Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

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:
ButterCrackers · 07/06/2023 08:28

You are right to have boundaries. Keep them in place. No way should she enter your house and have a tea and no way should she be holding your kids. She can exchange the kids in a supermarket car park seeing that she’s bad morning you. Is she paying for kids correctly? Check on this and if necessary do get her financial contribution looked at. It sounds like she should be paying more.

CurlewKate · 07/06/2023 08:28

@Bananarepublic But it's (at a guess) 4 years on, and the OP has only decided to impose these boundaries when it looks as if the "first wife"'s relationship is turning rocky. Which is odd. And a time when the children need all the security and consistence they can get.

sourcorn · 07/06/2023 08:29

Tiddlypomtiddlypom · 07/06/2023 08:27

Cuddling a baby and becoming territorial and overfamiliar with a baby that your ex husband feathered with his new wife, alongside letting yourself into their home in their absence…you don’t think that’s weird??

Wow. You’ve got a low bar.

Yeah it's weird

standardduck · 07/06/2023 08:29

I think YANBU to want to enforce some boundaries when it comes to your kids.

Some of the replies here are overly harsh.

If you and your partner are on the same page then I don't see any issues with keeping your kids away from her.

sourcorn · 07/06/2023 08:30

CurlewKate · 07/06/2023 08:25

Actually-I think the weird Mumsnet thing on here is that there is something weird and suspicious about cuddling a baby that's not yours....

It's not that it's not hers it's that it's part of her children's new family and she is not part of that

And if she wants a cup of tea that bad get her a flask

AnotherCountryMummy · 07/06/2023 08:30

As a stepmother, I agree that some boundaries need to be put in place.

However, and gently, you do seem like you've bulldozed a decent co-parenting situation because you're worried for some reason.

You say she's not related, apart from the mother of your children's siblings. Isn't that quite significant??

If me and my DH died, I would really want my DHs ex-wife (the mother of my child's siblings) to enable a relationship between my DS and his sisters.

I don't see the problem with her showing love and affection to your child. Surely that's a positive thing? She could have been vile.

Maybe reflect on why you need these boundaries as it seems like its because insecurities in your own relationship.

Tiddlypomtiddlypom · 07/06/2023 08:31

Mumsnet: “Have boundaries, you weak and pathetic woman. I am so angered by your uselessness.

“Unless you’re a second wife and stepmother, then boundaries make you a hideous and poisonous bitch. I am so angered by your audacity. Won’t someone think of my the children.”

😆 this place is the pits sometimes.

theleafandnotthetree · 07/06/2023 08:31

Seddon · 07/06/2023 01:00

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.

Exactly this. I am casually dating a man where there is a lot of emeshment and poor boundaries, largely dictated by the ex wife but passively accepted by him. It's one of the reasons why we are just casually dating! She is just continuing the dynamic of how they were when married and has to be placated and handled with kid gloves for the sake of harmony re children.

sourcorn · 07/06/2023 08:31

You say she's not related, apart from the mother of your children's siblings. Isn't that quite significant no not really.

sourcorn · 07/06/2023 08:32

Tiddlypomtiddlypom · 07/06/2023 08:31

Mumsnet: “Have boundaries, you weak and pathetic woman. I am so angered by your uselessness.

“Unless you’re a second wife and stepmother, then boundaries make you a hideous and poisonous bitch. I am so angered by your audacity. Won’t someone think of my the children.”

😆 this place is the pits sometimes.

It's all a bit like the ex is "queen bee". She's not. She's an outsider to the family unit that DH, OP and the kids are in. They aren't one family they are two familys

sourcorn · 07/06/2023 08:33

I doubt the ex wife sees the DC as part of her family- she won't be leaving anything to them in her will presumably or paying uni fees!

beachcitygirl · 07/06/2023 08:33

It sounds like they had a great (if a little overbearing) co-parenting relationship & you stomped all over it.
Yabu

Apologise to her sincerely (& mean it) tell her you were feeling insecure. Whatever.

You're being utterly ridiculous, why wouldn't you want her to be lovely to your kids?

The only thing i would have put a stop to is the letting herself in, but that could have been done so easily with a lock change & a breezy " oh we lost keys" and then keep forgetting to give her the bew ones.

You're difficult and you've made your husband and his kids life more difficult and you've got more problems coming your way.

She'll likely invite your DH to her kids special occasions and your kids won't be allowed anywhere near - all you will have done is hurt hour own DH & your own kids, who would probably love to be with their siblings at special times.

Silly silly attitude to take. You sound very needy & controlling

Tiddlypomtiddlypom · 07/06/2023 08:35

sourcorn · 07/06/2023 08:32

It's all a bit like the ex is "queen bee". She's not. She's an outsider to the family unit that DH, OP and the kids are in. They aren't one family they are two familys

That’s exactly it. I think some first wives feel a bit like they retained partial ownership of the man for being there first. And they throw their weight around.

