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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Partner 'ruined' my son's birthday

305 replies

soleparent5494 · 16/01/2024 11:02

This weekend was my son's 5th birthday, he had a party at our house on Saturday and then we had small plans with family & friends on Sunday.

My partner (not my son's dad) in my opinion totally f!cked the weekend up with his behaviour, and I feel totally betrayed that my son's birthday wasn't prioritised. Typically this type of behaviour hasn't happened in the past, we generally work well together and he's never been nasty or mean to me, and I think that's what has made this worse in my head. We have had issues of him being inconsiderate before (e.g. just making plans without thinking how it impacts the family). He is adamant that we are a "family" and treat each other equally, however I don't feel this is always true.

The kids party on Saturday was fine, however my partner's children didn't really get involved and sat on their computers all day. They then broke my son's helium balloons, despite me telling them to be careful with them. My partner did not discipline them for this. (For context he LOVES balloons and it's something I always get him each birthday)

In the evening we had friends over which was fine, but my partner and his friends then decided to drink excessively (they ended up drinking a whole bottle of vodka plus beers, prosecco etc). At 11pm I set up my son's presents in the living room, fixed his balloons as best I could and made it special for his morning. My partner didn't even notice I'd done this, I text him to say I was heading to bed and my son was in our bed so one of our guests didn't have to sleep on the sofa. He agreed to sleep on the sofa instead, but didn't come and find me to speak to me personally.

His children had in this time broken a wardrobe in their bedroom and then taken themselves to bed. He ignored them for probably 4 to 6 hours in total. Even when the wardrobe broke I was the one who went upstairs to check they were ok and tell them off in the reasonable way a step-parent would.

When all of the other guests left, I then heard my partner leave the house. He went into town until gone 2am and didn't even tell me where he was or that he had gone out! When I tried to call him I was busy-toned, my messages telling him I was upset and worried about his behaviour were read and ignored - I've now seen photos of him and his friends having a whale of a time. When he got home I was told I needed to "chill out" and that "no one had died". I explained he had abandoned his children in the evening and been totally inconsiderate to me and what the weekend was about. He didn't feel he needed to apologise and was quite nasty about how upset I was.

The next day he was still drunk in the morning and went up to bed, missed my son opening presents (which were meant to be from "us"). His children didn't get up until gone 9am and neither wished my son a happy birthday. Instead they threw tantrums about having to get showered and generally acted like brats. When I asked if they'd said happy birthday to him they cried and told me I was being mean... not very "family"-like to me...

It's only now (2 days later) my partner seems to realise that he has potentially lost me and my son. I've spoken before to him about how I don't feel we are a family unit, and that we are spare parts in his world where he does what he wants. His children have no rules to live by and do whatever they please, whereas my son lives under my firm but fair rules (e.g. he will have his favourite toy/game taken away for a day/week if he is naughty, whereas my partner's child told us to "f!ck off" a few weeks ago with absolutely no consequences or punishment.)

We've had a long conversation about everything, where he explained he feels that I don't even like him, he would be better off alone and just left to work and do what he wants etc. We've agreed to try and both put a better structure into place for all of the children, however I am struggling to move on from how my son's birthday was a total shambles. I feel really hurt and angry at the total disregard for him as a 5 year old, and I'm not sure if I'll be able to move on from this. Am I being unreasonable to still feel angry about this?

OP posts:
NoTouch · 16/01/2024 13:31

You are both unhappy and appear to just have gotten into the habit of being a couple rather than actively wanting to be together or actively wanting to be significant parts of each others children's lives.

Maybe time, for the sake of the dc, especially your dc, to call it a day.

Figgygal · 16/01/2024 13:32

Grilly · 16/01/2024 12:42

Time to move on OP. Is this how you want your son’s sixth birthday to be? With an inconsiderate, drunk stepdad, and upset mum and bratty step siblings?

Absolutely this

C00k · 16/01/2024 13:33

Of course they’re not a family, it’s a dysfunctional boyfriend and girlfriend inflicting their awful relationship on the various kids.
The blokes ex/mates/offspring/ages and other silly questions are not relevant and will make the OP focus on inconsequential drivel when her focus should be her kid.

