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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Does anyone spend family days with their ex?

53 replies

Ducksgalore · 29/05/2024 14:18

My partner has a daughter from a previous relationship, and whilst I think the co-parenting and the civility in front of her is great, am I being unreasonable in not being comfortable or happy about "family days" that they spend together?

For background context, from long before the start of our relationship, he never spent these "family days" with his ex. At the Easter weekend, his ex asked to spend the day together as nursery was closed. It was also in the rota that my partners daughter was spending that weekend with us, and both of us were off work, and the plans were for us to do things together that weekend, albeit the activities were at that point undecided.

Without hesitation or thought, my partner said yes to his ex. He then sat on it until before bed to tell me about it. He also said that if I didn't want him to, he would make something up and not do it. I told him I was uncomfortable with it and would prefer that he didn't do it, but the more I expressed this the more he dug his heels in. He went, spent the day and had zero communication with me for the entire day.

I understand the need to spend certain points together, like the morning of her first day of school, but I don't feel there's a need to be spending these 10hr days together that he hadn't done since long before our relationship started. It's something that keeps coming up and is driving a wedge between us.

OP posts:
Ducksgalore · 29/05/2024 19:53

Illpickthatup · 29/05/2024 18:46

I never said the kids should be prioritising their own needs. I said the kids needs should be prioritised and met, by the adults caring for them. That doesn't mean they should always come first. It is possible for parents to prioritise both their kids and their partner. There is a difference between needs and wants. Kids don't need to have days out with both bio parents together at the detriment of a step-parent. They don't need to go to their favourite place every weekend, have their favourite meal every dinner time, have their cartoon on the livingroom TV every day. I can assure you that my kids are very happy and neither me nor their dad have ever felt that we were second best to them.

The thing is, OPs OH isn't just putting his DDs needs first, he's putting his ex's wants first and palming it off as prioritising his child.

Thank you for understanding this and putting it so eloquently. And for your additional post.

It's hard to give the love and be the best step-parent you can be when you are feeling unloved or disrespected or unimportant or unappreciated.

OP posts:
Illpickthatup · 29/05/2024 20:43

Ducksgalore · 29/05/2024 17:58

I'm actually so glad you said this Illpickthatup. I actually agree that the partnership needs to be a priority and that it's the foundation of a family, and with a lot of what else you've said.

DD does think that the world revolves around her because it was just the 2 of them for so long and he's been in full on disney dad mode.

Can I ask, how do you cope having stepkids 50% and 100% of the time?
We have DD 80% of the time and I'm finding it such a struggle because I feel as though I'm expected to be "on" and in a great mood all of the time, which I feel isn't realistic (I get really bad PMS symptoms with low mood and am on the autism spectrum so do need downtime). She has a lot of energy and P hypes her up to no end, and it's all go go go from 7am - 8pm, so when I'm not all cheery and full of energy it creates a problem.

My DSS who is with us 100% is 17 so pretty much looks after himself. He works full time and spends the rest of the time in his room or out with friends.

DSD6 is at school most of the week. My DH and I work together to make sure we both have time to do our hobbies, see friends etc. And of course we get 50% of the time child free.

Ifyoucouldreadmymindlove · 29/05/2024 20:44

In light of all your posts, I think I’d leave the relationship.

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