Why would someone say this?

[Graceflorrick]

My work colleague is very private. He was talking about his partner, for the first time ever but instead of saying 'my partner does XYZ' he said 'the mother of my step daughters does XYZ.'

Why might he talk about his partner like this? It really confused me

That is really weird! Couldn't you ask him?

Was it in a parenting context? A bit odd if it was, very odd if it wasn't.

No, I really couldn't as he's so private. He never talks about himself and I didn't want to put him off

No, not in a parenting context at all. It is odd, isn't it. I can't understand it at all.

My first thought was that he might be gay and his partner is the stepdaughters dad so if he was talking about something their mum does then that would be how he would word it?

I duno I sometimes find myself saying my kids grandad or their grandad instead of saying my dad could be because I spend more time saying to kids, it's Grandad ringing, can you call Grandad, Grandad coming to visit etc

I'd assume they are not together.

Six, id be surprised if he was, you never know though, I guess.

Oh Kween, maybe then.

Blunt, hadn't thought of that.

Gay and he's talking about his partner's ex-wife/mother of partner's children? It'd be more normal to say 'my partner's ex' but I guess it depends on what you're talking about.

What was the context of the comment?

He said, 'The mother of my SD's used to play tennis professionally'

I really don't think he's gay, I'd be so surprised.

I would simply assume he wasn't In a relationship with the mother of his step daughters

I thought he was, but I guess that does make sense. He's private so perhaps he wouldn't have mentioned a break-up!

I'd say they've broken up but he's still in his step-daughters' lives to some extent, or still considers them his step-daughters whether he sees them or not.

I would assume the mother of his stepdaughters is therefore not his partner.

Some people do keep in touch with stepchildren after the relationship has broken down.