Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think this is just grim?

50 replies

Whatwouldyoudoaboutthiz · 06/09/2024 19:15

Been separated from ex for a few years now. Only been in his house twice. Both times the house was mucky, smelly, etc. I used the toilet on one of these times and the bathroom was even worse than the other rooms. Layer of scuzz on the sink and bath, toilet stank and was badly stained and yucky, visibly dirty laundry all over the floor, etc.

He looked visibly awkward and put on the spot about it and hasn't invited me in since. Which I'm not overly bothered about, most handovers are at mine not his so there's very rarely a reason I'd need to be in his house and I've no desire to be.

When the kids went round even if they'd only been with him a few hours they'd come home with an awful smell clinging to their hair and clothes. In the end I broached this with him and asked if it was a damp problem (I figured this angle would cause least offence). I felt I had to mention it as I didn't want them going to school from his house smelling!

After that I noticed gradually they weren't coming home stinking so much and was relieved. But I'm aware the house is still not great from the kids comments.

My problem is that my youngest won't poo at his dad's. He came home from school yesterday after being at school and then his dad's for the night then day before and was really badly backed up and had to sit on the loo for ages.

He said his dad's toilet is brown and smelly and he doesn't like to sit on it. Which sounds like what I witnessed the time I asked to use the loo. 😢🤮

The kids only sleep there one night a week, and go two other times just for a few hours. But on the sleepover day it's midweek so there's a full day of school either side of it where ds also won't poop.

Do I broach this with the ex? And how?!

We generally are polite and pleasant to each other but he was upset with me recently about another issue that came up and I know he won't take it well. 🙄😔

OP posts:
Butterfly43 · 06/09/2024 19:27

Best to remain polite if you can but he probably still won't like it. I'd focus on the impact it's having for the children and keep it factual. If you tell him DS was very constipated as he doesn't like going to the toilet there because it's not clean, he can either say okay and do something about it or he'll get defensive and be a dick about it. If it's the latter, I'd try to stay calm and tell him you're not having a go but you don't want DS to be uncomfortable and get unwell because he's struggling to use the toilet. If he carries on, you can either let it go or stop the overnights until the house is cleaner.

Neveranynamesleft · 06/09/2024 19:48

If my kids had to go there then I would probably be going round with my marigolds and a big bottle of cleaner ! Maybe he is struggling and is possibly embarrassed about it. Do you think you could offer to help with a bit of a clean up ??

Stath · 06/09/2024 20:14

Neveranynamesleft · 06/09/2024 19:48

If my kids had to go there then I would probably be going round with my marigolds and a big bottle of cleaner ! Maybe he is struggling and is possibly embarrassed about it. Do you think you could offer to help with a bit of a clean up ??

Shall she give him a sympathy shag as well whilst she’s at it?! Ffs

Tell him, if he’s old enough to have children he’s old enough to take some bloody responsibility to make sure your poor son can have a poo on a clean toilet

StormingNorman · 06/09/2024 20:19

There’s no subtle way of saying it so bowl right in.

”This is a bit embarrassing for both of us, but you need to clean the bathroom before the kids come over. Little Tommy won’t poop at your house and it’s causing him problems. The kids need to be able to sit on the loo at yours”.

FatmanandKnobbin · 06/09/2024 20:26

I've been in a very similar situation.

I just sent a message saying that it was an awkward conversation to have but the house isn't suitable for the kids to stay in due to X reason, and it's causing Y problem with the kids, and could he let me knows when he has a solution to the situation please.

Unfortunately my ex is an utter arsehole, and more stuff happened so contact has stopped for now. If your ex is reasonable and wants the best for the kids then maybe he just needs a kick up the arse to get himself sorted out.

spaceshooter · 06/09/2024 20:35

I had a very similar situation albeit not as bad as yours, the dirty bastards need to be told.

I went the 'why don't you get a cleaner' angle and subtle hints.

It got better and he eventually got a one after announcing he was getting the place deep cleaned.

Good luck.

Spondoolies · 06/09/2024 20:48

Neveranynamesleft · 06/09/2024 19:48

If my kids had to go there then I would probably be going round with my marigolds and a big bottle of cleaner ! Maybe he is struggling and is possibly embarrassed about it. Do you think you could offer to help with a bit of a clean up ??

Wtf!

Neveranynamesleft · 06/09/2024 20:48

@Stath

No need.
He could have allsorts of things going on and doesnt like to ask for help.

Stath · 06/09/2024 21:10

Neveranynamesleft · 06/09/2024 20:48

@Stath

No need.
He could have allsorts of things going on and doesnt like to ask for help.

I’m absolutely sick, in general, of is women feeling like we have to make excuses for men

A few years ago I would’ve probably made a similar suggestion to yours re help but I’m older and wiser and not such a people pleaser

I’m sure if the OP’s ex did have some sort of tragic problems that resulted in his own kids having to sit on a shitty toilet seat and go to school smelling like they’ve been in a deep fat fryer then I trust she’d have told us

thoonerismspread · 06/09/2024 21:16

That is grim. I don't have children but I do have a dog, who me and my ex got together, and sometimes ex has the dog (if I am going away or whatever).
Dog always STINKS when she comes back from there. Sometimes I have to bathe her if it is very bad, but even if not the scent on her fur lingers for a few days. It's horrible.
Regarding your son however this really does need addressing as you've discovered it can make him ill. I feel for you.

