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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

DP tracking his ExW and reading her emails.

609 replies

NameChangeAsThisIsBloodyAwful · 26/06/2018 08:29

Urgh. This is really messing with my head.

So, DP has been separated for 2 years. Divorce in progress. He left. There are 2 older teenage DCs. We have been together 1.5 years, it's serious and we will be moving in together.

Basically, without writing a novel, there are a few issues at play here. He tracks his ex wife on Find My IPhone - he has the password. He says he does it to see where his children are (on same cloud), and so that he doesn't ever have to bump into exw. I've been unhappy with this as it smacks of not letting go, and of control - not to mention legal implications of invasion of privacy.
Thing is, it's not just for the kids. The exw had a night out on Saturday and he kept checking to see where she was and was frustrated that her phone seemed to be offline.
We rowed about it. I told him he needs to let go. He told me that he has let go, but because of the nature of the split - she took it very badly and it's impacted massively on his relationship with his children who took their mum's side and don't really want to see him, that he does it to feel part of the children's lives still...or something,

It's not only that. He regularly checks her email. He also has that password - she isn't technogically minded, and he set up all these things when they were still together. He says he does it see if there are any emails regarding a sport his eldest dc takes part in, as the exw is telling him nothing anymore. I think that is also completely unacceptable.

Further, he's been very reticent about telling her that he has a new relationship. I accepted that due to the precarious nature of his relationship with his kids and didn't want to rock the boat. However, at this stage we are serious about a future together. The other week we were spotted by a relative of the exw who reported back to her that we had been seen together. She text him to ask if he was with someone else, and expressed that he had promised to tell her if he was seeing someone new, and that it hurt to hear second hand (totally reasonable of her in my opinion) and that she (and the kids, she always involves them) would like the truth from him.

He text her back minimising everything, saying it was someone he had very recently started seeing and that it was far too soon to tell the children.
Lies. Total lies. We've been together since 2016. He has met my entire family and child many times. We have had family holidays together and we are going to be buying a house together.

He is just so scared she will use anything against him to create an even worse relationship with his children.

To say I'm fed up of all of this is a huge understatement. We also rowed about his reply to her text. I understand he would have preferred to tell her that he was in a relationship and not for her to hear it second hand, but he should have told her before, in my opinion. And now that she knows something, he should have been more honest. Not to rub her nose in it, but not to minimise me and make me feel like a nothing in his life.

The rest of our relationship is excellent, otherwise I'd not be able to cope with his.

I don't know what to do about this though. I don't know if I'm being unreasonable or he is. I am looking for some advice on how to handle it.

OP posts:
FinallyHere · 28/06/2018 10:59

in the circumstances, I think you got away with the gentlest least drama outcome possible

Im thinking that you have posted a very vanilla version on here, with just a few hints of how shattering it is. I. An sincerely hoping that you self esteem is strong enough to get you out of this situation, rather than just playing small. And hoping it all blows over so you can continue with him.

Sincerely, I hope you are on your way out. In fact, I can't bring myself to consider that you might be staying with the crumbs he throws you.

thatmustbenigelwiththebrie · 28/06/2018 11:02

I am quite laid back in relationships and don't seem to be bothered by a lot of stuff that bothers people on here. BUT THIS IS TERRIBLE! You cannot stay with this man.

For one thing, his behaviour suggests he still has emotional ties to his ex and the lengths he is going to stalk her is appalling. Would you want him to do this to you? It doesn't matter how tech savvy you are - you shouldn't have to be!

I would not trust this man as far as I could throw him.

yesyesnono · 28/06/2018 14:59

Well done OP. Really brave of you. Sending huge virtual hugs. You did a great thing.

Please take some time to assess your relationship, and do what's right for you. Could you and your DD go away for the weekend somewhere and take some time out? Stay with a friend, drink some wine, talk it through.

Being a single parent can be tough, but it is so much better than being in a crap relationship.

Also, perhaps now you've been in touch with his ex wife, you should have a chat with her? Since she got straight on the phone to him, you might find that not only does she have a different version, but that they have been in contact more than you knew.

Really, really, really hope things work out well for you.

UterusUterusGhali · 28/06/2018 17:16

The wife took it well because she is not a "nutter". She was probably played by him too and remember, as far as she knew he was single and I bet 50p still stringing her along.

He was angry because he is a controlling arse and you spoiled his stalking fun. He probably only became contrite once he remembered he could go to jail for this.

You did the right thing, op. I'm sorry you've spent so long believing you were in a normal relationship.

UterusUterusGhali · 28/06/2018 17:23

The wife took it well because she is not a "nutter". She was probably played by him too and remember, as far as she knew he was single and I bet 50p still stringing her along.

He was angry because he is a controlling arse and you spoiled his stalking fun. He probably only became contrite once he remembered he could go to jail for this.

You did the right thing, op. I'm sorry you've spent so long believing you were in a normal relationship.

TemptressofWaikiki · 28/06/2018 17:46

OP, I was quite critical and sceptical of your intentions but you showed some real chutzpah in actually calling his ex-wife and letting her know. I really am impressed and pleased you took action. Going forward, I really hope that you re-appraise your relationship with him and ensure that he isn’t manipulating and controlling you, however subtle in might be. It might have been so gradual, it’s not always easy to spot. But I would at least take a bit of time for yourself to reflect.

SummerGems · 28/06/2018 18:14

What a very reasonable woman, to react so well to learning she was being stalked. when I found out that my now eXH was following me in a similar way I was very similar to how the ex here behaved, although we were still married at the time. But like the OP’s partner my ex knew all my passwords, had helped me set them up and I didn’t even give it a second thought.

And when I realised what was going on I waited until I knew he’d be away from all tech, and then I went somewhere else and changed every single one of my passwords within five minutes. I didn’t confront him, never said a word to him about the fact I knew. But he knew I knew and he had been waiting for me to blow up which I didn’t. And then a week later he finally admitted it because the fact i knew and also the fact he now couldn’t access anything of mine was absolutely killing him.

The feeling of violation was absolutely horrible, and after I’d shut down all my social media and email accounts to him he went one further and had me followed and bugged the house instead. He just had to know.

But if I’d found out after we’d split I don’t think I would have reacted with outrage either, not to other parties, because it would have occurred to me that I’d not changed my passwords, and because prior to all this we had what I’d believed to be an open honest relationship it wouldn’t have occurred to me that he might do something like that.

It was the inner violation which was the worst. The not knowing whether or not I was being watched or listened to at any moment. But nobody else would have known that.

MissTeBe · 28/06/2018 22:50

OP, if you can, read a copy of “why does he do that”

It’s a real eye opener. I didn’t realise how abusive my marriage was until I read it

Stay away from this man, he is dangerous. I know you can’t see it yet

I know he has said he’d stop/change........do not allow yourself to be taken in my words Watch his actions and reactions very carefully

Stay safe

InfiniteSheldon · 29/06/2018 07:05

Well done you are brave and honest Flowers

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