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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

Help me explain to DP why I am foaming about this

101 replies

wonkylampshade · 18/12/2015 10:37

He arrived home with main presents for my DSC which his ex presumed to buy on our behalf, for us to give them when they arrive on Boxing Day. No discussion, no sign off. She did this last year as well, and it caused friction then too. This year I lost it. They are going back come hell or high water. She can include them in her own pile of presents for them! I have already bought and wrapped the presents we are giving them, as I had also done last year.

Background is that she is a seriously controlling, temperamental bully, who has walked all over DP since the DSC were tiny, and taken huge advantage of him financially. He actually had an awful breakdown a few years ago after years of persistent bullying phone calls - that's more or less stopped but she still hassles him by text sometimes. He doesn't like confrontation. I'm so bloody hurt and angry that she is now forcing herself onto our family Christmas. And I feel completely let down that he took them, rather than returning them and firmly saying "thanks for the thought, but we will choose what we're buying them for Christmas" (we are expected to pay her for these presents, of course). At this point in time I don't care if we have to return the toys to her, and then go to the shop and buy exactly the same things - it is that important to me that she doesn't presume to do this to us.

Am I being completely unreasonable in feeling this is totally intrusive given the history here, and to feel so let down by DP's failure to just stand up to her for once? Rightly or wrongly, it's just made me feel completely irrelevant in the whole scenario (yet again). We've ended up at loggerheads on our youngest's first birthday because of this.

His reaction is that he'll return them and tell her not to do it again, purely because I am so angry - I am now upset because he doesn't seem to 'get' that the significance of this feels much larger to me than it might superficially seem. I don't feel we have a united front about this and that really bothers me.

OP posts:
Baconyum · 18/12/2015 14:52

I feel sorry for the father and children here. Doesn't sound like the fathers getting a day in the matter at all!

Op when you say you're expected to pay for these gifts has the ex wife made clear she expects the money to come from you or just their father? You may have joint finances that doesn't mean exw thinks she's expecting op to pay maybe she sees it as their father paying? Especially as it's only 2 of the gifts.

Have you asked dp what HE wants to do?

Frankly it sounds like he's gone from one controlling woman to another.

CheersMedea · 18/12/2015 15:03

Actually when I said this:

- someone (whether you or DP) needs to tell her that these gifts are gifts from her and they will be given to the children as gifts from her.

It maybe that they should be joint gifts from her and your DP. It's probably a nice thing for children to get a joint present from their mother AND father.

wonkylampshade · 18/12/2015 15:03

Believe me I am not controlling, I'm at the end of my tether being controlled by this bloody woman! Literally. It's exhausting and demoralising.

OP posts:
Elendon · 18/12/2015 15:05

Regarding the payment, I think she's taking the P I double S. It's not on. Don't give her the money. She'll soon stop that. I can understand it's an unwelcome interruption on your time as a family together.

I would be happy for my children to go to a home where both partners were looking after them with love and care.

It's Christmas. Why not just say this last time, this present is from Mum. Or give them the presents to bring to their mum's home to open up. Sorry but I thought she gave out presents on Boxing Day.

Remember though, you have a blended family. Perhaps just concentrate on your own biological children? Let your partner concentrate on his children.

I've no idea what my ex gets my children for Christmas, and I never ask unless they tell me. We did share for the first two years after separation, but that was just because our youngest has special needs.

Live and let live. And save the anxiety for the blooming turkey!

wonkylampshade · 18/12/2015 15:09

Thank you Elendon, I know it's ridiculous to get into a state but I'm in bloody tears here, it's over two hundred quid we can ill afford, but more fundamentally, it's just us being bulldozed again.

If the general consensus is giving the presents here in Boxing Day, from mum that's what we could do. I think we will get a massive tantrum if we don't reimburse her though.

OP posts:
Elendon · 18/12/2015 15:34

Ignore the tantrum, it's simply not on. Apologies btw for saying you sound controlling. That was unnecessary.

Go halves? And then say that's it - the end! Give her the money in an envelope and run. Some people just simply take your breath away with being so cheeky! I'm speechless.

Now, about that blooming turkey!

ElBurroSinNombre · 18/12/2015 15:53

wonky,

You have got to take control back if you want to stop feeling like this. The only way to do that is not to rise to it and to carry on regardless of what the ex says. Give the ex a taste of her own medicine by going about your business as you would and not communicating with her. I have done this and it feels great - do not respond to texts - or only occasionally. Let her guess what is happening for a change. Give your presents, send the others back - you don't have to explain or pay for them. Wait for her to react and then stonewall her with - you didn't ask her to do this, you can't afford to pay and you are capable of choosing and buying gifts for the kids yourselves. I have been through this sort of thing and this approach is what works - and you will feel empowered. Never expect the ex to act like a reasonable person and maintain your boundaries at all times.

StDogolphin · 18/12/2015 15:53

Put them in the loft and don't give her any money for them.

CheersMedea · 18/12/2015 15:59

it's over two hundred quid we can ill afford, but more fundamentally, it's just us being bulldozed again.

It really isn't unless you allow it!

Don't give her the money. What is she going to do about it other than whinge?

And equally (see my earlier post) you can tell the kids they are presents from her or from her + DP jointly. She just needs to be told. Then no bulldozing has occurred. No money changing hands, no consent for these to be your joint presents and no bulldozing.

You are seriously overthinking all of this.

CheersMedea · 18/12/2015 16:01

X-post.

I think you have to weather out a tantrum for one year if you want to stop it.

It's not that unreasonable to say "we didn't agree to pay for this and we didn't choose them" so tough. You may also want to say "if in future you wish to give a joint "mother & father" from you + DP, that you need to agree that with DP in advance and the cost will be split."

CharlotteCollins · 18/12/2015 16:12

She's not trying to buy a joint present, though, she's buying presents on behalf of her ex. It is weird, OP.

However, you are not going to change her, so you need to change your approach. Otherwise you will stress yourself into ill health!

So what if she has a tantrum? You'll still know she was unreasonable. She might never see it.

I don't think you should give the presents to the children saying they're from her, because you know that's not what she wants. That's why I suggested putting them in a safe place until she can collect them. Maybe she'll want to return them if you're not going along with her plans?

Keep telling yourself that you don't have to do what she thinks you should do. And then roll your eyes at her strange behaviour and get on with living life how you want.

creativevoid · 18/12/2015 16:28

I too have to deal with a controlling ex and el burro is completely right. Don't engage, don't confront, don't argue, but don't pay. The more upset you are and the more confrontation there is the more she is enjoying it.

wonkylampshade · 18/12/2015 16:30

You are absolutely right, I so wish I hadn't risen to this latest stunt.

OP posts:
SongBird16 · 18/12/2015 16:35

It is so out-of-the-ballpark weird to give you a pile of unwanted presents and then ask for £200, that there must be another side to this story surely.

I wonder whether the kids did a list and, by arrangement with your DP, she bought everything on it and then asked him which presents he wanted to give to them?

Or whether, months ago, she offered to get the main presents to save him the bother?

Or whether she asked him if he had presents sorted and he said no, so she sent something for him to give to them?

Or whether in previous years he's bought presents that the children didn't want, or duplications, so she thinks she's making sure they get what's on their lists?

I'd bet my right arm that, somewhere along the way, he's agreed to this but is backtracking now he can see how annoyed you are.

OllyBJolly · 18/12/2015 16:43

The exes behavour is about exerting control over the OP and her partner, not about the best interests of the children

Is it? Or is this the OP's interpretation of the behaviour? There is a tendency on these threads to seek out malevolent intent from an exW when - quite possibly - none exists.

Maybe the ex is buying from the kids' santa list? Maybe two years ago the OP and her DP bought the kids stuff they didn't want and they complained to mum? The age of the kids is relevant here - are they presents from Santa rather than from named givers? And just maybe, she's thinking she'll save you the bother as you have a new baby to look after so could probably do without the hassle of shopping and wrapping etc.

I agree with the other posters saying this is not your battle. it's for the children's father to resolve with the children's mother. He has to say either he chooses and pays for Christmas presents or she chooses and he pays his share. It's not for you to get het up about.

wonkylampshade · 18/12/2015 16:43

No, it's the same story as last year. It's a surprise to both of us. The kids don't get unwanted gifts here either, far from it. They generally get exactly what they ask for in fact.

OP posts:
UsernameIncorrect · 18/12/2015 17:02

If your husband really doesn't want to give these gifts, why would he accept them and then pay for them?

wonkylampshade · 18/12/2015 17:18

Because he wil face threats about access to his kids if he ever stands up to her Username- believe me he does not like this situation either...his reasons might be different from mine but he also finds her an intrusive, overbearing bully.

OP posts:
OllyBJolly · 18/12/2015 17:24

he also finds her an intrusive, overbearing bully

OP - if this is the case, why is your thread entitled "help me explain to DP why I am foaming about this* ? Surely if he feels the same way as you, then he would either :

a. Be "Foaming" too
b. understand why you are "foaming"?

If not, then you should look at how you are viewing the situation. There is maybe more to it than you are seeing.

(I do find myself wondering why these men marry such "intrusive, overbearing bullies" in the first place.)

Joysmum · 18/12/2015 17:25

Of course it's about control!

I'm sure all of us have seen their kids receive unwanted, unsuitable or duplicate gifts in the past!

Hands up, who on here have as a result bought presents for their kids without being asked to and then told family members or friends they owe them money for them as that what they are giving the kids for christmas?

If anyone has taken it upon themselves to do this you are overstepping the mark by a mile.

The normal behaviour would be to suggest ideas, not take over without being asked and without knowing if that person has already bought or even what their budget is.

wonkylampshade · 18/12/2015 17:27

He didn't marry her, he's as fed u with her as I am but does not like confrontation and acquiesces to her to avoid it. Unfortunately now that's led to a fall out in our house because I feel she has totally overstepped the mark this time and I'm absolutely sick of being walked on by her. I'm sure she's well aware of this and it'll be one of the reasons she has done it!

OP posts:
wonkylampshade · 18/12/2015 17:27

Thank you Joysmum!

OP posts:
PrimeDirective · 18/12/2015 17:34

I don't see how it has anything to do with you.
Of course it has to do with the OP, she's their step-mother! That is an important role in these kids' lives and it is lovely that she buys them presents from her and her DP.

If the mum had wanted to spend £200 on behalf of her ex to buy presents that she knew her kids wanted, then she should have checked with him first. It is downright rude to go and spend someone else's money without agreeing it with them in advance.

The fact that he has gone along with it (for whatever reason) is an issue because he just wants to keep the peace. He needs to speak to her and arrange to return some or all of the presents as you have already spent your budget on their presents, and ask her not to do that again.

mamas12 · 18/12/2015 17:41

Give them back Xmas eve or near as dammit with a note saying you have already bought the dcs their presents thank you and then try to detach
Please don't let her get under your skin. Don't reply to any demands afterwards re paying for them you do not owe her an explanation.
Good luck with the fall out but it will be better in the long run really

LeaLeander · 18/12/2015 17:44

Do they have a legally binding agreement re access? How can she threaten him if he has legal rights as their parent?

Maybe the 200 should be invested in a consultation with a solicitor rather than repaying her for the presents - and tell her that is what the money is being spent on.