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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

ExH, his new girlfriend and the family beach house

305 replies

Endoftheroad12345 · 31/10/2024 00:52

ExH and I split in late 2022. I left him
after years of abuse, including physical abuse. Haven’t regretted it for a second. I have a new partner who I am very very happy with, exH has a new girlfriend, I have as little to do with exH as possible. He has our two children every other weekend. He pays bare minimum child support, won’t buy clothes for them to keep at his house, is generally a shit dad and human being. My 9 year old son came home with a bruise on his arm a couple of weeks ago from Dad pinching him. Not the first time my son has been hurt by his father. This has been logged with the police.

I bought exH out of the family home last year. It’s nearly killed me with massive mortgage + peak interest rates, but I am lucky enough to have a great job and have been able to manage. We also co-own a beach house. This is about to be listed for sale - for various logistical reasons it was financially advantageous to delay the sale. (Had we sold a year ago we would have paid circa $150K in extra tax and the market was v v depressed).

When I bought the family home the (substantial) beach house mortgage was paid off from my mortgage to save us from usurious interest rates. Both of us have good jobs - exH earns slightly more than me. He rents a property for about half what I pay in mortgage. ExH is waiting for the beach house to be sold before he buys a house. I gave exH the option of buying me out of my interest in the beach house so he was the sole owner. He refused - he doesn’t want to be “left with it”.

I have never taken my boyfriend to the beach house - in fact have gone to considerable expense booking airbnbs when we have gone away together. My view that when we split was that the beach house was a family home, it was special to our kids and what was once our family and taking new partners there would be disrespectful of that.

Despite this, exH nagged to take his girlfriend there. I said I wasn’t comfortable but I am used to him disregarding my wishes on everything so I said not with the kids there and not sleeping in my bed.

A month later (at Easter) he took the kids away as his sister was visiting from the UK for a family long weekend. Unbeknownst to me (or the kids), the girlfriend was invited. When he was told, my eldest son (9) cried and asked t go home (he told me later). ExH then refused to allow the kids to call me for 48 hours to make sure I didn’t find out.

Since then, exH takes his girlfriend regularly and I can tell they have been sleeping in my bedroom. I have tried to be grey rock about it all tbh as he’s such a lying cunt I can’t be bothered engaging with him.

Over the last month, exH has got very busy preparing the house for sale and announced he was going to plaster and paint the interior walls. This is a man who, in the 21 years we were together, couldn’t paint a doorknob. It transpired that New Gf is quite a dab hand at renovations and plastered and painted 3 bedrooms over the course of a week. For free.

I said to exH that was weird and he could afford to pay someone and I hoped that at least he was paying her… his first reaction was to say “she wants to help!” and the second was to ask me to chip in for half of it. That would be a no.

This weekend just been was a long weekend here and I took the kids to the bach. New Gf has been very busy, reorganising the linen cupboard (I can tell as the towels are folded into thirds, something exH never mastered in 20 years). My wardrobe… with all of my clothes hanging in it … has been tidied up and reorganised.

The house is far from Manderly but at this point the Rebecca vibes are off the chart. My tampons are literally in the bathroom drawer.

My strong suspicion is that exH has told New Gf it’s his house (“I let her have the family home for the kids… I took the beach house in the separation … but I still let her take the kids there on holiday because I’m Such a Great Dad”).

Whether she knows or not, AIBU to find it massively creepy and intrusive and go full Mrs Danvers on both of them?

OP posts:
KrisAkabusi · 31/10/2024 08:46

I have decided I’ve taken the high road long enough and DP will be coming for summer hols!!!!

The high road only existed in your head. He's been doing what he wants and hasn't even noticed you sitting back, but feeling morally superior. Do what you want!

Nodlikeyouwerelistening · 31/10/2024 08:49

Well not delaying the sale is a positive thing. People sometimes think they are willing to drop the house price until they actually crunch the numbers and realise it’s not feasible.
Hopefully he has the same realisation when an offer comes in and he looks at his onward purchase.

Agreed. They are rarely very smart in their desire to impress a woman. Got to feel sorry for her really, but hopefully she doesn’t realise until after the house is sold.

RedHelenB · 31/10/2024 08:54

You're focusing on the wrong things. The only thing I've taken from your post is that your exh hurts your dc so badly that they're coming home marked And you dint know any of the right sort of lawyers to stop this happening despite being in law yourself?

