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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU Not wanting my partner to go to his ex's house?

183 replies

ThreeM · 28/04/2025 10:31

My partners ex is quite manipulative - they've been separated 3 years this summer (she took no responsibility for the failure of their marriage even though it didn't sound like she contributed much to it) but seems intent on punishing him for leaving forever more.

They have 1 child who is 9, who spends every other weekend and 2 nights a week with us. There's one day per week where she insists he drives a 50 mile round trip to go to her house, to get the child ready for school, and he just does it. She doesn't come in our house, so I don't think he should go in hers, what was their marital home. I think its confusing for the child - and if I'm honest, it makes me uncomfortable. Like them playing house, like nothing ever happened and they never separated.

There are also often phonecalls, which just sound like cosy little family chats. She NEVER lets the child speak to Dad unspervised, she's always there, taking over the conversation, trying to just chat to him and tell him about what she's been doing. He says he doesn't care, but he also never really stops her, albeit he sometimes guides the chat back to his child.

I don't know if I'm being the unreasonable person, but I think there should be much clearer boundaries. He seems to let her walk all over him, but always agrees with me if I bring it up.

She invited him over to visit last week, I'm not sure exactly why, but he didn't go - and instead his parents went. I also find this really strange. She was awful to him when they were married, his mother will openly admit that, but yet they go and sit and drink tea and have these visits. If someone had treated my son that way, there's no way I could be in the same room.

I just don't know where I fit in - the ex won't talk to me, because I'm obviously a road block to her ever getting back with her ex, so its just like they pretend I don't exist. I'm a jealous person by nature, and I don't know if its just jealously taking over, or if I am justified in my feelings.

OP posts:
ThreeM · 28/04/2025 12:06

JenniferAnistonForReals · 28/04/2025 12:03

I think you need to let go of any concern over what his parents are doing and why. That’s completely up to them. And whether having his dad take him to school from his mum’s once a week is confusing for the child. He might love it.

All you can do is decide whether this relationship is a good fit for you. We can’t change other people, we can only decide our own boundaries, what we’ll accept. You’re the only one living this, and you sound unhappy and hurt. Maybe you are a bit jealous, that’s very human. Maybe you’re being completely unreasonable, I don’t know.

Life is complex and short. Things may stay this way for years. All you can decide is if it’s what you want.

Thanks for your kindly worded response, I appreciate it.

I guess I do have to decide whats right for me, and perhaps just leave them to get on with it. I do feel unhappy and hurt, but it seems like adults aren't allowed to have feelings - or maybe I am being completely unreasonable. I can't help feeling how I feel though.

ha, life feels very long at the moment!

OP posts:
JenniferAnistonForReals · 28/04/2025 12:07

I was also separated for three years before we decided to get divorced. It’s not a massive red flag in my opinion (but I guess I would say that! 😁)

ThreeM · 28/04/2025 12:07

Smallmercies · 28/04/2025 12:03

Double-posted for some reason!

Edited

maybe two crystal balls are better than one!

OP posts:
Smallmercies · 28/04/2025 12:07

ThreeM · 28/04/2025 12:06

Thanks for your kindly worded response, I appreciate it.

I guess I do have to decide whats right for me, and perhaps just leave them to get on with it. I do feel unhappy and hurt, but it seems like adults aren't allowed to have feelings - or maybe I am being completely unreasonable. I can't help feeling how I feel though.

ha, life feels very long at the moment!

Of course you're allowed to have feelings - no one has said you aren't. But you aren't allowed to police your partner's movements or relationship with his child. This is not the man for you.

WinterBones · 28/04/2025 12:08

You're allowed to have feelings, don't be daft.. however you asked if you were being unreasonable to not want him to go into her house.

You decided to start a relationship with a man with a child, that means you're going to have to tolerate whatever relationship he feels he needs with his Ex that benefits his DC.

If you can't handle that, then don't date dads.

Smallmercies · 28/04/2025 12:08

JenniferAnistonForReals · 28/04/2025 12:07

I was also separated for three years before we decided to get divorced. It’s not a massive red flag in my opinion (but I guess I would say that! 😁)

I'm separated from my ex since 2020, but divorce is expensive. Not a red flag at all.

Packcold · 28/04/2025 12:09

Smallmercies · 28/04/2025 12:08

I'm separated from my ex since 2020, but divorce is expensive. Not a red flag at all.

