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.

Do I tell the ex's wife what he's really like?

209 replies

Unknown1111 · 04/01/2025 11:00

So long story short. I have two DD 12 and 10 with ex - we have seperated over 6 years officially but we were done at least 3 years before that largely due to ex infidelity and screwing me over money/business.

Fast forward to today we have both remarried and had more children.
ex is always difficult and has always made issues of everything - hiding actual income ( we started a business together which he is director of and it makes millions) so CM is low in comparison.
childcare arrangements are always based on his needs and will canx last min if something more important comes up. But the main crux is if he can't do something ie collect DD because one has a sniffle for example he will ALWAYS call me (I shouldn't answer I know) and start a conversation to attack me and goade me about how shit of a mum I and that I dnt care about DD and I would send them illness or not. I know this sounds like a non issue but he triggers me because he was like this in our marriage - everything was my fault when it went wrong.
Anything positive was down to him.
it's now showing with our DDs. And it triggers me.

His mrs is really good to my girls but I know he puts me on loud speaker shows my messages to her when we argue (no doubt making me to be a crazy bitch which is why he left me according to her).
im so sick of just accepting what he says to me for the sake of the girls and he still ends up being father of the year that can't do wrong in DDs eyes as I hide the shit he gives me. Literally.

Im so tempted to get my back and just list chronologically with evidence the facts of our marriage and divorce and after to his Mrs so she understands to some extent what a prick he is to me. I know I shouldn't and will make no difference and I will look like the crazy bitch but I just want to cause shit in his life like he does to me just by triggering me as he used to when I was married to him. I'm petty I know but after almost 10 years of covering his shitty behaviours I'm done because nothing changes and he seemingly has just got away with his shitness .

OP posts:
godmum56 · 04/01/2025 13:02

Unknown1111 · 04/01/2025 11:28

I have moved on. I dnt even give him a seconds thought until he contacts me for the girls and just his way of talking and deflecting really triggers something deep in me and the anger comes to the surface.
I won't message her. I agree it's so cringey even thinking it. I just hate how he gets away without any accountability -
my daughter wants a new jacket cost £100. He agreed he would pay half. Now he is claiming poverty. Even though he is living in luxury but anything for our children he can't afford . I know this is tale as old as time but how can he get away with it? If my husband did this I would call him up
on it.

No, if you are still triggered by what he says and dies, you haven't moved on.

muddyford · 04/01/2025 13:02

Why are you talking to him? Advice on here, usually, for such obnoxious ex-partners, is to restrict contact to texts and emails.

PorridgeEater · 04/01/2025 13:03

"he said to me in our marriage that by the time he's done messing with my head I'd be too f*ed up to want to be with anyone else and trust them."

But you are with someone else now aren't you? It's not worth trying to get back at your ex - he'll just enjoy the fact that you're still bothering about him.
Grey Rock, as has been said. Keep calm, be honest and in the end your daughters will be able to make their own judgements.

Hyperbowl · 04/01/2025 13:04

Startrekkeruniverse · 04/01/2025 12:34

I agree. I don’t think it’s just the dad being difficult here, I think the mum is addicted to the drama. Move on OP.

So dad’s abusive and he’s “just being difficult”and the mum tells it how it is rightly or wrongly and she’s addicted to drama even though he calls her up and screams abuse at her. Jesus Christ, get a grip and stop excusing and sympathising with abusers. Get some standards. 🤢 🤮

duckduckgooseduckagain · 04/01/2025 13:06

My friend's new boyfriend was amazing (her view) and his ex wife was a psycho bitch. Guess what? My friend now realises her (now ex) boyfriend was the psycho idiot and the ex wife was probably the sane one all along. At the time she wasn't ready to see the truth so I don't think you should bother. The wife will probably find out the truth for herself in due time.

WhiteHairedMyrtle · 04/01/2025 13:06

Unknown1111 · 04/01/2025 12:45

Thankyou everyone for your responses. I think I just needed to vent. Yes it's a cycle I haven't completely broken out of. I feel so rubbish.

This is completely understandable. He's put you through hell and deprived you of millions. I am so sorry he has done that to you. Well done on getting away from him and having a brilliant relationship with your husband.

I would recommend you seek therapy for yourself to help you work through these issues and find a way to deal with him.

I promise you his wife knows what he's like so you don't need to tell her. It won't help you at all.

It may be worth reducing your DC's expectations of their dad, so if he does show up it's a plus rather than a disappointment if he doesn't show up. You can respond to his behaviour with generic texts, like "good to know", and "keep me posted". He will try to provoke you and by not reacting you will be calmer and he will get more irate. That can be satisfying in itself.

You can do this.

Notimeforaname · 04/01/2025 13:06

he is contesting even though he gave them the illness??

It's very obvious that he will do anything to get at you.

So, to move forward, you will tell him to pass all his plans along to the girls.
If he is being confusing and telling you opposite things, you tell the girls you don't know what's happening and to listen to their dad. Job done.

