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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to feel hurt that school mum friends socialise with my ex?

151 replies

Starbuck80 · 30/03/2026 16:14

I think I need some perspective on a situation I’m in with some school mums.

My daughter started reception in Sept 2024 and I became quite close to about 5 mums and was in a WhatsApp group with them where we’d meet up for coffee and have play dates. I split with my ex in Feb 2025 (we’re a same sex couple) and I asked for some boundaries as we still lived together (and still do 😩) and so we agreed for my ex to have the NCT mums and I’d spend time with the school mums as I was closer to them. I was hoping this would give us both the opportunity to get some support with what was going on. I’m also a SAHM so the school mums were a real lifeline for me.

Fast forward to last summer and my ex decided to set up her own WhatsApp group with my mum friends and started arranging play dates with the kids and adult coffee dates. This really upset me as we’d agreed to keep friendship groups separate and I’d confided in the mums. I asked my ex to stop but she refused to and the mums would only apologise after the event.

Now we’re at the beginning of April 2026 and my ex is still doing it. The two mums who are the main ones, keep apologising and saying that they’re my friend but continue to arrange play dates and meet ups with my ex. Today my daughter told me that my ex reached out to another close mum friend of mine to arrange a play date with the kids and my friend said yes.

I’m pretty devastated tbh as I’ve confided in this particular friend about the reasons for my marriage breakdown and how my ex has behaved since the split and now she’s socialising with her. I haven’t confronted her about it as I really don’t know what to say without sounding bonkers.

I’m also on the verge of leaving the mums WhatsApp group as all i keep thinking is how can i have honest conversations with them when they’re socialising with my ex?

Am I overreacting

OP posts:
BudgetBuster · 03/04/2026 22:53

Reasonstobelieve · 03/04/2026 09:20

A general comment not primarily dedicated to you OP. I can't understand the obsession with making new 'friends' especially school related friends when raising a family. I just couldn't be bothered with the associated drama. Life is stressful enough without this nonsense. It makes me realise my DH, my family, my couple of very close friends plus my extended family on both sides are all I need to be contented. I always avoided play dates etc & left them to the inevitable playground cliques. My children were no less popular & birthday parties were attended & reciprocated. It made for a far happier & in that particular respect a stress free life. I simply never had to worry about who was doing what & with who. I couldn't have cared less & now my children have flown the nest I'm still the same.

Isn't it nice that you have friends and family close by? Some of us aren't so lucky and making friends through our kids has been a lifesaver.

I'd also love to hear about the dramas you seemingly encounter? There's only drama if you make it or if you choose dramatic friends

My own mothers 2 best friends, are a mother of my eldest brother and a mother of my friend from school. I'm no longer friendly with the girl (we just drifted as we grew and found different groups, no drama) but my mum and hers still go for lunch weekly.

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