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Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Angry with EXDH and I need to get over it but can't.

13 replies

StanSmithsChin · 11/09/2015 10:20

Bit of back story.

After 14 years and 4 DC we separated 9 months ago.
Nobody else involved we just stopped being a couple and both were miserable.
We have remained good friends, co parent the DC, parent the same way and are 50-50 regarding DC.

EXDH has been dating for a few months ( I helped him with his dating profile Smile ) but nothing serious and I have been in a relationship just under 6 months. This was fine as neither of us feel that way about each other however ex has met somebody he has really clicked with and now there is a problem.

Two weeks ago I received a text from ex saying he had introduced DC to his new friend But he thinks the DS 11 may have twigged there was more too it so may ask me questions. Now this came as a shock as he had only been out on his first date/meeting on the Tuesday , second date Friday and introduced her to DC on the Saturday. My instant thought was this is too quick but I trust him, he is level headed and has always put DC first. I text back ok no problem I will manage any questions from DSS.

I collected DC a few days later and DS said he had met dads new GF I asked if that was ok and he said it was fine. DD's 8 also said the new she was dads NG as they were holding hands and dad touched her bum Grin.
Long chat with DC about how adults need relationships and that is ok as they will always matter to us and relationships make people happy. They seemed fine with this and all said NG was nice and chatted to them lots.

Fast forward 7 days and I drop DC back at EXDH quick chat, relationship going well had a few dates/stayed over all very positive. I collected DC 4 days later and there was something wrong. They were cagey/quiet when I asked about their time with daddy, did they have fun etc. I didn't push them to talk but later that evening DS11 and DS13 asked to chat. They said they are upset about dads NG. Their first day back with dad NG came over in the afternoon and stayed all night. They said she is nice but it felt weird (first women in family home since me) her sleeping in my bed and her dressing gown in the bathroom ( I have no idea why this bothers DS11 but it did). She stayed the whole day Sunday and then came for tea on Tuesday. So out of the 4 days with dad they only had him On his own for 1 day.

I told them it is natural to feel weird about it and that I would have a chat with dad. Inside I was fuming, and couldn't believe he would rush this with DC. I spoke to the DDs the next day and they echoed the weird feeling and they like her a lot but wish she wasn't always there.

I rang EXDH and although I tried to stay calm I am ashamed to say I lost it with him. He had not once thought about DC and was only thinking with his dick Blush. In between ranting I did manage to point out the affect his actions had on DC. He refused to believe he had done anything wrong and said I should trust him. I told him I couldn't as he had got this so wrong and his priorities were clearly not the DC.
He called back a few hours later apologised and said I was right, he and NG agreed they rushed it and will back off with DC and let it progress at DCs pace.
He said he will talk to DC and apologise/ make it right with them.
As I said at the beginning he is normally level headed and a fantastic loving father and I know he just got caught up in the moment and made a mistake but I can't seem to stop being angry with him. Throughout the spilt we worked hard to make it good for DC, they see us together being friends laughing getting on and this has had a positive affect on them. Right now I don't even want to look at EXDH but I know that this would cause problems for DC.

I need to get over this and move on but it feels like the anger is here to stay and I don't know how to get rid of it. Anyone able to help me calm down and move on from this?

Sorry for the epic post.

OP posts:
Whereyourtreasureis · 11/09/2015 10:46

FWIW I think you've handled the split admirably.
I totally agree that the new GF being such a frequent fixture so quickly, he was thinking with his dick!
You've told him straight where he went wrong, and he at least had the good grace to take it on the chin, back down and promise to put it right with his DCs. A lot of Exes don't, and use their ex's frustration as ammunition to get a reaction.

You brought him back down to earth. He's had time to reflect, and is going to fix his mistake. That is a good outcome. Continuing to be angry at him now serves no purpose.

Again, well done to both of you for handling the situation so well. He was doing so up until this point, so I'd concentrate on just getting back to how things were before this.

StanSmithsChin · 11/09/2015 11:00

Thank you for replying. I know you are right and I can't beat him with a stick anymore but I just can't rid myself of the anger......maybe hitting him with a stick would help Grin

I used to trust him 100% where the DC were concerned and that has reduced now which is really sad. He is a good guy and I am genuinely pleased he has found someone he has connected with I want him to be happy just not at the risk of DC. My reasonable side knows this isn't who he is and I will move on from the disappointment because I have to to make life good for DC.

OP posts:
Baconyum · 11/09/2015 11:04

I'm wondering if this incident has coincided with you reaching the anger stage of your grieving the loss of the relationship/what you thought your future would be. Because a relationship breakdown is almost like a bereavement and we do tend to go through the same stages.

StanSmithsChin · 11/09/2015 11:11

It was me that ended it. We had both been unhappy for a few years but he was ok with that. We always got on and rarely argued but the relationship wasn't what it was supposed to be iyswim. You could be right I just don't feel like I am grieving I just feel angry with him for doing this to DC after all the effort we put in to minimise the impact of our split.

OP posts:
RedMapleLeaf · 11/09/2015 11:27

I'm wondering if this incident has coincided with you reaching the anger stage of your grieving

I was going to ask about this too.

zizilee · 11/09/2015 12:04

At least he listened ....... ExDH has been out with 8 women since we split 4 yrs ago. He has now been with his NGF for 8 months within a week my DC were having to stay over at her house and sleep in the same bed as her DD.

I objected as the DC complained of having no 1 on 1 time with their dad. In response I got abuse from ExDH and NGF which continues on a daily basis either to my face by text or solicitors letters !

So let me know how you stop being angry !!!! As I cant yet

Rebecca2014 · 11/09/2015 12:16

He sounds like a good man, you talked to him and he listened! my ex would have not have had the same reaction. The situation sounds sorted so no I do not understand why you are still angry, unless you are jealous.

RedMapleLeaf · 11/09/2015 13:06

I think that's possible to find something or someone desirable just because it becomes less available. Do you think it's possible to be feeling like that without actually wanting the other person back?

StanSmithsChin · 11/09/2015 16:18

Thank you all for the reply's. Sorry I disappeared RL stuff got in the way of my anger Smile

Went to see the ex today as I couldn't shake the anger but I need to so that we can go back to being normal/good for DC.

I really am not jealous, I am in a new relationship and very happy the fact ex has met somebody new makes me happy not jealous.
We had a very open and quite deep conversation. I wasn't convinced he fully understood the impact his actions have had on the DC and me ( I suddenly didn't trust him to make good choices where DC are concerned). As it happens I was right and he had minimized this.

It wasn't a pleasant conversation to begin with tbh and I went through the things the DC had said and I could see it was upsetting for him. He apologized countless times but more than that he could see what he had done. We talked about how he can fix it and also how he can move his new relationship forward as he felt so guilty he wasn't sure he wanted to continue with it.

I have said that twice a month I will have DC an extra night so that he can have some him time, he works 4 13 hour days then has DC for 4 days so not much personal time. He is going to slowly reintroduce NG with the odd meal and afternoon out working up to overnights when the DC are ready.

I feel so much better and the anger has disappeared. Neither of us has a big support network when it comes to caring for DC so we still need to be a parenting team. We had a hug thanked each other and when I left it felt like we are both ok Smile

OP posts:
RedMapleLeaf · 11/09/2015 17:30

I think you both sound like fantastic parents.

StanSmithsChin · 11/09/2015 18:14

Thank you Red Smile

We really want to be but my god it was hard as a couple it is still bloody hard apart Confused

OP posts:
Wewereneverbeingboring · 11/09/2015 19:43

I have to admit I often disagree wth your points of view but think you have handled this one brilliantly. Your kids are lucky to have you as their mum.

StanSmithsChin · 11/09/2015 22:25

Thank you WeW
I didn't know we had such a clash so that actually means quite a lot Smile

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