Neveranynamesleft · 06/09/2024 21:17

@Stath

Not necessarily. If she was aware of anything she could possibly have dealt with it instead of coming on here. Nobody knows what goes on behind other people's closed doors.
I'm not saying I would go clean the house from top to bottom but if my kids were going to his and I knew it wasn't nice for them then I would want to help do something about it for their sake.

TomatoSandwiches · 06/09/2024 21:22

Just say " I know you're not particularly happy with me at the moment but your son was backed up the other day because he didn't want to use your loo as its too dirty. Please get it cleaned by the time they visit again or I'll have to keep them with me for their own sake. "

KarmenPQZ · 06/09/2024 21:28

also tell your son it’s ok for him to say ‘daddy it looks yucky. can you clean it so I can use it’

it’s tough but they’re going to have to deal with this problem in a variety of guises over the next however many years.

Maray1967 · 06/09/2024 21:29

I’d be quite direct about it. And I’d be willing to drop them off, later if necessary, but only let them stay if I’ve checked and it’s clean.

If it’s not clean, I’d photograph it in case you have to defend your stance.

KreedKafer · 06/09/2024 21:31

Neveranynamesleft · 06/09/2024 19:48

If my kids had to go there then I would probably be going round with my marigolds and a big bottle of cleaner ! Maybe he is struggling and is possibly embarrassed about it. Do you think you could offer to help with a bit of a clean up ??

Fucking hell. What else do you want her to do? Bring him some meals for the freezer and give him a blowjob?

OP, please don’t offer to clean the shit from the toilet of a grown man to whom you are no longer married, just in case he might be ‘struggling’ to [checks notes] understand how a bog brush works.

spaceshooter · 06/09/2024 21:44

TomatoSandwiches · 06/09/2024 21:22

Just say " I know you're not particularly happy with me at the moment but your son was backed up the other day because he didn't want to use your loo as its too dirty. Please get it cleaned by the time they visit again or I'll have to keep them with me for their own sake. "

This is perfect.

SaffronsMadAboutMe · 06/09/2024 21:47

If he was a Mumsnetter and female the thread would be full of questions about depression/anxiety/neurodiversity etc.

Do any of these apply?

Greengagesnfennel · 06/09/2024 21:59

StormingNorman · 06/09/2024 20:19

There’s no subtle way of saying it so bowl right in.

”This is a bit embarrassing for both of us, but you need to clean the bathroom before the kids come over. Little Tommy won’t poop at your house and it’s causing him problems. The kids need to be able to sit on the loo at yours”.

I think this is a good suggestion.

you have to give him a chance to correct it and there is no way of communicating it which doesn’t make him look like a dirty slob. Because he is.

redalex261 · 06/09/2024 22:06

Another vote for @StormingNorman ’s approach. He’s going to be offended regardless so I wouldn't mess about. Factual, brief, health and well being (of kids) orientated.

If no change then overnights stop. There’s no excuse for him being this manky or you pussyfooting about to save his feelings when he has no concern for his children’s feelings.

Neveranynamesleft · 06/09/2024 22:13

@KreedKafer

Nowhere have I said shit would be cleaned. Why bring sex into this ? Total overreaction. I would just want my kids to be going to a clean house and if offering to help someone is a crime then I'm guilty.

outdamnedspots · 06/09/2024 22:18

Neveranynamesleft · 06/09/2024 19:48

If my kids had to go there then I would probably be going round with my marigolds and a big bottle of cleaner ! Maybe he is struggling and is possibly embarrassed about it. Do you think you could offer to help with a bit of a clean up ??

Why the fuck should she???

Delphiniumandlupins · 06/09/2024 22:33

Just say DS doesn't like using the toilets at school and has been badly constipated so could he make sure his loo is really clean before the kids come over. He may not clean the whole room (unfortunately) but a squirt of bleach or toilet gel left for half an hour might make enough difference.

FinneganFois · 06/09/2024 23:12

@ Stath

I hear you ! You become older and wiser, and realise some people abuse who they percieve to be a soft touch. The OP said in her original post that her ex looked visibly awkward, I have this picture of a man child thinking
"well can you do it for me?" and feeling sorry for himself.
Wouldn't it be fun to be a teenager again, but with the mind of a cynical older person, and a feminist too !
"Can you lend me some money, Love?"
Wise woman "Will I fiddlesticks!"

SensorySensai · 06/09/2024 23:56

If your child won't poo at school either, sounds like he maybe has some toilet issues in general perhaps? A bit of anxiety? That's probably the angle to take with ex - like 'can we work together to help child with this - at home I'm making sure the loo is spotless, chucking bleach down it or whatever'.

Whatwouldyoudoaboutthiz · 08/09/2024 21:29

SensorySensai · 06/09/2024 23:56

If your child won't poo at school either, sounds like he maybe has some toilet issues in general perhaps? A bit of anxiety? That's probably the angle to take with ex - like 'can we work together to help child with this - at home I'm making sure the loo is spotless, chucking bleach down it or whatever'.

I suspect youngest is asd like me and eldest and yes he does have some anxiety and sensory issues.

Sadly this is another area I'm trying to get ex to see clearly too. He's only very recently acknowledged this rather than denial or avoidance of the topic. That's a whole other thread.

I think regardless of how I frame it he will take it as a criticism of his housekeeping skills, which to be fair it is! 🤷

OP posts: