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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not send exes new woman his texts to me?

93 replies

Passthevodka1 · 21/05/2025 17:44

My ex and I split in February. He is an alcoholic and drug user.

The day before I was due to get results from a biopsy he disappeared on a bender (something he used to do every 1-2 months for periods of 1-7 days).
I finally saw the light and told him we were finished. I haven't communicated with him since, except via text asking him to remove his belongings from my home.

He has repeatedly text me, asking me to take him back, apologising for the way he has treated me etc, professing his undying love etc. I have ignored.

Four weeks ago, a friend of a friend (John, for the sake of clarity) contacted me to say my ex had shacked up with John's wife and John's kids (they are seperated).

As my ex was still messaging me, I forwarded screenshots of the most recent messages he'd sent me (while he was living with this woman) to her via social media as I figured if it was me, that's what I would want. She read the messages then blocked me without reply. Fair enough, her perogative.

I also messaged my ex and told him I had sent the screenshots to this woman, that I wanted nothing to do with him and reminded him again to remove his belongings from my property.
Ex stopped messaging for a couple of weeks, then started again, denying there was anything between him and this woman and telling me he would come back to me in a second if I would have him. Again, I ignored him.
The same day, I had another message from John, telling me that his ex had gone crazy at him as she'd worked out he had told me my ex was living with her. She is now making it difficult for him to see his children as a result of this. John is understandably concerned that my ex is living with his children as John knows he is an alcoholic and drug user, although John's wife denies this so has probably not witnessed the extent of it yet.

John wants me to message his wife and tell her about my ex's alcoholism and drug use and also send her screenshots of the new messages.

Whilst I hate the idea of this woman being taken advantage of as I was throughout my relationship with him, especially as she has children who will be affected by it (ex can be aggressive and violent when drunk), the fact that she blocked me when I sent her evidence before really makes me think she doesn't want to know and any further contact from me is not going to help matters.

AIBU to think that as I've already made her aware, its time for me to step back and allow her to learn his nature in her own time?

Or should I try again?

I am in the middle of my first round of radiotherapy and could do without thinking about any of this but I keep worrying that if I don't warn her again, I'm being a bit of a shit woman, solidarity-wise.

Thanks in advance for any advice x

OP posts:
Mooselooseinmyhoose · 21/05/2025 17:46

You've done your bit. She didn't reply. Don't reach out again. Harassment is two or more occasions.. I know you're trying to help not harass but it's not worth the hassle and being dragged into something.

John can contact social services if he's concerned about his kids. She won't believe you this time any more than last time.

Good luck with your health. You've more important things to worry about than a nonsense ex!

Onedayiwillsomething · 21/05/2025 17:47

I would not get involved to be honest. I don’t think you should have messaged her in the first place, but that can’t be undone.

Just leave them to it, you’ve warned her, hopefully when he slips she will see the truth, but you can’t police all of his relationships going forwards.

Mandylovescandy · 21/05/2025 17:47

I don't think you need to get involved and John needs to take his own steps to safeguard his children. Crazy that his ex has moved in your ex so quickly

MrsPinkSky · 21/05/2025 17:47

To be perfectly honest, I don't believe you did any of that for the 'sake of this woman'.

I think you sent her the texts out of spite, which was a silly move to try to split them up if you really don't want him.

You've meddled enough.

Stay out of it, he is nothing to do with you now and nor is she.

Birdseyetrifle · 21/05/2025 17:47

Personally I would let social services aware that she has moved in an alcoholic drug abuser than can be violent into her home.

Mummaonherown · 21/05/2025 17:50

Leave it alone, you've tried she's blocked you.

Tell John to call SS for his children's sake.
I've been there and done that, the new woman isn't going to listen to a ex, trust me.

TooBigForMyBoots · 21/05/2025 17:50

You've done your bit. Now it's time to block "John".

DoYouReally · 21/05/2025 18:00

How long did it take you to get rid of him?
Could anything have made you see the light sooner?

You expect her to move a lot quicker. You tried. She'll see it in time too.

Step away from the shit show and focus on you for now.

DaisyChain505 · 21/05/2025 18:07

Block all numbers of people involved and move the F on.

If you don’t want to be involved in the shit show, don’t buy a ticket. Simple.

S0j0urn4r · 21/05/2025 19:51

She doesn't want to hear it. Don't message her again. John should contact social services.
Message your ex once telling him his stuff will be outside your gate for him to collect on a specified date otherwise you'll bin the lot.
Then block him.

PorgyandBess · 21/05/2025 19:56

How undignified it all is. Step away, move on. Everyone needs to grow up.

ProfessionalWhimsicalSkidaddler · 21/05/2025 21:02

MrsPinkSky · 21/05/2025 17:47

To be perfectly honest, I don't believe you did any of that for the 'sake of this woman'.

I think you sent her the texts out of spite, which was a silly move to try to split them up if you really don't want him.

You've meddled enough.

Stay out of it, he is nothing to do with you now and nor is she.

This! However, you started this and now you’ve created consequences you’re going to walk away and avoid? I know this wasn’t your aim but it’s fairly shitty behaviour. Possibly something to think about in the future.

id help John where I could but as she has blocked you, your hands are tied.

Passthevodka1 · 21/05/2025 21:21

MrsPinkSky · 21/05/2025 17:47

To be perfectly honest, I don't believe you did any of that for the 'sake of this woman'.

I think you sent her the texts out of spite, which was a silly move to try to split them up if you really don't want him.

You've meddled enough.

Stay out of it, he is nothing to do with you now and nor is she.

This says more about your character than mine. There was no spite involved, I know only too well how manipulative he is and only wanted her to be forewarned about who he is as by all accounts (mutual friends), she is a nice woman.

OP posts:
SilviaSnuffleBum · 21/05/2025 21:23

You have already shit-stirred enough in this situation by contacting this woman previously.
Stay out of it. If John is really that concerned about his children, he'll go through the appropriate channels, rather than via you.

Passthevodka1 · 21/05/2025 21:25

ProfessionalWhimsicalSkidaddler · 21/05/2025 21:02

This! However, you started this and now you’ve created consequences you’re going to walk away and avoid? I know this wasn’t your aim but it’s fairly shitty behaviour. Possibly something to think about in the future.

id help John where I could but as she has blocked you, your hands are tied.

I didn't start anything, he did. I was perfectly happy to have no contact with him at all, which is why I've ignored him.
Since when is it normal for a man to be begging his ex to take him back/have aex with him while worming his way into a family home and manipulating another woman? I'm assuming around the same time it became "fairly shotty behaviour" to make another woman aware that a man is attempting to cheat on her.
Evidently we have very different ideas of what shitty behaviour is.

OP posts:
Passthevodka1 · 21/05/2025 21:30

Thanks to those of you who have offered advice. I had already told John that I'd prefer not to hear anything about my ex but I will message him tomorrow and tell him I'm not willing to contact his wife again, I'll also advise him to perhaps contact social.aervixes re. his children.
I've blocked my ex this evening and will message his sister tomorrow to advise her if his stuff isn't collected by this weekend, it will be going to a charity shop.

One thing I would like to say is that as women, we should be honest with each other. If a man I was sleeping with/living with was messaging his ex, I would want to know and wouldn't assume she was spiteful or had any ill intentions if she contacted me to make me aware of that.

OP posts:
Passthevodka1 · 21/05/2025 21:31

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Onedayiwillsomething · 21/05/2025 21:34

Don’t message his sister, just bin his stuff. He has no intention of collecting it and you’ve given him enough warning.

MrsPinkSky · 21/05/2025 21:58

No, not buying it.

He's single, she's single, they got together and you interfered because I suspect you're unhappy that he moved on pretty quickly.

I understand why you might feel hurt even though you ended the relationship, because your bed was still warm when he moved into hers.

BUT stop meddling in their relationship and let John worry about his own kids.

There'll be no closure for you until you bag up his things and specify the date on which they'll be going to charity if he doesn't make arrangements for someone to collect them.

Passthevodka1 · 21/05/2025 22:22

MrsPinkSky · 21/05/2025 21:58

No, not buying it.

He's single, she's single, they got together and you interfered because I suspect you're unhappy that he moved on pretty quickly.

I understand why you might feel hurt even though you ended the relationship, because your bed was still warm when he moved into hers.

BUT stop meddling in their relationship and let John worry about his own kids.

There'll be no closure for you until you bag up his things and specify the date on which they'll be going to charity if he doesn't make arrangements for someone to collect them.

You seem to be overlooking the fact that he has been messaging me while he is with this woman. Pretty poor behaviour by any standard and not something I was comfortable keeping quiet about. Presumably you wouldn't want to know if your partner was begging his ex to take him back while in a relationship with you.

This is where we differ.

OP posts:
MrsPinkSky · 21/05/2025 22:27

And you didn't block him because?

You're still trying to make out you were doing her a favour though.

Look, whether you're being honest with yourself about the reason why you tried to split them up is neither here nor there really.

The important thing is this lady doesn't want any contact with you, so you need to tell John you'll be respecting that and leaving them both alone.

Rewis · 21/05/2025 22:34

This woman took in a new bf to live with her and her children after knowing him for a very short time. Clearly she has some issues, so I doubt his alcoholism and drug use is unknown to her/would bother her.

florizel13 · 22/05/2025 04:38

Passthevodka1 · 21/05/2025 21:25

I didn't start anything, he did. I was perfectly happy to have no contact with him at all, which is why I've ignored him.
Since when is it normal for a man to be begging his ex to take him back/have aex with him while worming his way into a family home and manipulating another woman? I'm assuming around the same time it became "fairly shotty behaviour" to make another woman aware that a man is attempting to cheat on her.
Evidently we have very different ideas of what shitty behaviour is.

I think you did the right thing, in her shoes I would want to know! And it shows him you mean it!

4kids3pets · 22/05/2025 04:45

I don't think I would have messaged her and not sure why you keep messaging him. If it's finished you send one message hey your belongings will be outside property on such a day and if not removed by the end of the day they will be taken to the charity or local tip. As for other woman maybe she perfectly happy with a one night stand or whatever happened, doesn't necessarily mean they were having a full blown relationship could have just been sex or whatever it's fairly common. Either way you sticking your nose in there wasn't your business tbh. Hope your treatment goes well tho focus on that and yourself for now

Agix · 22/05/2025 04:55

I wouldn't have had thr balls to message her and think it's right that you did.

You are right, she does need to know.

I'm shocked at these replies suggesting that you only did it to meddle because you're upset he moved on or something... You'd have been able to have him back of you wanted, obviously! I think those reples say more about the people posting them than you.

I'd not try again, but that's only really because I wouldn't have it in me to try in the first place. If she's blocked you now though, I can't see what more you can do.

I'd tell John that you tried, but she's blocked you, and you can't get through to her. Tell him you have your own issues going on and you can't keep trying to save this woman from herself.

She might just have to find out for herself at this point what kind of guy your ex is. She'll feel very silly when she does.

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