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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

FFS how does exH keep getting girlfriends?!

203 replies

RealHousewivesOfTaunton · 10/08/2024 17:49

The man has more red flags than a Chinese flag-waving competition.
🚩 Four children by three different women, two of whom he has no relationship with.
🚩 Two acrimonious divorces.
🚩 Two non-molestation orders to stop him harassing two of the mothers.
🚩 Convictions for drug-driving and driving without insurance.
🚩 A history of alcohol problems.
🚩 Can't seem to hold down a job and is financially incontinent.
🚩 Moves in with his sisters when he's between girlfriends because he doesn't believe "the man of the house" should have to cook, clean or do the laundry, even when he's the only one in it.

And yet, he's just moved in with yet another woman with her own children and a professional job. Why?! What could possibly be attractive about him as a LT relationship prospect? I can't imagine for a second that he's sharpened up his skills in the bedroom. The mind boggles.

FWIW I was wife #1, so didn't have any of the above history as a guide when I made the extremely poor decision to marry him.

OP posts:
Cityandmakeup · 12/08/2024 19:10

some women need a man, they will just go along with it

llizzie · 12/08/2024 23:39

Ukrainebaby23 · 12/08/2024 09:27

Yes and that's awful on both counts. Focus on keeping the DC grounded so they understand why Daddy is an AH and why the opinions of CF GFs are meaningless, but of course you need to do this without dissing Daddy or the DC will turn against you, but maybe along the lines of Daddy can't look after himself because he struggles with money ?.

As for the CF GFs if you are unlucky enough to meet them, smile politely but if they start talking, walk up to them and whisper quietly in their ear, you've mixed me up with someone who gives a fuck, p.o.

I would say 'daddy can't look after himself period' and leave it at that.

DeeCeeCherry · 13/08/2024 03:17

He must be good-looking and charming/charismatic. That's all it takes, women line up for men with that going for them. Even though there's often denial of that, its a common scenario. There's no way it's not that because what on earth other reason could there be anyway? Unless of course he's rich

JohnTheRevelator · 13/08/2024 07:45

LifeExperience · 10/08/2024 17:56

Some women will put up with absolutely anything just to say they have a man.

Exactly what I thought.

TellMeWhoTheVillainsAre · 13/08/2024 07:51

Kebarbra · 10/08/2024 17:55

I doubt he's forthcoming with his history. Going by the list of red flags he's always been an awful person I expect, so what attracted you to him?

This exactly.
He didn't just become that person after leaving you. He was always that person. You just didn't see it at first either. You had children with him, so presumably spent a lot longer in a relationship with him than some of these girlfriends.

Stop judging the women. They too will get burned by him.

Why or how is his current gf contacting you? Block her means of contact and move on ignoring her. A woman who feel the need to attack her current bf's ex is not someone with good judgment. So maybe that why this one is with him.

You are far too invested. Block and ignore. Deal with him only with regards your children and ignore provocation from elsewhere.

JohnTheRevelator · 13/08/2024 07:55

Daleksatemyshed · 10/08/2024 18:09

I don't like to diss my own sex but women can be a bit daft sometimes. A man has a string of ex's and a string of DC but as long as he tells a woman she's different, that's she's the one, too many women will believe it because they want to. We should have an app, something like trip advisor, where we could review men like your ex, maybe if enough women rated him 1 star, not worth the effort some women would listen.

OMG that is such a brilliant idea!

TellMeWhoTheVillainsAre · 13/08/2024 07:56

RealHousewivesOfTaunton · 10/08/2024 17:58

She knows about the children, exes, alcohol and drug use because we've discussed them. She definitely knows about the convictions because she has to chauffeur him everywhere. I'm sure I am the "crazy ex" but even so, one is unlucky, two is coincidence, three is...

I was very young when we got married and he was very charming.

Why on earth are you discussing your children, exes, alcohol and drug use with his current gf?