Ohnobackagain · 31/10/2024 09:06

@Endoftheroad12345 you said she is nice to your kids, can you not just have a chat with her ‘decor looks lovely, it will be a shame when WE finally sell although good to have things finalised. Thanks for your help with the decorating, but please would you leave my stuff alone? It’s a bit weird knowing someone’s moved it all - maybe Ex didn’t pass on the info but I did ask for people to stay out of my room(s), hope you understand where I’m coming from’

MiddleClassProblem · 31/10/2024 09:17

Ohnobackagain · 31/10/2024 09:06

@Endoftheroad12345 you said she is nice to your kids, can you not just have a chat with her ‘decor looks lovely, it will be a shame when WE finally sell although good to have things finalised. Thanks for your help with the decorating, but please would you leave my stuff alone? It’s a bit weird knowing someone’s moved it all - maybe Ex didn’t pass on the info but I did ask for people to stay out of my room(s), hope you understand where I’m coming from’

I think that they still share the bedroom? Presumably not enough rooms for OP and ex to have their own rooms?

Also I think he could just lie and say that his ex is a crazy lady who doesn’t own the house. But will hopefully be caught out when he can’t sell without his ex. I’m guessing he can lie out of that one too and pretend he felt the offer wasn’t right etc. There’s no reason she would be particularly across the paperwork…

letmego24 · 31/10/2024 09:19

Can you inform SS instead ? ( apologies not read everything)

Endoftheroad12345 · 31/10/2024 09:32

MiddleClassProblem · 31/10/2024 09:17

I think that they still share the bedroom? Presumably not enough rooms for OP and ex to have their own rooms?

Also I think he could just lie and say that his ex is a crazy lady who doesn’t own the house. But will hopefully be caught out when he can’t sell without his ex. I’m guessing he can lie out of that one too and pretend he felt the offer wasn’t right etc. There’s no reason she would be particularly across the paperwork…

We don’t share the bedroom. It’s a 4 bedroom house and there is a double bedroom downstairs which should be “his” (and hers I guess) but I can tell from things being moved around that they’ve been staying in my upstairs room 🤢

OP posts:
Endoftheroad12345 · 31/10/2024 09:34

RedHelenB · 31/10/2024 08:54

You're focusing on the wrong things. The only thing I've taken from your post is that your exh hurts your dc so badly that they're coming home marked And you dint know any of the right sort of lawyers to stop this happening despite being in law yourself?

What would you do differently in this situation? I’m all ears.

OP posts:
Ohnobackagain · 31/10/2024 09:34

@Endoftheroad12345 think you either have to have a chat with her, or keep your powder dry until this is all done and dusted … especially if you’re staying next. Although I think I’d have to say something!

TheCultureHusks · 31/10/2024 09:39

Can completely understand your feelings on it all. He’s a piece of shit. But focus on the endgame. So the house will get sold and YOU got some free decorating. You’ll step in there when you need to - by saying no to a price drop. He tries to bully, that’s the point where you say let’s not disagree, I don’t have to want to make it clear publically that this property is equally mine to make the decisions on. Then he’ll know that you know exactly what he’s up to but you’ve let him have a loose rein for now. Threaten to move in for a month or two if he tries to throw his weight around…

The endgame is your children. How old is the other one? There will come a point when they can refuse to go see him. All of this - the violence, the refusing to let them call you - all of it is piling the weight onto the scales until one day they tip. I would be putting my energies into reinforcing to your children that at some point they will be old enough to state that they simply want to see him for an afternoon visit maybe, that they don’t want to stay over, that they can get to the point that they can let him know that if he removes phones or physically touches them again it will be the last time they visit. Build them up mentally to let them know that they can and will get to this point. Take advice on what age they have to be to get there. Speak to schools. Record everything. Play the long game.

And then one day when he’s lost his children you will be able to say, yes, remember the time you took them to the beach house with X, and refused to let them speak to me? I guess you were more focused then on being pleased that you were apparently getting one over on me by having that poor woman in your bed in my house. Pity you didn’t notice that you were losing your children right there and then. But then, being human was never your strong point. She’s married now isn’t she? Not to you. Funny how things work out in the end…

Endoftheroad12345 · 31/10/2024 09:39

letmego24 · 31/10/2024 09:19

Can you inform SS instead ? ( apologies not read everything)

SS (or OT as they are called here) have been informed via the police but because he doesn’t live with the children, has limited access and the only recent physical injury is minor it is not something they will take further.

