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Christmas

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Sharing Xmas with his ex...

7 replies

Anonymousposterxmas · 16/11/2023 17:00

Long post but I need an AIBU here....

Back story;
Partner and I have been together a couple of years. I have 2 DCs full time from previous relationship and we have his 2 DCs half the week. All 4 are same ages between 7-9. Last Xmas (I had just had new baby) we invited both exes to share Xmas morning with us - 'they' have always had alternative xmasses BUT gone to each other's in the morning to watch them open presents. So thought this would be a nice, everyone together, first Xmas all together, easy transition for the kids seen as though there had been so many changes within the one year. Bear in mind, myself and SC mum do not get along. But that's another story that includes her refusing to acknowledge me as their SM and constantly finding one issue or another and general attempted micromanaging and bullying. ANYWAY, I made the effort, painted on a smile and it went fine.
Fast forward to this year, I am pregnant with my 4th, 2nd with partner - taking total number of kids from 5-6 after the new year. It's her year to have SC and partner is wanting to go up and watch them open presents, but doesn't want to miss out here so trying to navigate this. I don't particularly want him to go as he would be collecting them late afternoon anyway and we can do our presents then.
He doesn't have to be there to play happy families with them, just because that's what they've always done. But apparently this is what's happening.
I have also said that next year, I don't want her to come to us. It will be our 2nds first Xmas, our DD will be 2 and more understanding of the whole day and I just don't want to share that with her. Especially as only 2 kids out of 6 are hers and we don't get along. But he thinks I'm being unreasonable and the argument that other families take a day or a half a day each (like my parents did when I was little (Xmas with mum, boxing day with dad)) is not the norm.

AIBU and should I just suck it up and deal with it? Or stand my ground and hope he understands that things are allowed to change now we have our own growing family and he can't expect things to always stay the same?

OP posts:
Afteropening · 16/11/2023 17:09

totally reasonable that she doesn’t come to you

totally unreasonable to stop him popping over to see his children on christmas day

so last christmas you’d been with him a year… and already living together and soon to be pregnant?

how long have you actually been with him? pregnant with your second already…

Afteropening · 16/11/2023 17:10

easy transition for the kids seen as though there had been so many changes within the one year.

understatement if ever there was one. and it needn’t have been the case at all if you’d just taken your time!

Afteropening · 16/11/2023 17:11

wait last christmas you’d been with him a year and you already had had his baby.

blood. hell.

SueblueNZ · 20/12/2023 22:42

Poor bloody kids.

Useruser1212 · 20/12/2023 22:49

It sounds like a really difficult situation. Can he go there super early (kids usually wake for santa super early) and open presents with them then and the come back to you and do it with you? I think going forward he'll have to allocate 'time slots' to each of his families for their santa moments. None of the children deserve to miss out.

Bootskates · 20/12/2023 22:58

It's a bit late to drop on his kids this close to Christmas that he won't be there. Are you not worried that would upset them? Not all parents do what your DP and his ex do (I certainly don't) but that's all their kids know.

Edit just noticed the posted date. But yeah still a but mean to cancel the usual plans in favour of a new(ish) sibling

Marblessolveeverything · 20/12/2023 23:03

Why do the children loose their tradition ? Why can't he see all his children if they've managed it so far?

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