And as many have said here, if he is texting you (whatever it is) you just say "Grand, cool. Fine etc" and direct him to his children.

LetThereBeLove · 04/01/2025 13:06

Please have counselling ASAP so that you will have the tools not to be triggered by your ex.

NeedToChangeName · 04/01/2025 13:06

CuddlyDodoToy · 04/01/2025 11:38

She is married to him and has her own experience of living with him.

If she is happy and he is good to her, she isn't going to change her opinion of him just because your experience with him is different. You will just come across as a bitter, jealous, batshit ex-wife.

If she is unhappy with him, she will already know what he is like, so you don't need to tell her.

I was once very happy with my ex-husband. He was kind, loving and gentle. There was nothing he wouldn't do for me. We adored each other.

Then he feel out of love with me and - to me - became a different person. I didn't recognise him anymore. He was still a "good" person, but the generous, loving man had gone.

Of course, he hadn't changed really. He was the same man, he just didn't love me anymore. His new wife now has the man I once had. They love each other. Why should I want to spoil that, unless I feel bitter and jealous? Even when the pain of him leaving me for her was raw, I would not have said anything to her about it.

Maintaining my dignity was important. Twenty years later, I'm glad I let him go without drama. I feel nothing for him now and - as far as I am aware - they are still happy together.

Accept that he doesn't love you anymore and that affects your relationship. Also consider how your behaviour affects the dynamic in your relationship. The very fact that you feel the need to badmouth him to his wife suggests toxicity on both sides of your relationship with your ex-husband.

Leave their relationship alone and concentrate on being happy with what you have.

This 💯

oakleaffy · 04/01/2025 13:08

Unknown1111 · 04/01/2025 11:05

I know it would achieve NOTHING she is living a good life with him but I know it will annoy him. Because he denies my version of what happened. From the affairs to the theft of our business. And the fact he doesn't show me any respect and seemingly has more of a go at me than in her presence really triggers me.

The current wife will just believe that you are out to be bitter and to shit-stir, however, when there is ''trouble in paradise'' then she may well seek you out to ask stuff about his behaviour.

In my experience , men don't change much in 'new' relationships.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 04/01/2025 13:10

Unfortunately that will just confirm to them that you are indeed crazy - even if it’s all true!

Ultimately, if she is his wife, she knows him as well as anyone, and will know what he’s “really” like.

Witsend1234 · 04/01/2025 13:12

You feel wronged OP and your sense of justice wants that rectified, I see that in all of your responses not just about your original point but also in subsequent ones. This is what you’re struggling to let go of, how could he hurt you so much? That comes from a good place, your sense of self worth, you know you deserve better, which I assume
you now have with your current husband. So you need to let go. Enjoy the fact the current wife has to deal with his shit now, she knows exactly what he’s like.

What you need to do now is let go of your need for justice. Your need to hurt him like he hurts you. It’s not about revenge it’s about recovery. For your daughter’s sake let it all go before they start to believe what he says about you too.

Mopsy567 · 04/01/2025 13:13

Use a parenting app so you only contact about parenting and there is a record of everything. Outside of that, ignore him and move on with your life. He has wasted enough of your headspace.

user1492757084 · 04/01/2025 13:17

You need to move on, Op.
Find a way to forget about thinking of him.
Try to stick to agreed child share arrangements so you have fewer interactions with him. Be on time etc.

Text only - very briefly and business like.

Do you need to communicate via an intermediary?

If he really did steal your business could you not have had a lawyer contest that long ago? Try to forget it if you can't do anything about it.

GivingitToGod · 04/01/2025 13:17

Quinto · 04/01/2025 11:03

What are you hoping this would achieve?

This

RockOrAHardplace · 04/01/2025 13:21

He is poking the bear and you are growling to prove you are unhinged to his audience.

If you walked away from him, you are unfinished business and he is out to show that he was wonderful and he put up with you and you walked as you were trying to manipulate him.

He showed his true colours when he chose money over his kids. You have moved on in your life but you are clearly and understandably, bitter about your experience and he still has power over you and he is using it to his advantage.

He is purposefully winding you up and you are taking the bait. And I totally get why you want to tell his partner your side of things, I really do....but now isn't the time. He will just turn it around on you and use it to confirm how deranged you are. It will not end well.

Do not let him contact your kids by phone to make arrangements as others have suggested. He will weaponize it and will make arrangement convenient for him and are outrageous from your perspective and will sell it to the kids and make you out to be the issue. Do not do that to your kids, do not put them in the middle.

Use a parenting app, and keep records. He is a parent and he can't pick and choose between DDs good and bad days to take her. His wife should understand this. You need to keep your cool because at the moment, when you kick off, you are masking his bad parenting and diverting attention away from how he created the situation. I know this is hard but I'm sure you have heard the old saying about being nice or smiling at someone who is annoyed, because it winds them up....this needs to be your tact. He will pop eventually and in the meantime his wife/the kids may begin to see the pattern. But to be honest, wifey may never see what you want her to see because that would be admitting she fell for a wrong 'un.