Spirallingdownwards · 07/06/2023 08:35

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.

Please don't take this to heart. This is MN where step mums are apparently evil and the first wife retains queen status even where she is the one who had the affair and went off with a new partner now it seems!

The real issue is that your DP need to step up as I think he is part of the problem.

sourcorn · 07/06/2023 08:36

Tiddlypomtiddlypom · 07/06/2023 08:35

That’s exactly it. I think some first wives feel a bit like they retained partial ownership of the man for being there first. And they throw their weight around.

It's weird like they forget the whole "ex" bit!

Spirallingdownwards · 07/06/2023 08:36

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

BusyMum47 · 07/06/2023 08:37

If things are going to work well, long term, in a blended family, then there has to be some give & take.

While she DOES sound like a bit of a cheeky pain in the arse, she's hardly the worst ex partner on the planet & how intrusive can she possibly be, when you only encounter her, twice weekly, on crossover days?

It was FAR better before, for ALL the kids, when things were harmonious.

I agree that she was definitely overstepping in terms of letting herself into your house without you being there - that has to stop immediately & should be non negotiable.

Is her having a cuppa every now & then that bad, though? Surely it's a 'grit your teeth' situation to allow the kids to see a mature, healthy, family dynamic?

As for her appearing to be overly interested in your babies - that will wear off - she might just be broody, especially as she hasn't gone on to have other children with her 2nd DH. What exactly is it that bothers you so much?

If you're confident in your relationship with your DH & know that even if she WERE to attempt to cross that line, he would immediately reject her, then I don't see why her being 'involved' in your life as a blended family is so invasive to you. Its not like she's there all the time & never leaves you alone, is it? 🤷‍♀️

Ihaveshitfriends · 07/06/2023 08:40

Can any posters who suggested dropping off in car parks or supermarkets go to hell.
Just awful for the poor kids.
My parents apparently couldn’t stand each other in the early day of their separation but faked smiles and polite conversation as they handed over at our house, this grew to our mum getting our dad a cup of tea as we were so slow getting ready. They are now friends and visit each other in hospital, come to family BBQ with their partners and chat. In short they are decent loving parents who put the well being of their children first.

AlfietheSchnauzer · 07/06/2023 08:40

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?

What on earth is wrong with that?! It's great that they can bond! When the kids are much older it will mean your child feels comfortable around her, to approach her & visit their siblings at their house during the teen years etc 🤷🏼‍♀️

sourcorn · 07/06/2023 08:41

AlfietheSchnauzer · 07/06/2023 08:40

What on earth is wrong with that?! It's great that they can bond! When the kids are much older it will mean your child feels comfortable around her, to approach her & visit their siblings at their house during the teen years etc 🤷🏼‍♀️

There's no need for the DC to EVER be in the SDC's mums house.

DrinkFeckArseBrick · 07/06/2023 08:41

Your kids are her kids step siblings and she sees and will see them often...I don't think hugging and kissing them is over stepping, unless your kids didnt like it. 'Being no relation' doesn't mean someone can't have a relationship. And you could have just said to stop hugging and kissing, instead of trying to ensure she never sees them. Try and look at it from her point of view - she had no idea any of this was an issue before, she thought she had a good relationship with you and enjoyed seeing your kids and is then suddenly banned from the house and banned from seeing your kids when nothing has really changed

Quveas · 07/06/2023 08:42

Tiddlypomtiddlypom · 07/06/2023 08:13

Have you even read the thread? Have you seen some of the verbal abuse that first wives posters have thrown at her?

Yes I read it thank you. At the point when she said this there had been no abuse at all, and I am not seeing any abuse - different opinions yes, but not abuse. If you can see any actual abuse please to report it to MHHQ who will delete it. But having a different opinion than yours (or hers) is not abuse. Although making assumptions that different opinions are just being posted by "first wives" is pretty judgemental / abusive in itself. Aren't "first wives" allowed opinions? I guess you must be a "second wife"???

Bathintheshed · 07/06/2023 08:43

My friends parents couldn't be in the same room. So she decided not to marry her partner as it would cause a massive family fall out. She did eventually, once her Dad died but please do put children in this situation.

sourcorn · 07/06/2023 08:43

Quveas · 07/06/2023 08:42

Yes I read it thank you. At the point when she said this there had been no abuse at all, and I am not seeing any abuse - different opinions yes, but not abuse. If you can see any actual abuse please to report it to MHHQ who will delete it. But having a different opinion than yours (or hers) is not abuse. Although making assumptions that different opinions are just being posted by "first wives" is pretty judgemental / abusive in itself. Aren't "first wives" allowed opinions? I guess you must be a "second wife"???

It's not "second wife" it's just wife.

Tiddlypomtiddlypom · 07/06/2023 08:44

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

I’ll say 😆😆😆

Swipe left for the next trending thread