Noicant · 16/01/2024 13:34

Bin him, just anyone this pointless (can’t watch his own kids, can’t watch his behaviour for a childs party) is a waste of your time. Sounds shit tbh, I wouldn’t want to live like this. Your son deserves much more than this.

stayathomer · 16/01/2024 13:34

I feel so sorry for his children, they need parenting. Op I rarely say this but yes ltb. You and your son deserve better x

rainbowstardrops · 16/01/2024 13:35

You need to go your separate ways. I can't imagine any of you being happy in that situation.

Maxiedog123 · 16/01/2024 13:36

Why are you with this man, he sounds awful.

BarrelOfOtters · 16/01/2024 13:39

Feraldogmum · 16/01/2024 12:43

He’s a child and he’s using you as an unpaid babysitter for his kids. Good luck to him working and otherwise doing what he “wants” when he has 2 kids and no one to look after them but himself.
He and his feral little darlings are not a good influence on your child is this the example you want for him? I would cut my losses before your home life becomes damaging to your son and he starts to resent you as well as this waste of space,5 is an extremely important developmental time for children.

This really. You don't have the same values or needs...and if you weren't there who'd be looking after his kids while he got drunk and went off for a night out.

Ihadenough22 · 16/01/2024 13:41

You and him are renting a house together and you have a 5 year old son. He also has 2 children. My feeling is that this type of behaviour has been ongoing since you moved in together and the weekend of your son's 5th birthday brought it very much out in the open.

This man is not one you keep. He is acting like a 20 year old with no responsibility but in reality he is x age with 2 kids that he has look after as per custody arrangements.

Your with a man who just sees you as a minder of his feral kid's when he goes out drinking.
Along with his kids are not corrected by him and let do what they want. I know kids like his and they get worse as they get older.

You son is 5. You correct him and have boundaries for him. If you stay in this so called relationship he will copy your partners kid's. Long term staying in this so called relationship will just make things worse for both of you.
My advice is to look for another place to live and tell your partner it is over. I do the freedom program as well so you can spot men who my have problems. You and your son deserve better than this man. Long term you want your son to be a happy well adjusted adult and to have a relationship with you. For this to happen you need to spend time with him, have boundaries and be careful of the men you get involved with and have in his life.

Ihadenough22 · 16/01/2024 13:41

You and him are renting a house together and you have a 5 year old son. He also has 2 children. My feeling is that this type of behaviour has been ongoing since you moved in together and the weekend of your son's 5th birthday brought it very much out in the open.

This man is not one you keep. He is acting like a 20 year old with no responsibility but in reality he is x age with 2 kids that he has look after as per custody arrangements.

Your with a man who just sees you as a minder of his feral kid's when he goes out drinking.
Along with his kids are not corrected by him and let do what they want. I know kids like his and they get worse as they get older.

You son is 5. You correct him and have boundaries for him. If you stay in this so called relationship he will copy your partners kid's. Long term staying in this so called relationship will just make things worse for both of you.
My advice is to look for another place to live and tell your partner it is over. I do the freedom program as well so you can spot men who my have problems. You and your son deserve better than this man. Long term you want your son to be a happy well adjusted adult and to have a relationship with you. For this to happen you need to spend time with him, have boundaries and be careful of the men you get involved with and have in his life.

Bythefireside · 16/01/2024 13:42

He will ruin your son’s childhood, he’s clearly ruining his own children’s - run away as fast as you can.

ReadingSoManyThreads · 16/01/2024 13:42

You're not a team, you're just two adults who live in the same house.

To me, it doesn't sound like it works, and I think you should break up. I don't think you should have told the children your relationship was permanent, that's such a silly thing to tell children. It's ok to admit when something doesn't work, be adult, split up, and move on. It's much better than carry on with a relationship that isn't working, trying to fool yourself that it is.

MorrisZapp · 16/01/2024 13:43

Jfc. Why should an innocent wee five year old have to live like this so his mum can have a shite 'boyfriend'. Get a grip and put your child first, what is wrong with you.