Divorce isn't expensive...

arethereanyleftatall · 28/04/2025 12:10

ThreeM · 28/04/2025 12:03

I think he's scared of the backlash, or her kicking off again so is just avoiding it

This might be true, but I’ve got to be honest, it’s entirely plausible he’s spinning you a line. He’s making himself out to be an absolute hero isn’t he, and her the evil witch. And yet. He married her. And yet. He hasn’t applied for full custody.

MoistVonL · 28/04/2025 12:12

but it seems like adults aren't allowed to have feelings - or maybe I am being completely unreasonable

Now you’re just wallowing.

Of course adults can have feelings. They can also have maturity, and not feel in competition with an ex wife and a 9 year old boy.

This isn’t making you happy. It would be unreasonable to interfere in their co-parenting.

So cut your losses and find someone whose situation suits you better.

WearyAuldWumman · 28/04/2025 12:12

ThreeM · 28/04/2025 11:04

I think you've made some really valid points - I'm in a no-win situation while the child is this age.

Also agree with using contact as a form of control, she has to know EVERY detail of what he's doing, what work meetings he has, where we're going at weekends and he just tells her. There's currently zero boundaries.

He is definitely too nice, but I can't see that changing, so maybe I have a decision to make seeing as it seems like it is me thats being unreasonable.

My husband finally realised what was going on when the ex tried to gatecrash our honeymoon...

Yes, as others have pointed out there's a bit more to it when the ex is also the mother of your partner's child and I think that reasonable people do recognise that. There's a middle ground, however.

WinterBones · 28/04/2025 12:12

Packcold · 28/04/2025 12:09

Divorce isn't expensive...

it is if you need to involve solicitors..

i'm disabled and on benefits, it cost us nearly £600, and i haven't been able to pull that out of my arse. i ended up with my brother loaning me the money to do it.

'not expensive' is entirely relative to your financial situation.

Smallmercies · 28/04/2025 12:12

Packcold · 28/04/2025 12:09

Divorce isn't expensive...

Eh?

Bumblebeestiltskin · 28/04/2025 12:13

ThreeM · 28/04/2025 11:08

He shouldn't need to go there to do the schoolrun though, why can't the mum do it on her days? She's got the kid as much nights as she can to get the most money out of her ex, she keeps track of days for that purpose, but wants him to go and take the kid to school on one of her mornings, and he just does it.

There's no doubt he's a good father, and I wouldn't want him not to be involved in his sons life, but I can't understand why he has to go there to do that, they have separate houses, the kid has 2 homes, so why does 1 parent have to go to 2 homes, when its to appease the mother, rather than the kid?

He doesn't 'need' to do the school run on her times, but he obviously wants to.

I agree this seems to come from a place of jealousy - which is fair enough, you can't help how you feel - but it seems like you have a choice, accept their co-parenting relationship or don't continue in the relationship with him.

JenniferAnistonForReals · 28/04/2025 12:14

ThreeM · 28/04/2025 12:06

Thanks for your kindly worded response, I appreciate it.

I guess I do have to decide whats right for me, and perhaps just leave them to get on with it. I do feel unhappy and hurt, but it seems like adults aren't allowed to have feelings - or maybe I am being completely unreasonable. I can't help feeling how I feel though.

ha, life feels very long at the moment!

You just sound very human to me. I hope you can work things out. Whether that’s staying or going. In a couple of years, your DP’s child will be at secondary and things will change a lot. I wish you all the luck in the world, this stuff isn’t easy!

vivainsomnia · 28/04/2025 12:15

It would seem that he moves away. Was it for you?

In all likelihood, he goes there on one day because she has to be at work earlier, or maybe needs to go to an office further away. It should be the first most obvious thought yet you seem to imagine the worst scenarios.

It is indeed highly likely that your partner and family are telling you what you want to hear to appease you. That's the problem with insecure people, they put so much pressure on others to get reassurance, so they take the easy route.

You need to relax and start trusting your OH. At the moment, your actions are putting pressure on everyone, starting with yourself. Let it go and enjoy your relationship with your SC. Let their parents be that.

ThreeM · 28/04/2025 12:16

JenniferAnistonForReals · 28/04/2025 12:14

You just sound very human to me. I hope you can work things out. Whether that’s staying or going. In a couple of years, your DP’s child will be at secondary and things will change a lot. I wish you all the luck in the world, this stuff isn’t easy!

Thanks, I'm probably 100% the wrong type of person to have found myself in this situation but yet here I am.

Its probably my age, hormones, menopause all that is hard enough when life is straightforward, but I guess that all jumbled in with this situation makes for a bumpy ride.

💖

OP posts:
BlondiePortz · 28/04/2025 12:19

Smallmercies · 28/04/2025 12:07

Of course you're allowed to have feelings - no one has said you aren't. But you aren't allowed to police your partner's movements or relationship with his child. This is not the man for you.

