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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Just found out OW is having a baby from 10 year old

320 replies

LexieB · 28/03/2022 08:39

My husband left 1.5 years ago after having an affair. Just before bed my 10 year old let me know she’s pregnant. His dad told him to keep it secret. He did for a week but said he couldn’t anymore as it was upsetting him. My older 2 children didn’t even know. When he left us he was all like OW doesn’t want children she was 28 he’s 42 wtf
I’m left doing all the childcare with our 3. Older 2 refuse to go. Just feel really sad for my kids. He gets his child free weekends every other week well at the moment. I’m literally never on my own.

OP posts:
Dixiechickonhols · 28/03/2022 13:55

merryhouse you and me both.
I think Op means free time not childcare.
It’s been lockdown for large parts of time since he left. So Op has always had children there supervising homeschooling getting eldest through gcses. While he’s off fancy free doing whatever (inc getting ow pg). Now she’s the one running 14 year old to x activity every Saturday while he does whatever he pleases. She’s entitled to a life too. She can’t go away overnight or for a weekend like he can, can’t make plans with friends for a Saturday.

Nosetickle · 28/03/2022 13:57

Thank goodness you are rid of this awful man OP. Sadly your DC can’t escape that he is their father and they will need a lot of support to deal with having such a rubbish father for the rest of their lives. Definitely tell your ex that it is absolutely not ok to put your youngest in the position of keeping secrets from you and just do your best to support your DC through this which I know must be hard as you are hurt too. Try to focus on how lucky you are that you are rid of this poor excuse of a man.

Whatinthelord · 28/03/2022 13:58

It’s unforgivable to ask a child to keep something like that a secret, that’s so harmful and inappropriate.

Does your 10 yr old have a nice TA or teacher at school who could support him. I’d be tempted to let his school know what’s happening and ask if they have any pastoral support they can offer. An understanding adult from outside the situation might be a great help.

LexieB · 28/03/2022 14:01

yes the school have been amazing.

OP posts:
BrokenRecords · 28/03/2022 14:06

Whilst the ex enjoys 4 nights a week to himself and EOW no having to worry about anyone’s schedule and who needs to be where

That's what happens when family's break up. he didn't just one day decide to go off with his partner who is no longer the OW, he wasn't happy so he moved on obviously not in the right way but he has and now you need to aswel

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 28/03/2022 14:07

The worst thing is telling a 10 yo keep a secret from you. Children should be taught not to do this, as it enables abusers.

I’ve said to mine “if anyone says don’t tell mum or dad about something, that’s a big reason to tell us.if Dad or I say don’t tell the other one, you should tell me/ him”. Obviously with an explanation that that doesn’t count birthday presents etc!

Dixiechickonhols · 28/03/2022 14:10

He’s not buying uniforms, dealing with school admin, helping eldest visit unis, paying for driving lessons. Youngest should be focused on sats and yr 6 residential (which Op has no doubt paid for, bought all kit for) not worrying over secrets like this for a week. Poor thing. When you have children as a married couple you envision they will have 2 parents. He’s walked away and left you all in lurch. In a way it was easier when he said family life wasn’t for him, I want to have fun with ow. Now it feels as though he’s saying I want to have family life but not with you four which hurts and Op is entitled to feel upset for her and her children. It’s her left to speak to them/reassure them not him. He hasn’t even bothered telling 2 eldest. Op has every right to be upset. She’s not slagging him off to the children just venting on an anonymous forum.

LexieB · 28/03/2022 14:12

@BrokenRecords

Whilst the ex enjoys 4 nights a week to himself and EOW no having to worry about anyone’s schedule and who needs to be where

That's what happens when family's break up. he didn't just one day decide to go off with his partner who is no longer the OW, he wasn't happy so he moved on obviously not in the right way but he has and now you need to aswel

well i find it sad. But I’m an empathetic caring person
OP posts:
GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 28/03/2022 14:12

That's what happens when family's break up. he didn't just one day decide to go off with his partner who is no longer the OW, he wasn't happy so he moved on obviously not in the right way but he has and now you need to aswel

^^
That’s a bit harsh! The exh did go off with an OW, who is now his partner, but that’s what happened. He doesn’t get to absolve himself of blame for that. OP is allowed to comment that he has lots of child free time whilst she has none - he’s their other parent!
He won’t be child free much long though, so that’s the end of his little holiday from responsibility.

Yes it’s healthy for the individuals to move past the relationship that’s ended, but you can’t dictate Op’s feelings.

Donut22 · 28/03/2022 14:13

No advice but it does get easier to deal with. Was with my ex 7years, 4 months after I ended it he had his "friend" pregnant with twins! He's a Facebook dad puts lovely pics on fb but in reality is just a shit dad who has our kids 3-4hrs a week if they go at all! Your kids will know who was there and who was shit, tough having no breaks but better than kids being somewhere they don't want to be.

BrokenRecords · 28/03/2022 14:16

@LexieB and your right it is sad but you can't let this upset you too much and I always find it hard to grasp when relationships break down that it is solely one persons fault. Try and move on he has. Do you think he's giving you a second thought? No of course he hasn't your not his to worry about anymore just like he's not yours to worry about. Don't let this make you bitter. Perhaps the baby is a happy accident and there was no planning and now he's found himself in a situation where you will be upset so he thought telling your 10 year old would mean your 10 year old would tell you and in his eyes soften the blow? You will never know

Dixiechickonhols · 28/03/2022 14:17

Broken Decent Dads would have contact with their children more than eow. He’s only managed that for 1 out of 3 children. There’s phone/FaceTime, day trips, parents evenings, holidays even if he has moved away.

How the heck can you have a partner and a wife. She’s having a baby with a married man surely that’s the definition of an ow.

BrokenRecords · 28/03/2022 14:17

@GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing

That's what happens when family's break up. he didn't just one day decide to go off with his partner who is no longer the OW, he wasn't happy so he moved on obviously not in the right way but he has and now you need to aswel

^^
That’s a bit harsh! The exh did go off with an OW, who is now his partner, but that’s what happened. He doesn’t get to absolve himself of blame for that. OP is allowed to comment that he has lots of child free time whilst she has none - he’s their other parent!
He won’t be child free much long though, so that’s the end of his little holiday from responsibility.

Yes it’s healthy for the individuals to move past the relationship that’s ended, but you can’t dictate Op’s feelings.

Cool
LexieB · 28/03/2022 14:18

i’m not bitter. I don’t feel bitter. I feel sad for my children.

OP posts:
LexieB · 28/03/2022 14:19

i’m beyond our relationship it’s how he treats me or doesn’t as a coparent. She’s welcome to him!

OP posts:
BrokenRecords · 28/03/2022 14:20

@Dixiechickonhols

Broken Decent Dads would have contact with their children more than eow. He’s only managed that for 1 out of 3 children. There’s phone/FaceTime, day trips, parents evenings, holidays even if he has moved away. How the heck can you have a partner and a wife. She’s having a baby with a married man surely that’s the definition of an ow.
Technically still married but divorce is divorce. Perhaps if OP is able to see that the new partner is no longer the OW and is in fact her EXh partner then it's clear that door with her exh is closed it will be easier for her to move on. That's all
BrokenRecords · 28/03/2022 14:23

@LexieB

i’m not bitter. I don’t feel bitter. I feel sad for my children.
That's good your not bitter don't let this situation make you bitter. Rightlyfully so you feel sad for your kids but the elder two are practically raised and wouldn't be spending much time with you or him is you were still together due to their age. All you can do is let your EXh see your 10 year old and encourage a relationship. The new child could bring your youngest child closer to him.
LexieB · 28/03/2022 14:24

seriously i can’t stand either of them!

OP posts:
LexieB · 28/03/2022 14:25

the youngest is the only one close to him. i would never get in his way of his relationship with his dad

OP posts:
Polly99 · 28/03/2022 14:27

It's really unacceptable for a parent to tell their child to keep a big secret from their other parent. I've known that sort of thing cause serious stress and upset- in one case the stress made the child quite unwell.
I'd be telling my ex how cruel and toxic that sort of behaviour is.

BrokenRecords · 28/03/2022 14:30

@LexieB

the youngest is the only one close to him. i would never get in his way of his relationship with his dad
Hopefully your 10 year old will stay close to him and have a sibling to play with
Dixiechickonhols · 28/03/2022 14:31

You can’t be technically married you either are or aren’t.
Being upset doesn’t mean she wants him back. She’s dealing with fallout from his hasty lifestyle choices as is a busy yr 6 teacher. 3 upset children, 2 of which about to sit exams (sats and A levels).
He should have had courtesy to tell Op and tell his 3 existing children properly. He’s a coward.

Hollywolly1 · 28/03/2022 14:32

How lucky you are to be well rid of him,so useless obviously only good for one thing.
How can the ow be soooooo naive like wtf, does she not think he's eying up his new prize already,if he was older I'd say possibly not but he's only 42.
Anyway extremely unfair to expect a 10 year old to keep a secret

OriginalOrchard · 28/03/2022 14:34

OP I completely understand how you feel, my ds also found out his dad was having another child through an over heard conversation, he was absolutely devastated and tbh a year later he still is.
He has only met his half sibling twice and doesn't actually want anything to do with him, which is sad but the way exdp dealt with it was disgusting.
He literally never said a word to him even after ds had asked questions, it got ignored and was told to basically mind his own business.
Their relationship now is pretty much non existent, he doesn't have any over nights due to his partner (ow) being extremely jealous of me that she constantly harasses me to the point I had to get the police involved, so he only gets to see him when she is off doing her own thing.

He's also 42 and shes 26 Hmm he never wanted anymore children, but believe me she was adamant and it may sound harsh but it was definitely to trap him as she thought she'd caught a prize, unfortunately for her he's still up to his old tricks and cheats on her too, but she is more than happy to stay with him.

He recently left her when their child was a few months old, begging to come back to me as the grass wasn't so green and our ds is much older and less reliant on either of us and the fact that he'd hot so used to me doing pretty much all the parenting, it was a big slap in the face for him having to deal with a new baby plus work and ds, he completely buckled.

I know it's hard but you will get through it, I still have the odd wobble and little cry but I look forward to mine and ds futures and am so happy to know that all the crap we've been through we're still much better off and certainly happier ex isn't really in our lives anymore and that he his living in hell and can't get out.

BrokenRecords · 28/03/2022 14:34

@Dixiechickonhols

You can’t be technically married you either are or aren’t. Being upset doesn’t mean she wants him back. She’s dealing with fallout from his hasty lifestyle choices as is a busy yr 6 teacher. 3 upset children, 2 of which about to sit exams (sats and A levels). He should have had courtesy to tell Op and tell his 3 existing children properly. He’s a coward.
Divorce is divorce. The EXH is exactly that the ex husband. Hes 100 percent broken it off with the OP, He's got a new partner and a baby on the way it's safe to she is the partner now not the OW. OP doesn't care she just feels sad for her kids but she shouldn't do she's not done anything wrong. It's just time to move on
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