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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:
AlmostSummer25 · 29/04/2025 18:21

MereNoelle · 29/04/2025 18:05

What if he wants to see his child for an extra morning?

Then he needs to tell the OP that and own it.

The OP hasn't really said one way or the other, and I'm not sure he would be completely straight with her anyway??

But the tone has implied it's The X requiring it and him just going along with it.

Either way, it's his decision, but there's nothing wrong with the OP making him aware of how she feels about it

AlmostSummer25 · 29/04/2025 18:25

MereNoelle · 29/04/2025 18:10

Would you like to only see your child every other weekend and 2 nights a week?

No, but that's what happens when families break up.

I very much doubt the school run he does is exactly quality time together either.

If at all possible, he would probably be better off having more overnights mid week, but the OP has indicated the ex wouldn't want this as it would be less money CMS, but if I was him, I'd keep paying her the same but have more overnights 💁🏻‍♀️

cadburyegg · 29/04/2025 18:32

AlmostSummer25 · 29/04/2025 18:07

Well, she's not is she? She's making him drive 50 miles to do another school run so he's doing the Lions share.

How is the ex “making” OP’s partner doing anything? Sounds like he’s doing it willingly. Why shouldn’t he do more school runs? She does most of the overnights.

WinterBones · 29/04/2025 18:47

AlmostSummer25 · 29/04/2025 18:25

No, but that's what happens when families break up.

I very much doubt the school run he does is exactly quality time together either.

If at all possible, he would probably be better off having more overnights mid week, but the OP has indicated the ex wouldn't want this as it would be less money CMS, but if I was him, I'd keep paying her the same but have more overnights 💁🏻‍♀️

just to make a small point. The school run is actually some of the best quality time i get with my DD as she is essentially a captive audience. we have some of the best conversations in the privacy of the car on school run then we ever do at home.

MereNoelle · 29/04/2025 19:04

AlmostSummer25 · 29/04/2025 18:25

No, but that's what happens when families break up.

I very much doubt the school run he does is exactly quality time together either.

If at all possible, he would probably be better off having more overnights mid week, but the OP has indicated the ex wouldn't want this as it would be less money CMS, but if I was him, I'd keep paying her the same but have more overnights 💁🏻‍♀️

He wouldn’t be able to decide to decide that unilaterally though… that he was going to pay her the same but have her more, I mean. If the ex doesn’t agree then he’d have to take her to court.
This way he gets to spend more time with his child in a way that seems to suit everyone except the OP.

AlmostSummer25 · 29/04/2025 20:40

MereNoelle · 29/04/2025 19:04

He wouldn’t be able to decide to decide that unilaterally though… that he was going to pay her the same but have her more, I mean. If the ex doesn’t agree then he’d have to take her to court.
This way he gets to spend more time with his child in a way that seems to suit everyone except the OP.

Of course the ex would have to agree or he would have to take it to court 🙄🙄. I didn't suggest kidnapping the child. The OP implied the only reason the ex wouldn't be okay with the DP having the child more was because she would lose out on CMS. If that's the reason, then I'm sure she would be happy for DP to have him more nights if he continued to pay the same money.

As ever, with any thread, we can only go by what the poster posts.

MereNoelle · 29/04/2025 20:42

As ever, with any thread, we can only go by what the poster posts

Yes, of course. And nothing the OP says so far suggests that her partner isn’t happy with doing the extra school run.

Letsbe · 30/04/2025 07:54

He sounds like a really nice guy. I dont think you need to be worries.

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