YouJustDoYou · 16/01/2024 13:45

Urgh bin the loser and his bratty kids, put your poor child first. You both don't need crap like that in your lives!

Midwinter91 · 16/01/2024 13:46

OP it’s obvious from your replies you’re not considering leaving. You will regret that down the line.

Thecatmaster · 16/01/2024 13:47

So many issues here, particularly going out without telling you and drinking so much and leaving you to look after his kids. But the worst really is his pathetic childish attempt to push this back into you by accusing you of making him feel not liked! And therein lies the issue for me - his lack of accountability for his own behaviour.

Nanny0gg · 16/01/2024 13:48

Smellslikesummer · 16/01/2024 12:56

Honestly you sound a bit controlling.
Saturday was party with his friends: why do you care that the step siblings were on their computers?
Again about the step siblings: what is the issue with them getting up at 9am on a Sunday even if it is someone’s birthday?
Details such as you messaging your partner to say you were going to bed but then you note that he answered via message instead of coming in person - why didn’t you talk to him in person to begin with?
Re presents, in a nuclear family we would wait for dad to be up before opening the presents - can you also see that you didn’t act ‘as a family’ by letting DS open these without your partner?

Anyway, I think that a birthday weekend is too much, maybe next year do one party with school friends + cake / presents / activity with your family, all on the same day.

Oh god,

The most over-used, misused word on MN

Wanting consideration and respect isn't controlling!

Leyenda · 16/01/2024 13:50

This is actually a very simple issue.

He does not love you or your son.

I don’t know why he is with you… Sex? Free childcare? Housing? Money? He enjoys controlling and manipulating you because it makes him feel powerful?

But he isn’t with you for love. A man who loves a woman simply never treats her this way. Not ‘when drunk’ not ‘sometimes’. NEVER.

I hope you find the strength to leave him and eventually find a loving man for you and your son. You will be amazed how different it feels to be treated with love.

I’m so sorry.

momonpurpose · 16/01/2024 13:52

You cannot stay with this man. Put your son first. Get rid of him and his brats.

BoohooWoohoo · 16/01/2024 13:55

I think that it’s interesting that you replied to certain questions like why the celebrations were for the whole weekend and not comment on why you’re still in this relationship when he’s a crap dad. I hope that you’re not pregnant or planning kids because that would make things so much worse and you’ll be even more trapped.

Tbry24 · 16/01/2024 13:55

You need a life with just you and your son in it where both of you are treated well.

that sounds awful. Plus he is being a useless father to his own kids, you are not there to be unpaid childcare whilst he goes out drinking. It’s his job to discipline his own children and everything else parents do not you.

Hope next year you and your son have a wonderful 6th birthday without any of them in it.

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 16/01/2024 13:58

peakygold · 16/01/2024 11:12

The only thing you are BU for is making everyone celebrate your son's birthday for a whole weekend. A bit excessive, imo.

I disagree it's quite common to have one friends and one family party

Wendysfriend · 16/01/2024 13:59

Your poor son 😔😔 what a horrible environment he is being raised in. My heart breaks when I read stories like this on here and in newspapers, where nasty, mean, abusive men are living in the same home as little vulnerable children treating them badly.

RosyappleA · 16/01/2024 13:59

This exactly…

Hope next year you and your son have a wonderful 6th birthday without any of them in it.

I would leave him. I have considered leaving over far less than this. He is using you.

googoodoll22 · 16/01/2024 14:02

I think you tried to overplan and indulge your son on his birthday (nothing wrong with that btw) but you expected everyone else to care about it as much as you did.

Now I'm not saying he behaved well but this is less about a birthday and more about his general attitude and parenting imo.

The kids aren't brats because they don't care about a siblings birthday. But they are out of order for breaking things and swearing.

Going out with friends when they're over isn't the end of the world but it feels like it to you because you've heaped all this pressure and importance on your son's birthday.

The sad fact is you can't expect him to care about him as much as you do. However he needs to change his attitude and improve his parenting if you're all going to live happily together.