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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Partner's ex wife upset over boundaries being introduced

512 replies

Stickytofpud · 07/06/2023 00:25

New here so please bear with me. I came to search confirmation that I am not completely mad for what I have done/seek unbiased opinion. Apologies for long post, I felt that context and reasonable detail was needed so that people can inform their view.

I have two young kids with my partner, and his two older kids from previous marriage stay with us for half a week. The marriage broke down due to partner's ex wife's infidelity; she went on to marry the man she cheated on my partner with, no further kids born in that relationship.
When I moved in with my partner, I sort of 'jumped onto the running train' of established routine of my partner's ex featuring heavily in his life through constant messaging, but also physical presence, dropping off the kids and inviting herself in and ordering my partner to make her a cup of tea, dropping in to get stuff while we were not in the house, that kind of stuff. The infidelity and divorce upset my partner, but he's a man who's able to forgive so over time their relationship has become reasonably amicable and allowing for the above, but definitely not romantic (from his side anyway). As a newcomer, I was putting up with all that, though knew that this level of intrusion and presence from his ex was definitely not normal. To maintain the peace I tolerated the situation. Me and her would get on ok, and I get on well with the kids; she said numerous times how lucky her kids are to have me in their lives.

Me and my partner then had our first child who she would see when dropping off or collecting the kids, she would take the child in her arms etc etc. Some time after we had our child, things started to change for me, particularly after some information reached me related to her current husband (relationship not going too well) and our child (her having a bit of an obsession with the child, like the child was hers).

I have then suggested to my partner that it was time to put some boundaries in place as there should be, and put a bit more distance between her and us. This was supported by my partner, though he wasn't overly keen to introduce all these changes as he did not want to 'rock the boat'. The boundaries mostly revolved around her presence in our place (no longer invited in, kids being dropped off/collected by their dad from her place). Nothing, I believe, that should be a problem for a former partner to respect and accept as their ex partner has moved on and started a family with someone else. The boundaries also include as little contact of my children with her as possible; she's of no relation to them, other than being a mother of their siblings.

It's been about a year now since the boundaries have been introduced and it didn't go down well with her, and it is actually getting worse. I have been name called by her, all of a sudden it's not kids are lucky to have me in their life but poor kids to have to endure me while staying with their dad.. the latest being that if I don't want her to be involved in my kids' lives then she doesn't want me to be involved in her kids' lives either.... completely ignoring the fact that she's comparing apples with pears; her kids are part of our household and my life for half a week each week, whereas my kids have nothing to do with her.

It's wearing, it's frustrating, it's upsetting and I don't know where it will end. It's also putting a strain onto my relationship with my partner as he is caught in the middle of it. It's all been fine for as long as it was on her terms. When the terms changed, I have been made the bad one, for asking nothing more than to be given space and peace for our family life.

For those who managed to read until the end, I would appreciate your views, AIBU?

OP posts:
continentallentil · 07/06/2023 00:39

I am sorry to say, because she does sound like a PITA, but I think you are being unreasonable.

You knew you were getting into a step family situation, and that means being tolerant and working with the X to step parent. You might not like her in your kitchen, but it’s not good for the kids to be just dumped on the doorstep as if they were parcels.

Not to say you can’t have boundaries eg she doesn’t stop for tea unless asked, and she leaves your baby alone (if that really bothers you), but I think you’ve gone too far.

Seddon · 07/06/2023 00:44

I've been in a similar situation and agree with PP. In principle what you're saying is reasonable, but you probably could have approached it in a way that would have preserved the good relationships for the sake of the kids.

If you'd asked for advice in advance I would have suggested

  1. making sure it's all coming from your partner and not you
  2. picking your battles, taking baby steps e.g. starting with her not coming round while you're not there rather than refusing to let her in at all.
SleepingStandingUp · 07/06/2023 00:48

Well I think you were in the wrong to start with.

Why is it OK for Dad to go to HER home to drop and collect kids but she's not allowed with 100 years of yours in case she looks at your child?

The best thing for kids are parents who get on but you cleanliness don't want them to have anything bar the civil relationship of acquaintances.

However it is what it is, he agreed and so he needs to stand by it. If suggest DH talks to ex angry tell her it's not acceptable and not fake on the kids but I think you're going to have to learn to ignore it. You don't see her so don't buy into it

How old are the kids?

Frogger8395 · 07/06/2023 00:48

Who is telling you that she’s saying this?

Ponoka7 · 07/06/2023 00:50

So you moved into what was the marital/children's home? I also think that you've rocked the boat for his existing children, unnecessarily. He should have started off by saying that it wasn't convenient for her to stay, only to drop the children. It was out of order of you to say that she couldn't come near the house.

Wishawisha · 07/06/2023 00:51

Both parents maintaining good relationships - so that would include things like having a cup of tea and a chat when children are dropped off and spending extended “family” time together - would be in the best interests of the children, I would have thought.
The boundaries that have been put in place seem a little sad from that perspective. I suppose the boundaries are no more than what many ex partners have but surely the fact that they were managing a closer relationship than that was a good thing?

It sounds like there is a bit more to it though that maybe has been left out.

FangedFrisbee · 07/06/2023 00:56

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Bathintheshed · 07/06/2023 00:57

It sounds like you've come in and bulldozed a good coparenting relationship, she's bound to be annoyed. She should be aloud to drop DC off at their Dads house.

Bathintheshed · 07/06/2023 00:58

*allowed

Whenwillitallmakesense · 07/06/2023 00:59

I agree with others. You jumped on the moving train knowing what the situation was. That was the time to introduce boundaries, if you and partner agreed this. But to wait a couple/few years down the line and want to change whole set up now (on a whim because of some gossip you've heard about her partner not going well - are you scared ex will suddenly want your partner back?) Seems unreasonable on the facts you've given us to disrupt what sounds like a civil relationship between two co parents, making things harder for the kids etc

Seddon · 07/06/2023 01:00

Wishawisha · 07/06/2023 00:51

Both parents maintaining good relationships - so that would include things like having a cup of tea and a chat when children are dropped off and spending extended “family” time together - would be in the best interests of the children, I would have thought.
The boundaries that have been put in place seem a little sad from that perspective. I suppose the boundaries are no more than what many ex partners have but surely the fact that they were managing a closer relationship than that was a good thing?

It sounds like there is a bit more to it though that maybe has been left out.

It can be a bit more nuanced than that, especially when you have 1 party who was very much used to having things their way while the parents were a couple, and expects that to continue when separated. But these types are generally high conflict and need to be very gently weaned off their sense of entitlement.

DeeCeeCherry · 07/06/2023 01:08

How do you know she's saying these things? I suspect your 'dont want to rock the boat' Husband is a drama-lover who feeds you info so that when things kick off he can sit on the fence looking like the reasonable one. With the unreasonable wife.

Tell him to get off his arse and sort this situation amicably with his ex. Mind you I wouldn't want her fussing over my child as if she's the Mum either. But that's seperate. What I do know is between a current and ex wife at war, is always a Husband who's lack of sense and boundaries in the first place started the war...

fUNNYfACE36 · 07/06/2023 01:12

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Stickytofpud · 07/06/2023 01:12

I am sorry that i have come across as hideous. There's seeing my children and there's cuddling and kissing my children. Would you be happy with that for your children?

OP posts:
Coyoacan · 07/06/2023 01:16

I don't really see the problem with her making a fuss of your children. They are children's siblings and a bit more love never did any child any harm

CherryPosset · 07/06/2023 01:19

what women allow men to do to them,
Shock

bananamum13 · 07/06/2023 01:21

Crikey - my DM is so close to her XH 2nd wife - she was a great SM to my DSis and to me (absolutely no blood relation), DM was happy that my DSis was very much loved while in her care.
My SM on the other hand - as soon as she had her own DC, her attitude towards me completely changed and I was just always in the way. Her oldest child is now 31 and she will still barely speak to me.

Toomuchmarking · 07/06/2023 01:21

Well 60% of the votes are that YANBU and I'm one of them so I'd take that and run before the nasty people come back 😀

CallieQ · 07/06/2023 01:22

Agree with PPs YABU

Stickytofpud · 07/06/2023 01:22

I am getting fair pummeled here, not sure I can take any more for one night. But I asked for unbiased opinions so that's what I got so I have some thinking to do. I do think though that some of the posters did jump into conclusions a bit too fast; there's only so much one can say in one post without making it too long (which i did already), the small nuances, which are important do get lost.

OP posts:
WandaWonder · 07/06/2023 01:24

Stickytofpud · 07/06/2023 01:12

I am sorry that i have come across as hideous. There's seeing my children and there's cuddling and kissing my children. Would you be happy with that for your children?

If my child is fine with it nothing to do with me

Honeychickpea · 07/06/2023 01:25

Frogger8395 · 07/06/2023 00:48

Who is telling you that she’s saying this?

Indeed, I too was wondering who is doing the stirring.

oviraptor21 · 07/06/2023 01:26

Please ignore those suggesting you are hideous or jealous - both are ridiculous inferences to make.

You are right to have boundaries. Some of her behaviours should have been stamped out a long time ago - coming into your house when you're not there is totally unacceptable. And trying to have a relationship with your child given the hurt she caused your dh is not something I would tolerate either.

Maybe a softening of allowing her to drop off and collect her DC from yours but not inviting in would be OK but the rest, reading between the lines, I'd keep her as far away as possible.

ClaraBourne · 07/06/2023 01:34

She sounds far too familiar but when you say about her and your kids;

she's of no relation to them, other than being a mother of their siblings.

That's quite a big deal if you ask me.

Breezy1985 · 07/06/2023 01:35

I think you're being Abu. Maybe I'm just strange though, I always got one with my kids SM and also am close to ex and hers son, to the point I've had him stay for weekends. They've since broken up, he doesn't see any of the children but we have maintained a good friendship and they even come over on Christmas day. Our children are siblings at the end of the day.