Exactly

Spirallingdownwards · 28/04/2025 12:19

If you had said his child/his son rather than "the kid or the child" which are just as ambiguous you would have sounded much kinder but you set rather an unpleasant tone which is then reflected back at you.

If YOU can't handle how he deals with his relationship with his ex move on. Indeed his parents can still have a relationship of sorts with his ex to maintain a good relationship with their grandchild. How often do you have them over when his son is with him?

ThreeM · 28/04/2025 12:20

vivainsomnia · 28/04/2025 12:15

It would seem that he moves away. Was it for you?

In all likelihood, he goes there on one day because she has to be at work earlier, or maybe needs to go to an office further away. It should be the first most obvious thought yet you seem to imagine the worst scenarios.

It is indeed highly likely that your partner and family are telling you what you want to hear to appease you. That's the problem with insecure people, they put so much pressure on others to get reassurance, so they take the easy route.

You need to relax and start trusting your OH. At the moment, your actions are putting pressure on everyone, starting with yourself. Let it go and enjoy your relationship with your SC. Let their parents be that.

No it wasn't for me, it was to make his commute to work shorter, and to get a clean break (if there is such a thing) from the area.

He does 3 school runs, 2 on his days, and 1 of hers, she only does 1 as she doesn't work the other day.

I guess you are right about insecure people needing reassurance, sounds very familiar. I do put pressure on myself which isn't helpful - you've said so much that makes sense in your reply, are you a counsellor?!

OP posts:
PassingStranger · 28/04/2025 12:21

Poor man. Trying to.juggle everything and keep you happy too

Give him a break, life is hard enough

ThreeM · 28/04/2025 12:23

Spirallingdownwards · 28/04/2025 12:19

If you had said his child/his son rather than "the kid or the child" which are just as ambiguous you would have sounded much kinder but you set rather an unpleasant tone which is then reflected back at you.

If YOU can't handle how he deals with his relationship with his ex move on. Indeed his parents can still have a relationship of sorts with his ex to maintain a good relationship with their grandchild. How often do you have them over when his son is with him?

Lost in translation, it wasn't meant to sound unkind or uncaring. I have a nice relationship with him, we get along well and I care about them.

His parents are here once, sometimes twice a week, and then we do things together at weekends and things too.

OP posts:
KrackerPolly · 28/04/2025 12:24

ThreeM · 28/04/2025 12:03

I think he's scared of the backlash, or her kicking off again so is just avoiding it

In contrast to other posters, I do think a drawn out divorce is a red flag. It’s not expensive to get a divorce. Once he’s got the divorce finalised, and a contact order for the child, his ex has much less power and control over him.

Surely that’s what he wants? Stability and order so he can move on with life with you?

GreatFish · 28/04/2025 12:25

It sounds like your husband is a yes person and just trying to keep the peace.I can understand the grandparents going to her house so that they are not cut out by the ex even though they probably do it through gritted teeth.

WearyAuldWumman · 28/04/2025 12:27

ThreeM · 28/04/2025 12:23

Lost in translation, it wasn't meant to sound unkind or uncaring. I have a nice relationship with him, we get along well and I care about them.

His parents are here once, sometimes twice a week, and then we do things together at weekends and things too.

I sometimes used refer to my husband's granddaughter as "the granddaughter" because I thought that saying "his granddaughter" sounded as though I were distancing myself and I couldn't say "our grandchild" because I wasn't allowed to be granny.

In the end, I just referred to her as "the bairn".

Sometimes we overthink these things.

Iloveyoubut · 28/04/2025 12:27

ThreeM · 28/04/2025 11:00

Thats lovely for you that you didn't notice any animosity between your parents. I'm not sure this Dad is all that relaxed about going to their house to be honest, but also not sure if thats just for my benefit.

I'll go and doing some growing up, thanks for the advice.

You do need to grow up tbh. You’re involved with a man who has an ex wife and is a father of a young child and you’re acting like a child yourself here, are you that insecure and if you are, break it off. You need to honestly deal with this or look for a guy with no children or grown children. This is going to be the story of this childs life for the rest of their life! This is just a guy you’re in a relationship with right now, it’s not the story of your life. If you can’t handle how he’s choosing to parent a child that isn’t yours… leave. You’re fighting to be more important than a child here. Not good. And saying ‘that’s lovely for you that you didn’t notice any animosity’ …. When someone is genuinly sharing with you… That tells me exactly who you are, and it’s not shining a great light on you. Very bratty.