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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Received text from ex-h girlfriend

19 replies

Parsleypants · 02/05/2010 18:14

A bit of history: Ex-h met someone 18 months or so ago. They moved in together very quickly. I had some misgivings as he had "previous" for treating ds (now aged 8) pretty shoddily when there was a woman on the scene. However, I got on with it, his life etc etc bought flowers for ds to give her the first weekend he stayed with the pair of them, invited her to come in for a cup of tea, was very friendly etc. I have always tried to be amicable with ex-h for our son's sake.

Last November I wound up in hospital. Very frightening, it turns out I have an auto-immune disease. I was on hefty doses of steroids after I came out, put on weight and my face puffed up like a moomin! I felt like shit. She went part-time at work and took to coming with ex-h and coming in every time he collected/dropped off ds. It was all getting a bit much and after one particular evening, when she queried whether ds would be warm enough and also gushed about how she had gone part-time at work because it was "so much better" for her (note I work full-time, am deputy head of a primary school and work like a dog!), I thought "Do you know what, I don't need this stress." I was feeling pretty bad and politely requested that he did not bring her in every single bloody time he came to collect/drop ds. I explained that I was not well and it was making me uncomfortable (in my own home!). I also stated that if they were on their way to/back from somewhere of course she could come in, I just didn't see the necessity for her to come in all the time. His attitude was that I was being completely unreasonable and that he would also stop coming in. OK fine, that's his choice.

Fast forward: DS said on Friday that his wii wasn't working. I had a look at it, seems dead as a dodo. I texted ex-h yesterday and asked if he could look at it when he came to collect ds today. He texted back and told me to box it up. I thought it would be better if he could look at it in situ in case it was something I'd missed and texted him to this effect.

This morning I had a text from her (from his phone, we have never exchanged numbers) saying I am trying to manipulate both of them and I made the rules saying she and he couldn't come in and that I "shud box up that wii and mind your life" (English isn't her first language). I am seething. I let DS go to his dad's today anyway even though my gut instinct is that I don't want him near that horrible woman. Ex-h says I have created the situation by saying she couldn't come in. He claims he did not know she had sent the text. Have I been unreasonable? I'm sorry this is so long and thank you if you have read this far! I would just really appreciate some perspective.

OP posts:
FabIsGoingToGetFit · 02/05/2010 18:17

Yes, you have created the situation by saying she can't come in but you said not every time and they are being daft.

Ring her and say you have been ill and are not up to visitors all the time, that is all. If she/they want to make more of it then ignore them.

compo · 02/05/2010 18:18

Well it was never going to go well when you told her she couldn't come in any more was it?
but what' done is done I guess
you could apologise just to make things easier for your ds?

Parsleypants · 02/05/2010 18:23

OK this is interesting. I didn't tell her directly that she couldn't come in. I asked ex-h and explained that I wasn't feeling well and it was making me feel uncomfortable. To be honest I found it quite odd that she would want to come in. I would never want to go in to dp's former partner's house with him when he is collecting/dropping his children. I don't personally know of any divorced/separated couples where the new partner goes in to the house. I'm sure they exist, I just don't know any!

OP posts:
mumbar · 02/05/2010 18:24

Oh I feel for you you sound like you've had a rough time of it lately.

YANBU to expect that if you don't want people in your house then they don't come in etc but you did start to allow it so I can understand why ex-h and his gf hav taken this attitude.

Perhaps have a more set arrangement than 'can come in when been somewhere' etc so you can be prepared for her arrival in advance cos I get the vibes from your thread you are feeling pretty low at mo due to affect of steriods.

Not sure her questioning ds is warm enough is a bad thing better than him getting chilly and shows she cares.

With regards to her only working part time if she mentions it again suggest her and ex-h provide more maintence then you can do it too!!!

Hope it all gets better soon.

GeekOfTheWeek · 02/05/2010 18:24

Tbh I find it odd that at times she was welcome, others not? You wouldn't have been having peace and quiet anyway if exh was there so does it really make that much difference?

Parsleypants · 02/05/2010 18:26

I can't explain it that well. It was VERY weird being in my living room with ex-h, his gf and ds throwing himself all over her.

OP posts:
mumbar · 02/05/2010 18:29

I know it's hard watching our DC with another woman - we mummies need to be needed - but wouldn't you rather he liked her than spent the weekend at ex-h miserable because he didn't? Just be honest and explain this to ex-h.

bearcrumble · 02/05/2010 18:29

I understand why you said what you said, and I don;t think it was unreasonable.

It is a bit odd for the new woman yo come round EVERY time he does but less so if she just happened to be in the car on the way somewhere. Hardly manipulative of you to put your request the way you did.

bibbitybobbityhat · 02/05/2010 18:31

Ask your h: doesn't think this is a bit of an overreaction, from him and her, to you asking if she could not come over to your house at pick ups/drop offs all the time.

It seems completely ott to me.

ChickensNeedOpposableThumb · 02/05/2010 18:32

See, that sounds a bit like you're jealous. I'm not saying you're wrong for feeling that way (I would), but it might come across as you being spiteful IYSWIM?

Parsleypants · 02/05/2010 18:32

Oh God no mumbar I am so pleased he likes her, although he has complained recently that she has told him to shut up a couple of times. They split up for a while last year because she wants children and he didn't. I told ex-h he was insane and he should sort things out with her. I really am not a dragon. I have always tried to be reasonable with them. I just feel if I were taking my partner round to his and he (ex-h) gently explained that he preferred me not to do that, I would accept that without question, rather than getting the arse about it!

OP posts:
Parsleypants · 02/05/2010 18:36

This is the wording of the text: Parsleypants, u made the rules at the beginning: me (her name) not to enter in ur house and neither (ex-h name).. I don't like the fact u r trying to manipulate both of us... u shud pack that wii and mind ur life. Regards (her name)

OP posts:
ChickensNeedOpposableThumb · 02/05/2010 18:38

Ooh, she has taken umbridge! Perhaps in her mind you were going to be bestest friends, and the fact that you'd rather have a few boundaries has got her miffed. Brazen it out. Maybe talk to her about your reasons? Then at least you've tried.

Prinpo · 02/05/2010 18:40

You sound as though you were very reasonable and accommodating at the start of their relationship (flowers, cuppa, etc.) and that, as a result, things got off to a good start. As you describe it in your post, I can completely see why you wouldn't want her to keep coming in after every contact - you were ill, you were working full-time in a stressful job and some of her comments were pretty insensitive.

I imagine, however, that when you said what you did something was lost in the translation and she feels put out, ex-h feels protective of her and the whole thing has escalated. The wii situation, seen in that context, becomes something that it isn't, ie it becomes a situation in which you are trying to manipulate ex-h and have him at your beck and call. You know that's not the case, I know that's not the case but they are seeing things in a certain light and that's how it is.

YANBU but I can see how it's happened. If you can possibly summon up the wherewithal necessary (no small feat, I realise), then I would give her the benefit of the doubt, ignore what's a silly and reactionary text, get in touch and explain the situation as you've explained it to us. Miss out the stuff about her comments and explain how poorly you've been feeling and how tired work has been making you as a result - that's more than enough to excuse you from having unnecessary visitors. Explain how it's really important to you that, for your DS's sake, you all keep things friendly, that you appreciate the role she has in his life and that you hope the misunderstanding can be left in the past.

This may take heroic quantities of self-control and I appreciate how very fucking unfair it may feel but you clearly want things to be amicable for your DS.

Afterwards, you can feel exceptionally and justifiably smug at being the better person and drink a whole bottle of wine whilst throwing darts at a secret dartboard with their faces on it.

Parsleypants · 02/05/2010 18:40

I never did it to be nasty to her, it was because I wanted some boundaries I suppose. I never knew whether she'd be there or not until they both rang the doorbell.

OP posts:
mumbar · 02/05/2010 18:41

as I said YANBU to change your mind - your perogitive but just give ex and gf a while to adjust to new arrangements and I'm sure it'll be fine.

Oh and box up the bloody wii and get it fixed for DS as I think he's what matters here and if ex-h won't do it at your don't let him off the hook.

Parsleypants · 02/05/2010 18:43

Prinpo I am now cackling at the thought of a secret dartboard

OP posts:
Parsleypants · 02/05/2010 18:48

(am also pondering peace and quiet of broken wii - no ds hurling himself around living room scaring the neighbours whilst playing FIFA 10)

OP posts:
mumbar · 02/05/2010 18:49

LOL good point well presented parsley!!

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