It is logged with police and on the record if I ever need it in the event of a custody dispute. Equally the children’s GP has been informed and records taken, the children’s therapist has a record of it.

I don’t think anyone who doesn’t have experience navigating this can appreciate how few fucks the system gives re DV and how most offenders escape with absolutely zero consequences.

OP posts:
Caroparo52 · 31/10/2024 09:39

Ignore the small stuff about towels and tampons. Focus on the main problem ffs which is the physical abuse of dc. I would be stopping them visit him

Autumnalsun · 31/10/2024 09:39

You’ve only been separated 2 years and you’ve both found new relationships and introduced your kids, which I think is insane.

I do understand feeling weird about the new women being in your second home but she’s not doing anything bad, in fact tidying up and renovating is beneficial for everyone.

This is not a hill I would die on.

You have much bigger problems, like your ex potentially physically hurting his kids and he has a history of abuse.

Enjoy the house whilst you’ve still got it and make plans to buy a new one with your share, to make new memories.

In the meantime, focus less on the (what seems like a decent) woman and more on the abusive bully.

ketchuptom · 31/10/2024 09:42

given he co owns
i’m surprised he felt the need to ask you

ketchuptom · 31/10/2024 09:42

why haven’t you gone through CMS?

ketchuptom · 31/10/2024 09:44

why the heck were you expressing concern for the girlfriend and whether he was going to pay her for painting?

Seriously Op, unnecessary contact with him surely

ketchuptom · 31/10/2024 09:46

He owns half and yet he was begging you to be allowed to go and take his girlfriend

in his shoes, i’d have just gone given i own half of it

i wonder why he felt it was so important to get the Op’s permission

ketchuptom · 31/10/2024 09:46

Autumnalsun · 31/10/2024 09:39

You’ve only been separated 2 years and you’ve both found new relationships and introduced your kids, which I think is insane.

I do understand feeling weird about the new women being in your second home but she’s not doing anything bad, in fact tidying up and renovating is beneficial for everyone.

This is not a hill I would die on.

You have much bigger problems, like your ex potentially physically hurting his kids and he has a history of abuse.

Enjoy the house whilst you’ve still got it and make plans to buy a new one with your share, to make new memories.

In the meantime, focus less on the (what seems like a decent) woman and more on the abusive bully.

agree
the children sound like they are utterly destabilised by everything

Endoftheroad12345 · 31/10/2024 09:51

@Autumnalsun I met my now DP in 1998 when I was 17. I met him again by pure coincidence after having not seen him for 24 years and that chance encounter changed my life. I introduced him to my kids after a year and only then after I knew we were committed to each other and after I consulted their therapist on the best approach for doing so.

I am a fucking amazing mother and my kids are my total priority in life. Very few people could do what I have done in leaving a psychotically abusive man, keeping my kids in their family home, safe and settled and well cared for, with zero assistance from anyone. I am far from insane and everything I do is about keeping my kids emotionally and physically safe.

OP posts:
ketchuptom · 31/10/2024 09:55

why did your ex feel like he needed your permission to stay in a home that he owns half of?

ketchuptom · 31/10/2024 09:56

is this the guy that lives 24 hours away?

ketchuptom · 31/10/2024 09:56

Endoftheroad12345 · 31/10/2024 09:34

What would you do differently in this situation? I’m all ears.

where to start

Endoftheroad12345 · 31/10/2024 09:57

KrisAkabusi · 31/10/2024 08:46

I have decided I’ve taken the high road long enough and DP will be coming for summer hols!!!!

The high road only existed in your head. He's been doing what he wants and hasn't even noticed you sitting back, but feeling morally superior. Do what you want!

I don’t think so. I don’t think it would have been right to take a new partner to my children’s beloved family beach house at a time when they were dealing with the break up of their parents’ marriage. I don’t care if he noticed or not. How I choose to behave is not governed by his shitty decisions.

I feel more comfortable taking my partner now as the kids are more used to the split, they have time to get to know DP and the house is now being sold anyway. I don’t think it would have been appropriate earlier.

OP posts:
SlugLettuce · 31/10/2024 09:59

I don’t think I’d mind. Take anything home you don’t want her to see and take your boyfriend next time. You might as well make use of the property while you still have it!

ketchuptom · 31/10/2024 09:59

do you ask your ex every time you go with your boyfriend?