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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be pissed off DP has left me with his ex’s child and gone to work?

209 replies

NebulaNomad · 16/03/2026 12:02

My DP has a 15 year old DS with his ex, he was a teenager when he was born as was his ex. They broke up when he was young but they still are good friends and as a result as am I. Some people find that weird but it works and it's better to be civil even though his son is older now.

We have an 8 week old together and his ex has a 4yo and a 16 month old with her ex. She split with their dad when the youngest was a few months old and he has no contact with her or the children. Her 4yo has a heart condition so we help if we can with her youngest when he has appointments so she can focus properly on the 4yo and also due to the hospital being abour an hour and half away by train so it’d be a nightmare with the buggy and it not really being fair on her being cooped up in her buggy

Her 4yo is having his open heart surgery today he's already had a lot of surgeries etc in his short life bless him but his mum is still understandably worried. They have access to the Ronald McDonald (I think it's called?) house but he will be on the HDU/Icu and babies aren't allowed and she doesn't want to leave her 4yo alone who has had major surgery.

We agreed to have her, my stepson is also here obviously. DP has paternity leave of up to 6 months but he has only taken a month so far and is looking for more during the summer so we can go on holiday with our baby and his son.

Anyway, he booked this week as AL as we are having little one for a minimum of a week as the 4yo is likely to be in hospital for at least a week. DP has said he will take things whatever she needs and will be with the 4yo for a few hours so she can have a break but mostly it'll be just his ex as her family are abroad

Except... He's gone into work today because he's “short staffed” so I'm here with a 16mo who just wants to run around and my 8 week old. I know parents have this age gap but this isn't what I agreed to

Aibu to be pissed off?

OP posts:
GardeningMummy · 16/03/2026 19:17

ChillingWithMySnowmies · 16/03/2026 18:54

No, he took annual leave to help look after his 8week old baby, and help look after his Sons half-sibling.

She can't come get her baby, she's sitting in hospital looking after her 4yo who's had open heart surgery.

You trying to insinuate to the OP that the 16mo is also her Husbands child?

Pardon? Where did that come from?! I never said anything of the kind. It’s not OP’s baby so she shouldn’t have to look after it

user1471497170 · 16/03/2026 19:20

Really you would do that to the sibling of a child having heart surgery? You and your husband are obviously nice people supporting his ex and this is good for your stepson. Under the circumstances I would let it go and have TV day.

Amandasummers · 16/03/2026 20:32

nomas · 16/03/2026 14:53

No, you wouldn’t be happy, or you’ve forgotten what it is to have a tiny baby.

@nomas sorry? How obtuse that you think that 😅 very much not forgotten, we’re all different!

beAsensible1 · 16/03/2026 21:18

nomas · 16/03/2026 15:38

A village shouldn’t be women screwed over by men.

If that’s your idea of a village, you keep it for yourself.

That is a separate issue. He has pissed off to work because he can’t stand up for himself.

But they all support each other it’s not just a case of OP only ever doing the childcare or the ex. Before she arrived they were both helping each other out.

I do agree a village isn’t always women being left to hold the baby. But thats not the nature of their support system.

Popstarrrrr · 16/03/2026 21:42

NeverDropYourMooncup · 16/03/2026 17:10

You'd seriously call/turn up at social service's door and say

'This child's sibling is currently in theatre whilst the surgeon cuts through their skin, splits the breastbone, disconnects their heart and attaches them to a heart-lung bypass and then continues cutting into a tiny heart to save their life. I don't want it, it's not my problem, so take it into care'

You do have to hope some of these posts are on a wind up.

99bottlesofkombucha · 16/03/2026 21:53

user1471497170 · 16/03/2026 19:20

Really you would do that to the sibling of a child having heart surgery? You and your husband are obviously nice people supporting his ex and this is good for your stepson. Under the circumstances I would let it go and have TV day.

he isn’t supporting his ex, he’s pulling good guy points by offering then chucking it all onto his wife who already has a baby. I’d make it very clear to him that everyone will know he did a bait and switch, fucked off and left you there. Including his ex, although not right now obviously.

99bottlesofkombucha · 16/03/2026 21:54

Amandasummers · 16/03/2026 14:46

Honestly, I would be happy to do this and I wouldn’t be pissed off of it were me, everybody is different so you’re going to get replies in both directions here!

You would be pretty unusual.

mathanxiety · 16/03/2026 23:36

So when he said "we" or "I" can take the 16 month old, what he really had in mind was that you would spend a day in the hell that is life with a very new baby and a young toddler.

