@toohotoday

Good to know I'm not being unreasonable. Need to put my foot down. Hard I think.
And then put the other foot down in front, and then the other...

Repeat until you are very far away

LadybirdsAreFab · 22/07/2021 16:40

Not quite like your situation but my in laws divorced 15 years ago (should have been way before it was toxic marriage). My step MIL was introduced to my FILs sons. My DH was amazing, said welcome to the family, so glad you make FIL happy, refused to listen to MIL/BIL slagging off FIL. His brother was the complete opposite, would only speak when he wanted money/meet ups were costly (to FIL). It was awful and we live 3,500 miles away. My BIL met the most amazing & feisty woman, she knocked some sense into him and BIL/FIL have a good relationship now. He’s still a Mummy’s boy but is getting better. Hopefully this gives you some hope. I love my step MIL, she’s fab. My SIL loves our MIL as well. MIL - not so much.

toohotoday · 22/07/2021 16:41

Presuming their mum is single?

Yes she is. I do wonder what will happen if she meets someone. Considering they live with her.

OP posts:
diddl · 22/07/2021 16:41

So are you going to leave or try to change him?

They are his sons & it must hurt, but obviously if it was anyone else he wouldn't let himself be treated like shit.

Has he never wondered if they are worth having in his life?

They obviously don't care about him-in fact they seem to hate him.

Whyt does he think he would ever be able to do to change that?

I can't help thinking that the answer is nothing tbh.

Notaroadrunner · 22/07/2021 16:42

@toohotoday

Good to know I'm not being unreasonable. Need to put my foot down. Hard I think.
For gods sake have a bit of respect for yourself as he sure as hell doesn't. Why would you want to be with someone who allows his dc to treat you so badly? Bin him off and live your life without the hassle of him and his vile dc.
Aquamarine1029 · 22/07/2021 16:44

Need to put my foot down. Hard I think.

What does this mean? Are you thinking you can make some ultimatum and he'll change? That is never going to happen. If your partner actually cared about your feelings he never would have allowed this to happen in the first place. He has zero respect for you, it's shocking, actually.

Kanaloa · 22/07/2021 16:45

The only way I could understand this in any way is if you accidentally wrote 30 & 34 when you meant to write 10 & 4.

I honestly don’t even know what to suggest. These creepy little boymen are not going to improve in any way as time goes in and your partner sounds a bit of a wet lettuce to allow it.

Daphnise · 22/07/2021 16:46

From their point of view they will have succeeded if you break with this man.

And you don't sound as of you want to.

If that's so then you can expect years of more of the same, in fact probably getting worse.

Could you and he move house, quite far away?

I bet he would not countenance the idea!

So you have to think very seriously about leaving, as staying has such huge drawbacks. Best of luck.

Kanaloa · 22/07/2021 16:46

Oh the son is also a creep and woman abuser. Great. I mean, can you just cut your ties and get on tinder or something? This doesn’t seem like it’s worth the effort.

igelkott2021 · 22/07/2021 16:48

I have a friend who had this with her partner - he had two daughters and they wouldn't see her because it would upset their mother. Like you, she came well after the relationship had ended. However, they were young teens when they got together!

Now they are in their 20s, they do see her and she even has an amicable relationship with their mother. Things did move on. I did wonder at the time though.

However there was no hiding being together or not being able to share on social media or nonsense like that.

And they were young teens, not in their early 30s. It sounds like a very unhealthy relationship.

I think I'd be looking for someone with kids with lives of their own who don't expect daddy to pay for everything even though they never want to see him.

spinningspaniels · 22/07/2021 16:49

This is just all so very wrong on so many levels, that I don't think you stand a prayer of changing it.

He's a crap dad, and a crap partner.

Run like the wind, and leave them to stew in the past for the rest of their lives.

Whiskycav · 22/07/2021 16:51

Honestly, yes. It's pretty to tell a grown man who he can and can not speak to or text when he is in your presence. Of course it, is.

But, its also totally understandable.

Personally, I wouldn't care of they think they have 'won', I will still break up with him.

It doesn't matter if you put your foot down. He will still roll over. And even if he doesn't, he will only maintain that while you keep your foot down and dictate his behaviour.

You don't want that. I don't see any good outcome here, for you.

toohotoday · 22/07/2021 16:51

I have said previously to DP that if I want to go to certain restaurant and eat or go to certain pub and drink, then I will. Its not up to them, they don't own it.
But then I think it'll cause problems for DP.
But then I think he needs to grow a pair and stop pandering.
But then I think would I just be going out of spite? Am I stooping to their level.
Its all confusing.
All a big shit show really.

If he'll just step up and tell them to grow up. Or call their bluff. But he won't risk the 'relationship' with them. He honestly thinks they are great guys.

I have DC also (teens and a pre-teen) and I would never entertain them being so disrespectful. I'd be down on them like a ton of bricks. DP gives me parenting advice sometimes (over mundane inconsequential things) and I am ashamed to say I have told him I don't need his advice because I do not want mine turning out like his have. This was during an argument and I'm not proud. But it is also actually true.

I want to walk away, but then I don't.

Perhaps I will just start acting like a petulant child too and say he is forbidden to utter their names, talk about them, answer their calls when he is with me or in my house. He will deem this very very unreasonable. So I'll point out I'm just dictating my unreasonable requests too. Whats good for the goose is good for the gander.

Perhaps he'll get it then.

OP posts:
Queynte13 · 22/07/2021 16:51

I honestly can't believe you're willing to stay in the relationship. It sounds utterly shite.

Queynte13 · 22/07/2021 16:52

Why can't you go to certain pubs etc?