It's none of your business. Let her figure it out for herself. Or are you going to chase him around every relationship warning the next gf? If you keep your nose out, likelihood is they will keep their nose out and stop telling you how bad a mother you are.

icelolly12 · 13/08/2024 09:01

There's another thread where the op is raising valid concerns about her partner who is a lazy so and so. When asked what he contributes to the relationship she said running her a bath when she's had a hard day after work.

So many of us have been duped into thinking 'romantic' gestures such as buying flowers and chucking some petals in a bath equates to love. No it doesn't. Turning a tap on and buying some flowers with your petrol order is the easiest thing to do in the world. It takes no imagination or effort but women will swoon and forgive all manner of behaviour so they can parade their bunch of roses on facebook and tell themselves they are special.

Men like him are laughing at us. They know the script that many women will fall for every time.

icelolly12 · 13/08/2024 09:05

The script is something like:

Tell her she's beautiful and amazing.

Do 'romantic' things that are actually low effort such as buying roses or lighting candles and run a bath, but elevate me to a God of romance in her eyes.

Give her lots of physical affection and eye gazing

Put on the puppy dog eyes and tell her I'm a victim whenever asked about past relationships or issues. It was never my fault only you can understand. I am so nice they walked all over me 😓

Tell her I want to spend all my time with her because she's so incredible and we have a special connection so that I can move in with her

As soon as the bad behaviour comes out, the script re emerges

beanii · 15/08/2024 22:29

You only have to think back to Jeremy Kyle to see how desperate some women are 🤷🏻‍♀️🤣

ItsMeMarioo · 16/08/2024 00:49

RealHousewivesOfTaunton · 10/08/2024 19:00

It wouldn't show up on a Claire's Law search. I told the police that I wasn't going to pursue it as conviction rates are so appalling and I need to conserve my mental health for parenting my children. It's on the NMO paperwork though.

Edited

Claire’s law will absolutely show up anything the police are aware of and feel is relevant. I did one on an ex once and I sat down at the police station to THREE full sheets of paper. He had zero convictions and none of it even made it to preliminary hearing as it was all no further action. They still told me what he had been accused of. They even told me about the time both him and his ex were arrested for drunken disorderly for being drunk and arguing in the street!

shuggles · 16/08/2024 00:54

beanii · 15/08/2024 22:29

You only have to think back to Jeremy Kyle to see how desperate some women are 🤷🏻‍♀️🤣

Sorry, but I don't think it's desperation.

Some of the men I see on Jeremy Kyle are drug users, thugs, unemployed, uneducated, and rude.

Yet, if you go onto any dating app or dating website, there are huge numbers of completely normal and sensible men. Yet, these men have difficulty finding relationships.

So why is the rude unemployed thug more appealing than the man on the dating app who commits the unforgiveable sin of... posing with a fish?

That's not desperation. There is clearly something that is more appealing about those men than Joe average.

Johnthesensible · 16/08/2024 06:11

It's just about looks. For all the 'personality is more important' talk, it us more of a bonus. The reality is someone average and a great personality will always be pushed aside for someone 'hot'. The average person will be dumped at the first sign of something not liked about them, the hot persons misdemeanours will be pushed under the carpet and accepted. Same for both sexes and seen it many times over the years.

WillLiveLife · 16/08/2024 06:20

He sounds dreadful but I wonder why you’re so bothered and are still giving it enough headspace to write a post about him and his new partner?

Hateam · 16/08/2024 07:00

Caveat Emptor

Theunamedcat · 16/08/2024 07:24

WillLiveLife · 16/08/2024 06:20

He sounds dreadful but I wonder why you’re so bothered and are still giving it enough headspace to write a post about him and his new partner?

Bit unfair this is an ongoing situation clearly

Thinkpink87 · 16/08/2024 08:16

There is Clare' Law that you can use to access past history about domestic abuse. You request the information about a new partner and the police can disclose the information if there is any.

Mrsmaggie27 · 16/08/2024 08:19

I couldv written this myself about my sons dad. Seems all narcissist a-holes have the same redeeming qualities. Every woman my ex goes with is professional, sensible, has there own homes etc. he has nothing, is an alcoholic, doesn’t work ever, doesn’t pay for his kids, abused his current girlfriend and she still sticks by him. Yuk! Disgusting! Lucky escape for us I would say. All of his relationships are time limited he will never be happy

WillLiveLife · 16/08/2024 08:23

Theunamedcat · 16/08/2024 07:24

Bit unfair this is an ongoing situation clearly

I don’t see what’s unfair at all?
I find it bizarre when someone has an ex that they are “so over” and yet still continue to post about even years later. It’s surely something you put down to a lucky escape and move on? That’s what I did??

User135644 · 16/08/2024 08:52

shuggles · 16/08/2024 00:54

Sorry, but I don't think it's desperation.

Some of the men I see on Jeremy Kyle are drug users, thugs, unemployed, uneducated, and rude.

Yet, if you go onto any dating app or dating website, there are huge numbers of completely normal and sensible men. Yet, these men have difficulty finding relationships.

So why is the rude unemployed thug more appealing than the man on the dating app who commits the unforgiveable sin of... posing with a fish?

That's not desperation. There is clearly something that is more appealing about those men than Joe average.

(Many) Women love a bastard. These men never go short.

Theunamedcat · 16/08/2024 09:13

WillLiveLife · 16/08/2024 08:23

I don’t see what’s unfair at all?
I find it bizarre when someone has an ex that they are “so over” and yet still continue to post about even years later. It’s surely something you put down to a lucky escape and move on? That’s what I did??

There are kids involved it's an ongoing issue they want to talk about? You can be over the man and still be pissed off you have to deal with the behaviour

beanii · 16/08/2024 09:57

shuggles · 16/08/2024 00:54

Sorry, but I don't think it's desperation.

Some of the men I see on Jeremy Kyle are drug users, thugs, unemployed, uneducated, and rude.

Yet, if you go onto any dating app or dating website, there are huge numbers of completely normal and sensible men. Yet, these men have difficulty finding relationships.

So why is the rude unemployed thug more appealing than the man on the dating app who commits the unforgiveable sin of... posing with a fish?

That's not desperation. There is clearly something that is more appealing about those men than Joe average.

It was supposed to be a light hearted comment 🤦🏻‍♀️🤣

Hateam · 16/08/2024 12:27

User135644 · 16/08/2024 08:52

(Many) Women love a bastard. These men never go short.

Many of these women go from bastard to bastard and end up single in their 40s complaining that there are no good men around.

There were plenty. You spent 20 years walking straight past them. They are all settled down now and busy being good husbands and fathers.

Timefornewcareer · 16/08/2024 18:49

Pickled21 · 11/08/2024 19:24

You keep making excuses for yourself but presumably you were together for a while before you married or at least before you had children. You also had more than one child with him. So at best you were naiive and at worst, stupid. You got out of it though so should be proud of yourself for that. For your children you can talk about relationships, instill confidence and work on their self esteem in the hope they don't make the same mistakes you did. You also can't police his time with them but by providing the loving home that you are they will be able to talk to you.

Some women think they can be the one to 'save' the loser. They can't and shouldn't but there you go. Not everyone has healthy rolemodels when it comes to relationships. She has low to no standards.

Your post is incredibly nasty, and ironically it’s people like you who perpetuate the myth that women are to answer for all the problems in a relationship. Often abusive men are very charming and it’s common for the mask not to slip until after they’ve had kids.

as his first victim, she had no previous to go on.

I don’t thinks the OP needs a verbal kicking from you. We all make mistakes. Including you.

and as the OP has pointed out, she was very young and had no history to go on.

@RealHousewivesOfTaunton ive noticed a pattern with my cocklodging ex. He went through a lot of girlfriends before finding one 18 years younger than him.

he is now very well practised in hiding his red flags. She thinks I’m an evil bitch of course. But over the years he has become much more subtle in his lines of attack towards me.

i think he’s probably just a better liar now

Ablar · 18/08/2024 16:25

Is your ex hubby and my son's dad the same man? Because that is him to a Tee!! Only exception is he can't stay committed long enough to marry anyone!