I'd make sure he knows he owes you a massive apology, and an understanding going forward that this will never, ever happen again. He needs to stay home tomorrow no matter how short staffed his workplace is.

mathanxiety · 16/03/2026 23:40

user1471497170 · 16/03/2026 19:20

Really you would do that to the sibling of a child having heart surgery? You and your husband are obviously nice people supporting his ex and this is good for your stepson. Under the circumstances I would let it go and have TV day.

Some 16 month old have the attention span of a gnat. You'd be lucky to have a 'TV fifteen minutes' before they started climbing the walls.

There's no "you and your husband" here. There's just a woman who has been left literally holding the baby, two babies actually.

JMSA · 17/03/2026 04:07

YABU.

Riverflow6 · 17/03/2026 12:00

NebulaNomad · 16/03/2026 13:42

He wouldn't lose his job by bot going in when he had booked AL as the people who are constantly off “ill” (but aren't actually) have nothing done and one of them is also in a relationship with one of the managers out the office so of course he doesn't lose his job. DP however barely has days off sick, I think the only days off in the 6/7 years he's been there were due to him testing positive for covid (at work) and then having to self isolate. He rarely gets ill but he goes in with colds etc instead of just taking days off

I can't take them to the park, baby hates the pram as it is and I wouldn't be able to push 2 prams, stepson is at an after school club today and DP doesn't finish work until 5 and won't be back til half past or later if he hasn't finished something off

Well put the baby in a sling. Gosh you aren’t half finding issues out of dust are you.

bigboykitty · 17/03/2026 12:29

Riverflow6 · 17/03/2026 12:00

Well put the baby in a sling. Gosh you aren’t half finding issues out of dust are you.

Wow, did you mean to come off as such a pillock?

rainbowstardrops · 17/03/2026 12:35

Riverflow6 · 17/03/2026 12:00

Well put the baby in a sling. Gosh you aren’t half finding issues out of dust are you.

Why the fuck should she?! She might not even have a sling, or her baby might not like it!
It’s lovely that her and DH agreed to look after the toddler but absolutely bang out of order for her partner to just bugger off to work and leave her in the thick of it!
I’m really hoping that this thread is a total wind up though.

Notinmylifethyme · 17/03/2026 12:47

How's the 4 year old?

Blondeshavemorefun · 17/03/2026 13:51

Notinmylifethyme · 17/03/2026 12:47

How's the 4 year old?

I came on to write that as well

hopefully @NebulaNomad dh is at home today and helping out

pineapplesundae · 17/03/2026 18:13

It’s just a rough patch for everyone involved but I do think your husband needs to remain in good standing at his job. Leave the house work to him for now and focus on the children. Good luck to everyone.

independentfriend · 17/03/2026 19:03

8 weeks and 16 months sounds terrible. Have you got any local baby groups / cafes (commercial but you don't have to cook) you can go to? Soft plays that cater for 16 months?

Forevergardening · 17/03/2026 21:28

Im all about the easy life and avoiding confrontation, it might seem like a ball ache now but I believe in karma. You do good and help and will be repaid in some way or another. Might not see it now.

99bottlesofkombucha · 17/03/2026 22:15

pineapplesundae · 17/03/2026 18:13

It’s just a rough patch for everyone involved but I do think your husband needs to remain in good standing at his job. Leave the house work to him for now and focus on the children. Good luck to everyone.

He’s on leave. He does not need to work while on annual leave.

Beenwhereyouareagain · 17/03/2026 22:16

ThejoyofNC · 16/03/2026 12:30

I think it's absolutely ridiculous that you're providing free childcare all the time to children that are nothing to do with either of you to be honest.

Careful, your kindness is showing. 🙄

wherearethesnacks · 17/03/2026 22:24

It's possible he woke up and didn't fancy a day at home with two babies so he was suddenly essential in work. I've known it to happen.

mathanxiety · 17/03/2026 23:57

Riverflow6 · 17/03/2026 12:00

Well put the baby in a sling. Gosh you aren’t half finding issues out of dust are you.

Heartless, and shame on you.

Riverflow6 · 18/03/2026 11:32

mathanxiety · 17/03/2026 23:57

Heartless, and shame on you.

I would say it’s op who is heartless and shame on them

Ninerainbows · 18/03/2026 11:36

Riverflow6 · 18/03/2026 11:32

I would say it’s op who is heartless and shame on them

Why?
She's angry with her DH, not his ex or the child who are just following the original childcare plan. Why is she "heartless" to be annoyed that she caught him slipping out for the school run in work clothes when he is meant to be on annual leave?.

applegingermint · 18/03/2026 11:36

I mean he has a 16 month old and you have an 8 week old. Either he left his partner when she was pregnant or you have gotten pregnant either accidentally or on purpose extremely early into the relationship.

I don’t often say this but… what did you expect?!

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