You need to concentrate on your kids and their wellbeing and at some point they will be old enough to start joining the dots and you don't want to blur this by reacting to his bad behaviour and allowing him to continue distracting people from that by your behaviour. The best thing you can do is kill him with kindness, it will drive him nuts.

Keep cool, smile engagingly at him, get yourself a voodoo doll of him to stick pins in if it helps but be Mrs Super Cool and Nice. He will show his true colours and your kids will realise for themselves what he is like, that doesn't mean they will turn away from him or hate him, they may still love him but will understand the nature of the beast and will appreciate you all the more. You don't need to tell people what he is like, because once you stop masking his actions, it will become self evident but it will take a while.

Frith2013 · 04/01/2025 13:22

I wouldn't bother.

The only time I have done this is when my ex husband had a new girlfriend. I knew her sister (vaguely) and her sister said, "Your ex is being really weird. He has done x, y and z to my sister. Do these things sound likely to you?"

I was able to say yes, and that whatever her sister told her about his behaviour, no matter how weird and unlikely, it was almost certainly true.

Startrekkeruniverse · 04/01/2025 13:23

Hyperbowl · 04/01/2025 13:04

So dad’s abusive and he’s “just being difficult”and the mum tells it how it is rightly or wrongly and she’s addicted to drama even though he calls her up and screams abuse at her. Jesus Christ, get a grip and stop excusing and sympathising with abusers. Get some standards. 🤢 🤮

I do think the mum is also trying to cause drama though - she says as much below - and all this does is make the whole thing even worse. The dad is a massive knob but the mum is now trying to get another reaction. She needs to go grey rock as others have suggested.

“I know I shouldn't and will make no difference and I will look like the crazy bitch but I just want to cause shit in his life like he does to me just by triggering me as he used to when I was married to him”

and

“I know it would achieve NOTHING she is living a good life with him but I know it will annoy him”

Wavescrashingonthebeach · 04/01/2025 13:25

No, unless you want to look unhinged.
Get some counselling.

jackstini · 04/01/2025 13:26

Having read the full thread I would say:

No, don't contact her. It won't achieve anything. Her beliefs will be the reality she is currently living. If she ever asks in the future, be factually honest but unemotional

You have really not got past this, and I would recommend either counselling or head trash clearance to move on, which is what you need and deserve

Answering his calls is giving him exactly what he wants - upsetting & hurting you, and hiding the real him from your DDs
You need to communicate by text ONLY. Or even better, via a parenting app. This way everything is in writing and he can't twist shit

Empower yourself, not him anymore Flowers

JohnofWessex · 04/01/2025 13:28

I took steps to limit communication with my ex wife as far as possible.

What I might do though is to look at his business and ask the CMS to investigate as it sounds as though his declared income isnt what he's actually earning

Unknown1111 · 04/01/2025 13:29

Baileysatchristmas · 04/01/2025 13:01

What do you mean he took the girls anyway for childcare? To help look after younger siblings?

Didn't the girls want to go? Did they protest and ask not to go?

No they always want to go as they have a loving family there - but he took them even though everyone was ill to help with childcare as they were all housebound the week they spent there.

OP posts:
Gymsharkandcoffee · 04/01/2025 13:30

Baileysatchristmas · 04/01/2025 11:06

Grey rock. Stop talking to him on the phone. Just email or text only. Whatever nonsense he comes up with just reply with "grand". And ignore ignore. She won't believe you, and at the moment you're playing right into his hands anyway.

I saw a post on here not to long ago from a woman who did a simple response akin to “grand” and it worked wonders.

OP I think this would bother him much more as he would feel he’s lost control of you

campertess · 04/01/2025 13:33

I wouldn’t go all out and tell his wife anything from your past life with him because you are then playing into his hands and proving that you are a crazy person. From now on I would not answer his calls and dance to his tune because the only person that is being hurt is you. Make sure you keep all the texts and messages he leaves on your phone so that you now have proof of what an ass he is. By playing fair, he is getting the best of everything without doing anything to earn it and you’re earning it for him and also showing yourself as the crazy person he says you are. The jacket he said he would pay half for he needs to pay before the jacket is bought. Good luck.

Unknown1111 · 04/01/2025 13:36

Startrekkeruniverse · 04/01/2025 13:23

I do think the mum is also trying to cause drama though - she says as much below - and all this does is make the whole thing even worse. The dad is a massive knob but the mum is now trying to get another reaction. She needs to go grey rock as others have suggested.

“I know I shouldn't and will make no difference and I will look like the crazy bitch but I just want to cause shit in his life like he does to me just by triggering me as he used to when I was married to him”

and

“I know it would achieve NOTHING she is living a good life with him but I know it will annoy him”

But I'm not doing it. I don't want drama - I've had years of access to his wife and extended family - I just want him to not be how he is. And be decent

OP posts: