Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Relationships

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:
Helennn · 18/12/2015 17:56

OllyBJolly
(The same could be said of all of us ladies on here who have ended up married to horrible abusive bullies. That is blaming them instead of the bully!) People change, I'm not an idiot.

Threefishys · 18/12/2015 18:31

This is your DP'S issue to fix. I also believe there's more to this arrangement than he's letting on. Anything for a quiet life springs to mind.

wonkylampshade · 18/12/2015 18:42

Threefishys, with respect - I'm absolutely confident he has not made an agreement with her beforehand, despite your scepticism.

OP posts:
Threefishys · 18/12/2015 18:46

So again. It begs the question why are you the one who needs to explain to your DP why you're cross? Is he not cross too? In which case he should deal with it.

wonkylampshade · 18/12/2015 18:47

If you read the thread it's all in there I think.

OP posts:
wonkylampshade · 18/12/2015 18:48

And yes - he should deal with it, I agree!

OP posts:
Threefishys · 18/12/2015 18:49

So the impasse is actually with your DP lack of action not so much exw actions? A tale as old as time isn't it...back to the quiet life thing!

wonkylampshade · 18/12/2015 19:42

It's with her for bulldozing us and him for accepting it, as I've said. The whole situation is frankly exhausting.

OP posts:
ElBurroSinNombre · 18/12/2015 20:03

As I said you, as a couple, have to regain control somehow. You and your DP don't have to do what the ex wants - call her bluff - don't pay and return the gifts. And then don't engage with her - it really is that simple and you can do it if you are disciplined. You will feel a lot better about the situation as well.. The alternative is to expect this sort of thing to happen frequently - you have a choice.

To answer the people who say why did your DP get together with someone so controlling? Apart from the obvious lack of understanding of the situation - I would say that controlling people slowly gain that control over a long period of time in relationships. That is my experience at least. They gradually push and disrespect boundaries until they have achieved what they want. Any questioning or resistance to this - in my case - was met with displays of overbearing and irrational anger.

Joysmum · 18/12/2015 20:15

So again. It begs the question why are you the one who needs to explain to your DP why you're cross? Is he not cross too? In which case he should deal with it

Very wise words.

springydaffs · 18/12/2015 22:31

He's tried to deal with it - and had a breakdown. It's not simple.

Dealing with uber controlling people is an art. Saying 'I wouldn't put up with that!' doesn't begin to cut it.

Op do some digging to find info on how to effectively deal with a narcissist. She may or may not be a narcissist but they are good skills to learn in order not to engage/get dragged around. Ime uber controlling sorts never stop, never fluctuate, no change, just controlling powering on like a train. So it's up to you both to find effective ways to deal with it/her. Don't listen to simplistic laydee, you need specialist advice and training.

Because 'she' has not only brought dp to breakdown but now she, her tentacles, are destroying you too, as well as your relationship.

Ime I eventually laughed inwardly at 'my' narcissists ceaseless and outlandish controlling. There were kids at stake too in my situation though I was the RP and, on paper, had more power - in reality he made me pay if I didn't comply with his diktats to the letter. In many ways I was a human shield protecting the kids as I was ceaselessly bombed. I had many breakdowns.

Dramatic, but I'm trying to spell out how serious this is, that you are dealing with a seriously disordered person who is like a dementor, a black hole, sucking out life. You have to find and perfect the specific skills to deal with her. It's not as simple as 'just say no'.

springydaffs · 18/12/2015 22:33

Laydee? Advice

DontMindMe1 · 18/12/2015 23:49

i'd donate them to the local childrens' hospital and then text her saying they were well received - and she should send them directly there in the future Xmas Grin

When she whines about the money - a simple 'we never asked you to buy them' will suffice.

Isetan · 19/12/2015 05:13

Wether it's his Ex buying the presents or you buying the presents, it amounts to the same thing the father isn't involved much and he appears to be ok with that.

This very much sounds like two women (not just one) trying to exert control, just because you are couple doesn't give you any more authority than his Ex. Take a step back because essentially you are trying to bully your partner into having stronger boundaries with his Ex and that just won't work.

The decision to have stronger boundaries with his Ex isn't your responsibility, it's his. If your partner decides to continue letting his Ex call the shots with his present to his children, then that is his prerogative. As it is yours, to not have your name associated with a present where your input isn't required.

I think you mean well but the ends don't justify the means. Your partners Ex knows just as well as you do, that your partner doesn't like confrontation and the 'path of least resistance' is his default in conflict situations. Which means, he will 'agree' with whoever gives him the most grief, is that really a dynamic you want to contribute to? His passivity doesn't sound like a recent development and unsurprising a different woman calling the shots, hasnt changed that.

All you can do is encourage him to seek professional support in dealing with his issues because if appeasing one woman contributed to a breakdown, I wonder what trying to appease two will do?

wonkylampshade · 19/12/2015 05:47

"The father" is very involved with his kids as a matter of fact - assuming he isn't involved is unfair and completely incorrect. His general reasoning for placating and appeasing her is that it creates less hassle where the kids are concerned (which it doesn't, really).

The presents are going back, he's now been in contact to let her know we don't need them. Hopefully that's one small line in the sand we've drawn and we won't have to deal with this being sprung on us next year.

As I've tried to say throughout - it's about more than the presents - she's a bully and I am getting to the point where I don't feel I can live with her being allowed to push us around much longer.

OP posts:
WhoooshFlooosh · 19/12/2015 06:59

Well done to your Dp. One small step re boundary setting & an example to the DCs that bullying won't be tolerated.

Squeegle · 19/12/2015 08:07

Yay wonky, result. Really glad he's put his foot down. She sounds absolutely barking! It's completely unacceptable what she did. In your shoes I would have been really pissed off as well. It's like me buying presents from my ex (without being asked to), and then demanding to be paid. How crazy would that be??!!!??

wonkylampshade · 19/12/2015 08:18

Thank you! It is bloody crazy, I'm in her shoes if you see things from another perspective and I would never do it either.

Not sure what the fall out will be, hopefully it won't impact on Christmas plans- will wait and see!

OP posts:
Imbroglio · 19/12/2015 08:51

Well done him.

She won't like it so be prepared for the fallout.

Joysmum · 19/12/2015 09:05

So glad he's found his voice Smile

mamas12 · 19/12/2015 09:11

Well done that man.
There will be some sort of fall out so be prepared and be united.
Stick together and don't let her come between you.
Be angry together, try to guess what any reaction will be and try to start to laugh it down and come up with a reaction bingo list of sorts and tick them off however outlandish some of the things you put on the list.
How old are the dcs? Would she tell them a twisted version of what's happened?

Hissy · 19/12/2015 11:17

Well done the both of you! He was able to stand up to her with your support!

I hope she has lost the receipt

HortonWho · 19/12/2015 11:24

Your partner won't stand up to her. However, why can't you? She's expecting you both to pay. Call her and tell her she can come collect them and get herself a refund or you will drive them to the charity shop. Her relationship with your partner shouldn't dictate your relationship with her, if she is a known bully and potential (?) emotional abuser.

ElBurroSinNombre · 19/12/2015 11:28

Well done - that is a very positive step - now please make sure you or your H don't engage in the fall out. Let the ex be angry / have a tantrum on her own and don't let it effect what you do. Ignore any texts - you don't have to answer the phone to her and don't let her in your home. I am sure that taking this step is making you feel empowered, just keep taking steps like this and you'll soon be laughing about how bizaare you find the exes behavour and it will effect you a lot less. Never let your guard down as she will never behave like a normal person. If you have to speak play it with a straight bat. Be calm, assertive and factual and don't rise to the inevitable personal slurs. You can learn how to do this and you will feel much better about the situation.

wonkylampshade · 19/12/2015 11:55

Thank you for all of your wise words - I appreciate the recognition that I DO have a place in this as I do play an important role in the kids lives, and in our home AND in our relationship. This is very much my business and DP would support me completely in saying that. We parent the kids jointly when they are here. We had a good talk this morning now emotions have subsided, and we're in agreement that a line in the sand needs to be drawn. He's totally sick of it too.

We'll do out best to keep things on the low down when the (inevitable) barrage comes our way. Hopefully she's not spiteful enough to involve the kids in any way.

OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread