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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

Adult children taking sides in our break up despite not encouraging that

41 replies

SwaylorTwift · 28/12/2021 10:24

I am so exhausted and sad.

Christmas has been very difficult, first one apart from DH after finding out he had been unfaithful earlier in our marriage.

I still love him but feel so angry with him (it was a year and I think he probably had more flings after a deception like that) so wanted a day just me and children etc but in the end Christmas was not nice without him. Everyone missed him.

Now children (firstly supportive of this choice) now express sympathy for poor dad and say they hated Christmas even though I tried to make it lovely for them all.

I now feel like the villain in the story for ruining Christmas.

OP posts:
Theunamedcat · 28/12/2021 10:30

Poor dad? Poor dad shouldn't have cheated do your children have such a low opinion of you they want you to put up with that?

SwaylorTwift · 28/12/2021 10:41

He has a big personality and was everyone's favourite. I am quieter. But I never felt the children loved him more than me. Enjoyed him more if you know what mean.

Christmas without him was boring. I see their point. They also think it was a long time ago and (when they were young) yes it was bad but I should forgive him.

Part of me wants to but I am so hurt.

I have booked counselling for new year as my Christmas present to myself.

DH sent me gifts with the children but they are still under the tree unopened.

The house is empty today. I am glad children are gone as they were full of opinions.

OP posts:
fruitbrewhaha · 28/12/2021 10:48

They were full of opinions! WTF, so you should have stayed with their cheating father because it would have made a Christmas better for them. Right.

I'm really glad you are going to counselling. Your adult children are being very unfair to you OP. If Christmas was a bit flat then they are just as to blame for that. They, as adults, also have a part to play in chatting, entertaining etc and should also understand they you may be feeling very low about the break up. It was up to them to bring some cheer and crack open a board game or the karaoke or what ever they wanted to make it a party. Complaining about it afterwards is very poor of them and jolly selfish. Perhaps they take more after their father.

SmallElephant · 28/12/2021 10:51

It's an adjustment for everyone, OP. It's not up to your children to tell you that you should forgive him, but it is understandable that they found Christmas quiet and sad without him.

Bagelsandbrie · 28/12/2021 10:51

When you say adults - do you mean late teens / early 20s or older? I’m asking because late teens are basically toddlers in disguise and they won’t understand the whole picture. They’re often selfish and are probably hurt and upset and don’t know how to channel their own anger. If they’re older than that they need telling they’re being ridiculous and their Christmas happiness is not your responsibility.

You’ve done nothing wrong. At all.

NoSquirrels · 28/12/2021 10:52

I think your adult children need reminding in strongest terms that adults don’t offer opinions on what other adults do or don’t do in their relationships.

They sound really rude and entitled.

I’m sorry, OP.

SwaylorTwift · 28/12/2021 10:58

The children are very early twenties, and yes I can see they are still immature despite moving out and having their lives. They are really sad we have separated.
But I am too. I feel betrayed, so betrayed, but I am also feeling like my moral angry pride is hurting everyone, even me, who misses him also.

OP posts:
SwaylorTwift · 28/12/2021 10:59

I agree they were being rude!

OP posts:
MMMarmite · 28/12/2021 11:00

How old are they? Were they attacking your choices, or just expressing their feelings?

I think you need to act confidently in your decision, and don't give them inappropriate power over you. Your friends (or mumsnet) are the ones who you should look to as cheerleaders and advisors.

It's okay and natural for your kids to feel really sad about Christmas without him, and to feel sympathy for their father. Let them feel those feelings, while being firm on your own boundaries.

MMMarmite · 28/12/2021 11:02

Also remember the first year will always be tough, over time you will find new patterns and rhythms.

NoSquirrels · 28/12/2021 11:03

It’s fine for them to be sad about it.

It’s not fine to tell you how to feel about it, or how to act in your own home.

It’s really raw now. In time, hopefully you’ll move towards a relationship with your ex-husband that allows happy family occasions like weddings etc with no stress or tension, for the sake of your adult children. But that time is not now, and it’s not on for them to make you feel like you should suck up your (perfectly valid) emotions in order to cater to what ‘normal’ is for them.

You all have to get used to a new normal.

You haven’t ruined Christmas and it’s not your fault.

SwaylorTwift · 28/12/2021 11:06

Yes new patterns and rhythms sounds nice.

I've realised that despite me being very neutral in how I talk about DH to them I did force them to choose sides by hosting Christmas without him so they had to choose who to be with.

This is horrible.

OP posts:
AuntieStella · 28/12/2021 11:08

They are old enough to understand enough, but I think you still need to be tactful

I would go along the lines of 'I didn't choose to be in these circumstances, but I'm trying to make the best of it. It's been tough for all of us, and I'm hoping we'll go forward in to the New Year stronger'

Plus 'Would you rather be at your Dad's next Christmas? It's too early to be making plans, of course, but there are lots of options to talk about later on'

No matter how old the DC get, there's something about going 'home' for Christmas that resonates, and perhaps this is the first time it's really resonated for them

SwaylorTwift · 28/12/2021 11:13

I hate that I didn't choose to end my marriage.
By that I mean I didn't fall out of love with him. I was so happy
I thought he was the same but this affair showed me I was deluded.
Of course he says he loves me desperate to come home etc
But he ruined everything.

The children said they never thought they would have divorced parents.

It's all so crass and vile...an affair for god's sake. Like a cheap novel plotline.

OP posts:
gogohm · 28/12/2021 11:15

My kids miss their dad(similar age) but know he decided to leave me so made his decision. They did enjoy Christmas and Dp's DD's joined us too, dd2 and Dp's dd2 get on very well for near strangers

madisonbridges · 28/12/2021 11:18

It's your life and you have to live it in the best way for you. Of course its easier for the children to forgive him. The cheating didn't impact on them and you're now inconveniencing their lives! For them this is a realisation that every event from now on will be a choice between the two of you. It won't be mum and dad. It will be mum or dad. No matter how old they are, this is hard to accept.

But what happened so long ago does impact on your life. To stay with him means that you would have to live with constant uncertainty. Only you can choose how you want your future to be. Your children will learn to get on board.

Devilmakes3 · 28/12/2021 11:18

It is so hard OP I am so sorry.

I think it is important to let them have their emotions, they are grieving, but also I think is is right that you ask that they remember your limits as a human being too because you are a person too who is grieving in your own right.

I have had similar but lesser circumstance from my own kids where there has been a big fallout in my case in my extended family due to very difficult circumstances (abuse).

Inevitably it is the people who try to change the status quo who get all the pushback.

I was really ready to buckle from it recently as I couldn’t deal with the pushback I was getting when my DH reminded me that what was going on was a shit show, a shit show that I didn’t cause, and all I can do is my best to get through it. I think that was good advice and it is certainly good advice for you. I remind my kids now that I am a human with limits and I didn’t cause this shit show and I’m doing the best I can and I am very, very sorry that they are suffering too. That works because it puts us all back on the same page of being family working together to get through a shit show. It will be even more difficult for you and your kids because of the loss being such a central figure to you all. I am so sorry for what you are experiencing.

LauraAshleyDuvetCover · 28/12/2021 11:24

I can completely understand why you've split up and I think counselling is a very good present to yourself. I don't think your children (although technically adults) are at an age where they'll be very helpful though.

This is anecdotal, but I have a friend whose DPs split up when she was 20 and she really struggled with it. She couldn't understand how it could "go wrong" after they been married for twenty five years, and felt like if she hasn't been away at university it wouldn't have happened.

Which obviously isn't true, but I think at that age you're going out and becoming independent, but really want home to be there just the same as it always has been. Yes, some people are married/have children by then but I think an awful lot are still finding their feet as adults and just don't have the relationship/emotional experience to understand what's happened.

thetinsoldier · 28/12/2021 11:40

What @fruitbrewhaha says!

Your kids have a bloody cheek. They don't get to decide how you feel or how you react; only you get to decide that. You are entitled to your feelings. It may have been a long time ago that your ex was unfaithful but the hurt is new to you, and you need time to process it. I think counselling would help.

See good friends, surround yourself with a good support network. Hugs. 💐

Zilla1 · 28/12/2021 11:40

FWIW, OP, I wouldn't read the statements in your OP as your DC taking your ex's side, rather just expressing their feelings. What in what they've said do you think is taking his side over yours?

ravenmum · 28/12/2021 11:52

The children said they never thought they would have divorced parents
Did you give an evil laugh, rub your hands together and tell them that was your plan all along?

My children are more understanding about the divorce, I think. But in totally different contexts I've sometimes had moments when I've been surprised at how naive or lacking in understanding they are about something - they aren't children, but they are only young adults.

It's the first year, right OP? It was never going to be fun. It will get better, though. Next time you can arrange it so that you both have the kids - one at lunch, one in the evening, maybe?

SwaylorTwift · 28/12/2021 11:53

At first they were shocked and sympathised with me, with my hurt and anger.

At Christmas dinner they started sympathising with him missing us and not being there.

They had obviously to him and got his perspective. It was a mistake a long time ago when he had been depressed. It wasn't him, it was a symptom of dark depression etc. The affair was mostly distraction from his life (which I pointed out was the hard work of parenting them and business troubles, something I had got on with and held all of us together!)

Their main points were I was unhappier now without him. We had been happy for so long. It wasn't worth ending relationship over something so long ago etc.. they even brought out that I am a Christian and should be more forgiving!

OP posts:
ravenmum · 28/12/2021 12:01

"I don't want to talk about this now."
"I hope that you are never in this situation, but if you were, then you would understand."

The first year, my exh gave me a present, too. I told him very clearly not to do it again, and he has not. Take the gifts to a charity shop and tell your ex politely that they were very grateful to have them.

thecatfromjapan · 28/12/2021 12:07

They're still working through it.

Plus, they're still working out their adult relationship with you.

They'll be wondering whether to talk to you as their mother, or as someone like them.

If a friend of theirs broke up, they'd have conversations drawing out the emotional lie of the land and also the history of the break up.

I think that's some of what is going on here. The conversations you had with them will come from an uncertain - but not unloving - place.

You say you don't want them to take sides but ... is that true?

Even in your opening post, you catapulted from describing conversations with them where they were talking around the break up straight into 'They love him more!'

That is not fair.

Don't do that - to them or to you.

You are their mother. He is their father. They love you both. And will carry on doing that. Even if your husband fucked someone else. Because their relationship with you both doesn't have that dimension of sexual in/fidelity.

I think, underlying this, is a desire for your children to show a commitment to you that you feel your husband didn't. At some level, you want them as a substitute for your husband.

Given that your relationship with your husband had a sexual element and your relationship with your children is that you birthed and nurtured them, that is going to go very, very wrong, very, very fast.

If you start getting into the whole, 'You love him more than me,' thing, it will damage your mental health and your relationship with your children.

You have every right to bin your husband. You have every right to go on and have a bloody fabulous life. Be confident.

Don't undermine yourself. Don't create problems you don't need.

madisonbridges · 28/12/2021 12:11

It's not that complicated really. Young adults are very selfish. They love you both and it's easier if you both get back together. Simples.

Live your life how you want to. They'll get on board.