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Ex refusing use of the term “step-mum”

374 replies

Iamadaddoinghisbest · 15/07/2024 09:56

Hi everyone,
this is my first post, so really hoping for some helpful responses here…

I met my current partner (now wife) 18 months ago and we got married a couple of months ago, around 12 months after getting engaged.
we moved in together around 6 months after initially meeting and made sure to integrate my 6yo daughter into the process to make sure she felt able to discuss any concerns and feel included.
My daughter stays with us 3 nights per week and is very happy in her home life with us.

My ex partner (mother to my daughter) has, since the beginning, expressed continual disapproval of our relationship and at numerous occasions attempted to control how we live in our house:
-commenting on where we do our shopping
-dictating routines in our house
-insisting I don’t choose clothes for my daughter to wear
-involving my daughter in communications to me “tell Daddy he never returns the right clothes” etc
-constant judgemental behaviour and constant messaging even after (on a number of occasions) telling her I don’t want us to message each-other other than on handover days or in an emergency.
-insisting that my wife doesn’t kiss my daughter.

Currently she is now insisting that we cannot use the term “step-mum” or any other variant (bonus mum, extra mum etc) that implies the use of the word mother for my wife.
My wife and I have never pressured my daughter to use any of these terms and at all points explained she can call her whatever she feels most comfortable with. She wants to say Step-Mum because she has friends who also have step step parents so we have just allowed it.

Her mum is insistent that this is forbidden and even told my daughter “just because Daddy & xxx are married doesn’t mean that she is your step mum” and offered no explanation to her.

My daughter came to me to discuss this and was clearly confused and upset and now if the opinion that my wife isn’t actually part of the family but just a “friend” of mine.

Looking for some opinions on this.
My wife is legally my daughters step-mum so I don’t feel she has any right to contest anything here regardless of whether she likes it or not.

OP posts:
oakleaffy · 15/07/2024 12:39

@Iamadaddoinghisbest Your Ex Wife is probably jealous and angry.

My ex husband moved in with and got married to a colleague he worked with - She really wasn't kind to our son. {aged 4 at that time}

When he and the new wife split up, it was a relief to son {and if I'm honest, me!}

However, he met wife number 3 - and son did {and does as an adult now!} get on with her.

If your daughter is happy, this is the most important thing.

Our son never called Wife number 2 or 3 ''Stepmum'' - he referred to them by their name.

''Audrey'' and ''Milly'' - {Not their real names}

You will likely get a bashing on here though with people taking the ex wife's side.

Foxxo · 15/07/2024 12:41

just for context.. i have been divorced 7 years, with my current partner for 18 months, and i have never introduced him to ANY of my family, or either of my teenage kids. They know he exists, but far as i'm concerned, they have 2 parents and do not need a 3rd, my Ex has been the same with his partners.

Meeting, moving in/marrying someone within 18mo is absolutely ridiculous, and i'm not surprised your EX is struggling.

That being said.. she has no right to dictate to you what does/does not happen in your house during your time with your DD, and quite frankly, just ignore her.

added context: i was also a step mother, didn't meet her until a year into the relationship, and never expected my step daughter to call me 'step-mom' she used my name. Even though her dad and i are divorced we still have a good relationship.

oakleaffy · 15/07/2024 12:43

2chocolateoranges · 15/07/2024 12:18

And you got all that from OPs posts! Wow!

OP said he was separated from his daughters mum for 3 years before getting into a new relationship, that is not too soon.

ive seen people have an affair. Leave the married home, divorced and married the next month! Now that’s too soon, not the OPs situation.

Absolutely!

My husband fell for a colleague, and was married to her the minute our divorce came through, {but moved in with ''Audrey'' immediately}

That was moving in with immodest haste with a young child.

lionobserving · 15/07/2024 12:45

OP, the step mum thing is so weird. I don't know anyone that uses step mum as a name, rather than a description. I have never heard "step mum, please may I have a drink". Only "that's x, she's my step mum" or "my step mum said". The former seems very odd to me!

JustEatTheOneInTheBallPit · 15/07/2024 12:47

I'm a stepmother to two children and I have little to no relationship with the ex wife. I met my husband years after they separated but she still "hates" me (according to my SC). My SC and I have a good relationship when they're at my house - I have no real ideal of what they think of me when they are in "Mum Mode", but I can make an educated guess.

Honestly, after many, many years of trying to push back on what we thought was wrong, my husband and I have accepted that which we do not have the power to control and "given in" to make things easier and less conflict-heavy for all of our children.

Children adore their mothers. If you are at odds with an ex partner and mother of your children, give up the notion that you can or should try to change this "for the sake of the children" - you are only creating a battle ground in which the children must live. Let the ex say what she says, don't give it any airtime in front of your children (for example, don't say "you could have an ice cream, but your mum has emailed me to say no more ice creams at my house"). Just say fuck all and refocus your attention elsewhere.

Children who are taught by their primary care giver to dislike and diminish the non-resident parent (NRP) cannot be retrained into love and acceptance the rest of the time. You just won't manage it. The thoughts and wishes of the RP are too strong and will almost always succeed. There has been much research done on this.

Children will instead develop coping mechanisms to "survive" the battleground. They will attempt to curry favour with both parents and blame themselves when this results in more conflict. They will worry about what is happening with the other parent when they are away. They will learn to hold two versions of "truth" in their minds simultaneously, which is disordered thinking. They do all of this because they just want their little world to make sense. You can halve this problem for them by not engaging at all.

You and your ex are both parents to this girl and you are both equally responsible for her. You cannot stop your ex from saying anything she pleases, but you can stop yourself from engaging - sometimes this can feel an awful lot like "giving in" to your ex or letting her "get away with" saying awful things. It can also feel imperative that you set the record straight for your daughter, as you want her to grow up feeling loved and cared for by both parents (and it is a loving and caring thing that we do when we raise our children to think critically and be truthful) BUT, it's really better if you just let the things be said. When your daughter repeats them to you, focus on her feelings without telling her how to feel or letting her know how it makes you feel.

In essence - let your ex call her shots, to your daughter, as she sees them... and do nothing about it. It does not diminish you, it empowers you. It is freeing. You do not have to accept the things she says, you just have to pretend it's reasonable for the sake of your daughter.

Once, my step son said to me "Daddy is a bad man and I know this because Mummy tells me everything. But Daddy never has anything to say to me about Mummy, which is how I know Mummy is very important and kind."

I took this to mean we're doing a good job of reducing conflict in his world.

Apologies to anyone that feels hurt by anything I have said - it is not my intention to upset others, I'm just sharing what works for us in raising my step children.

Xenia · 15/07/2024 12:48

It is a bit strange - although in our family mum is never used even for mothers - it would be mother or mummy.... Sometimes a grandparent wants to be called by their first name not grandpa etc so perhaps just let it go and see what you can do to make the ex wife feel happier about things.

JudgeJ · 15/07/2024 12:50

Mymanyellow · 15/07/2024 10:12

Your new relationship moved quickly, engaged, moving in now married and it’s still only 18 months. I can understand your ex’s concerns, I wouldn’t be thrilled but it’s not up to your ex.
Certainly not up to your ex what your dd calls your current wife. How about her first name?

To appease the ex who seems determine to cause trouble, using his daughter against him? His wife is his daughter's step-mother, nothing to do with his ex, what the child actually calls her on a day to day basis is up to him and his wife.

Lopine · 15/07/2024 12:55

What’s wrong with your daughter just calling your new wife by her first name? It’s friendlier and easier than ‘hey step mum…’

If your new wife is legally your daughter’s step mother, you must have got the legal process underway incredibly soon after meeting. I am not surprised that your ex feels uncomfortable.

Iamadaddoinghisbest · 15/07/2024 12:58

Supersimkin7 · 15/07/2024 12:32

Your ex loathes you for cheating and dumping her with the kid.

She’s weaponised DD to hurt you.

Ex doesn’t think your marriage will last. She’s probably right.

Yep, mediation and parenting classes.

Wow thanks @Supersimkin7
I did neither of these things.
She ended the relationship and I share custody almost 50:50.

OP posts:
KirstenBlest · 15/07/2024 12:59

@2chocolateoranges ,I don't understand your need for the patronising and unhelpful 'Wow!' comment.
Marrying someone within months seems too fast. If one or both have children, more so.

Iamadaddoinghisbest · 15/07/2024 13:00

Lopine · 15/07/2024 12:55

What’s wrong with your daughter just calling your new wife by her first name? It’s friendlier and easier than ‘hey step mum…’

If your new wife is legally your daughter’s step mother, you must have got the legal process underway incredibly soon after meeting. I am not surprised that your ex feels uncomfortable.

She does just use her first name but occasionally says step mum when explaining to people who my wife is.
there has been no pressure on my part for her to use any term in particular, other than what DD is comfortable with.

We got married 18 months after meeting.

OP posts:
Mostlycarbon · 15/07/2024 13:01

Supersimkin7 · 15/07/2024 12:32

Your ex loathes you for cheating and dumping her with the kid.

She’s weaponised DD to hurt you.

Ex doesn’t think your marriage will last. She’s probably right.

Yep, mediation and parenting classes.

What? Are you sure you're even on the right thread? You've got the facts all wrong.

AncientAndModern1 · 15/07/2024 13:02

Does nobody read the OP’s posts before wading in to attack him? I’ve been a stepmother for over 20yrs and am very close to my stepdaughter who is lovely. However it’s not been easy. When I met my husband, he too was long separated, his ex had instigated the split and had moved on with the man she started seeing when they were together. I naively assumed she would be fine and even thought I could be friends with her (I’m a nice, kind, respectable person!). But it was a nightmare. She hated my being around her seven-year-old daughter and I believe she hated her ex being happy as she thought he’d been an unsatisfactory partner to her (she wanted him to earn more money among other things but he was never remotely abusive or unfaithful). She did all the mad, controlling things your ex is doing and some. For example at one point she tried to make us join her in putting young daughter on an low-carb weight loss diet so no bread or pasta.
And I’m afraid it did upset my stepdaughter quite a lot. We were careful never to badmouth her mother. If she and my husband had mediation it might have helped. but she refused and engaged aggressive lawyers instead to try to take away nearly all his contact. My advice? Go to mediation if she will agree to it, otherwise you will just have to try to grin and bear it and carry on living your life without appearing to contradict her. Limit communication & keep it as calm as possible. If your daughter appears consistently upset consider speaking confidentially to the school. Re the stepmum thing, tell your ex you can’t and won’t control what your daughter says at school but at home she calls your wife by her name and that she knows she’s not her mum. Tell your daughter that everyone loves her and while your wife is her stepmum maybe don’t say that to mummy. Maybe help your daughter do nice things for her mum like make a card or draw her a picture to take home with her, even if you have to encourage this through gritted teeth. Hopefully she will calm down over time, especially if she gets a new partner. I’m sorry. It’s shit. Sorry for long post. I feel quite triggered recalling it all!

Iamadaddoinghisbest · 15/07/2024 13:02

KirstenBlest · 15/07/2024 12:59

@2chocolateoranges ,I don't understand your need for the patronising and unhelpful 'Wow!' comment.
Marrying someone within months seems too fast. If one or both have children, more so.

@KirstenBlest regardless of opinion on timeframes here, I was responding to and correcting two assumptions that were both incorrect.

OP posts:
Jl2014 · 15/07/2024 13:04

So your ex ended the relationship when your daughter was 3. Then you had a 3 year gap between relationships. You say you have been with current wife for 18months but your daughter is 6? Doesn’t add up.

Iamadaddoinghisbest · 15/07/2024 13:04

AncientAndModern1 · 15/07/2024 13:02

Does nobody read the OP’s posts before wading in to attack him? I’ve been a stepmother for over 20yrs and am very close to my stepdaughter who is lovely. However it’s not been easy. When I met my husband, he too was long separated, his ex had instigated the split and had moved on with the man she started seeing when they were together. I naively assumed she would be fine and even thought I could be friends with her (I’m a nice, kind, respectable person!). But it was a nightmare. She hated my being around her seven-year-old daughter and I believe she hated her ex being happy as she thought he’d been an unsatisfactory partner to her (she wanted him to earn more money among other things but he was never remotely abusive or unfaithful). She did all the mad, controlling things your ex is doing and some. For example at one point she tried to make us join her in putting young daughter on an low-carb weight loss diet so no bread or pasta.
And I’m afraid it did upset my stepdaughter quite a lot. We were careful never to badmouth her mother. If she and my husband had mediation it might have helped. but she refused and engaged aggressive lawyers instead to try to take away nearly all his contact. My advice? Go to mediation if she will agree to it, otherwise you will just have to try to grin and bear it and carry on living your life without appearing to contradict her. Limit communication & keep it as calm as possible. If your daughter appears consistently upset consider speaking confidentially to the school. Re the stepmum thing, tell your ex you can’t and won’t control what your daughter says at school but at home she calls your wife by her name and that she knows she’s not her mum. Tell your daughter that everyone loves her and while your wife is her stepmum maybe don’t say that to mummy. Maybe help your daughter do nice things for her mum like make a card or draw her a picture to take home with her, even if you have to encourage this through gritted teeth. Hopefully she will calm down over time, especially if she gets a new partner. I’m sorry. It’s shit. Sorry for long post. I feel quite triggered recalling it all!

@AncientAndModern1 thank you so much for taking the time to respond.
it sounds like you experienced something quite similar.

OP posts:
Lopine · 15/07/2024 13:05

I would choose your battles, whatever makes it easier for your daughter. I think the adults have to try to put their feelings aside somewhat, hard as that is.

As a child I referred to my Dad’s wife as Dad’s wife Pam, if people asked who she was. I loved Pam but she was not my mother, I already had a mother.

Would your ex agree to mediation?

Reugny · 15/07/2024 13:06

Flopsythebunny · 15/07/2024 11:23

But step parents have no legal parental rights. Daddy could drop dead tomorrow and mother can stop all contact immediately.

It's actually more complex than that as it depends on age of child, whether they are half-siblings and what else is going on.

Children have a legal right to have a relationship with their siblings which includes half-siblings and sometimes even step-siblings. In Scotland this is actually written in law while the rest of the UK relies on case law. As a result in certain cases, and I know some personally, the child has ended up living with their step-parent rather than than their actual parent. The step-parent subsequently had to get guardianship rights for the child.

I also know people, who are now of different ages, who due to being secondary age maintained their own relationship with a former step-parent on the death or divorce of them from their parent.

BetterWithPockets · 15/07/2024 13:06

God, some of the responses on here! He’s a man so it MUST be his fault…

OP, your ex sounds bitter and controlling. Not sure what the answer is other than (as others have suggested) mediation —especially if you feel it’s having an adverse affect on your DD. If you don’t think it’s affecting your DD particularly, though, then I’d suggest telling your ex you’re not going to respond to messages about what happens at your home unless you think it’s relevant — and then duly ignoring. Alternatively you could perhaps have a few stock phrases you use to respond to her messages, eg, that decision is DD’s and I’m happy with that.

Good luck…

Viviennemary · 15/07/2024 13:06

Like it or not your ex is the child's mother. If she doesn't want your new partner to be referred to as any kind of mother then her wishes should be respected.

ByLoudSeal · 15/07/2024 13:08

I feel like you’re a really nasty person who can’t sympathise with or understand your ex wife and I feel really sorry for her that she bore your child and now you’ve ferried off to replace her as a mother and wife

BetterWithPockets · 15/07/2024 13:08

Viviennemary · 15/07/2024 13:06

Like it or not your ex is the child's mother. If she doesn't want your new partner to be referred to as any kind of mother then her wishes should be respected.

What about the DD’s wishes though? Did you read the part where the OP said it was the DD’s decision?

marcopront · 15/07/2024 13:09

@MrsSunshine2b

I'm annoyed by all the judgy comments you are getting on the speed of your relationship. My husband and I were the exact same, engaged after 3 months, moved in around the same time, married 18 months later. Very happy 7 years on. Your timescales are no-one else's business. When you know, you know.

Either

He didn't know in the first relationship but went ahead and had a child

Or

He knew and the relationship went wrong

Or

"When you know you know " is rubbish

Windchiming · 15/07/2024 13:10

Regalia · 15/07/2024 10:49

Yes, exactly.

It's 18 months, not 6.

marcopront · 15/07/2024 13:12

I'm confused

You have said

you had been separated for 3 years when you met your wife

you met your wife 18 months ago

your daughter was 3 when you split up

your daughter is now 6

One of those must be wrong