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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

AIBU to be totally sick of this

14 replies

wowserstrousers · 06/02/2023 12:38

Background- my son left a volatile relationship and moved in with my mum ,he was going to buy her house but he met someone who lives a distance away and decided to use his deposit to buy a house with her.It was only a verbal agreement with my mum nothing signed etc.
Background 2 for the last 2 christmas my sister has invited my grandson for dinner at hers and has invited his mum- yes the one who took my son to the edge of a breakdown.

Things have escalted my mum has cut my son off cos he dare to question my sisters totally screwed up thinking. Mum has been twisting around things he says.She is having a party for her birthday soon and has told others in family my son and his new family are not welcome.As much as I have tried to remain impartial I cannot sit round the table with family who hate him.Even worse there is talk about the ex girlfriend being invited.I know over christmas my mum and sister have been filling in their version of what the issue is to other family not in the know. My sons other crime is that he asked that no one has direct contact with the ex that if she needs babysitting duties that it goes through him.Then we see on facebook that my sister and mum have been out with the ex regularly see her.Their reasoning is they wont see my grandson otherwise which is absolutely not true.The ex is loving that she is stirring the pot half the family are divided,Now this party is happening on the day im going on holiday despite mum knowing this and has told me it doesnt matter if i cant go.As I dont want to bore you I have only told you half of what is going on there is much more believe me.

OP posts:
Killerfail · 06/02/2023 16:22

I don’t think your son should dictate that others shouldn’t contact ex wrt babysitting. If she needs a baby sitter, and they are happy to help out, that’s up to them. They are all adults.
The fact that the rest of your family would rather see his ex and child than him speaks volumes tbh, they can’t all have been taken in by someone supposedly ‘stirring the pot’.

Quitelikeit · 06/02/2023 16:30

So he was going to buy your mums house - how? Through a council scheme? Buy it directly from her and live there with her?

I do think it’s very irritating that they have decided to forge a bond with his ex as it makes for bad feelings like you describe

I think it’s a mistake to ask them to go through him as they made it clear whose side they were on so now he just looks foolish

is all of this because he didn’t buy the house?

wowserstrousers · 06/02/2023 16:34

They are seeing her because they believe due to distance that they wont see my grandson otherwise which isnt true because we have made every effort to make sure he is still family.They say they are only seeing his ex because she is his mum and they come as a pair.
My son doesnt want others babysitting because she brings random men home and for a few weeks they are very present in our grandsons life despite being strangers.That in itself is very worrying and unsettling.
In their time together she was physically and mentally abusive to our son and family had his back.She is using our grandson as a bargaining tool and he deserves better.

OP posts:
blacksax · 06/02/2023 16:35

Perhaps your son wasn't quite such an innocent party in this volatile relationship as he has led you to believe, and could it be that other family members are supporting your grandson's mother because they know different? There are two sides to every break-up, so maybe you need to keep an open mind.

wowserstrousers · 06/02/2023 16:40

No it was my mums house she got a house in sheltered accomodation and needed to sell her house.My mum was on him a lot when he wasn't really himself and took advantage of the fact he needed somewhere to live.He couldn't buy the house in the end as he met someone.his partner has an autistic child and routine is key the life they had was a good few miles away otherwise it would have been perfect he said. As it was he looked after the house until it was ready to sell and the first viewer took it.

OP posts:
Coffeellama · 06/02/2023 16:41

My son doesnt want others babysitting because she brings random men home and for a few weeks they are very present in our grandsons life despite being strangers.That in itself is very worrying and unsettling.

So your son is jealous then? Because if he was thinking of his son first he’d be glad that his family and managing to keep his son close and keep an eye on him by being friendly with his mum, and making sure he’s not present when she’s bringing a random man home. If they don’t babysit then the kid would be there for it. He has no right to dictate who can and cannot speak to his ex, that’s controlling and volatile in itself. He’s clearly not afraid of her as he wants everyone to alienate her so she can only go through him. He should be putting his sons best interests first, and having his mum be friendly with his family is absolutely in his best interests.

Haffiana · 06/02/2023 16:43

My sons other crime is that he asked that no one has direct contact with the ex that if she needs babysitting duties that it goes through him.

Lol. He sounds like a control freak. Who the fuck does he think he is?

My son doesnt want others babysitting because she brings random men home and for a few weeks they are very present in our grandsons life despite being strangers.That in itself is very worrying and unsettling.

These 'others' are his child' actual family though, aren't they?

'She' is his child's mother. You know, the woman he was fine leaving his child with when he left for a new girl friend?

You are one of those MILs, aren't you?

wowserstrousers · 06/02/2023 17:09

Hang about no I am not one of those MILS but thanks that did make me lol though.
My sons relationship with his now partner started many months after he and my grandsons mum split up no one left anyone for anyone as it was.

OP posts:
2013isback · 06/02/2023 17:18

It sounds like your son has mainly recovered from the issues from his past relationship and has moved on to a situation where he's happy. That's great. I understand that your son (and possibly you) may feel betrayed that family members are still friendly with the ex given that they know the impact the relationship had on your son, but perhaps they believe the ex has changed, too?

If the contact with the ex is solely to see your grandson, can your son actively arrange to spend time with these other family members during the time he has custody of his son? It sounds like it's more than that, though, for the person who said that your gs and his mother "come as a pair". There's just no way to dictate that your mother, sister, etc. cut the ex out, although it's reasonable to ask them not to invite you or your son to events where she will be. This should all be discussed in person, if possible, or at least by 'phone or email - not by reading each other's social media.

... my mum has cut my son off cos he dare to question my sisters totally screwed up thinking. Nothing you've said here indicates that your sister's thinking is "screwed up", although I appreciate it may be one of the details you said you'd not included. I think it's understandable that your mother may not want to hear her grandson speak this way about her daughter. Hard to say, but it seems like your son and his grandmother should be able to work this out between them without causing havoc in the family.

I understand your son may legitimately think that his ex is putting their son in danger by having strangers in the house. Unfortunately, this is a common problem when couples break up and need to raise shared children. Unless there's evidence that would stand up in court re the danger to the child, each parent can make their own decisions during the time they have custody. The babysitting part doesn't make sense - if your grandson is in danger when there are strange men in the house, wouldn't he be safer away being looked after by his grandma, aunt, or other family members? Saying no to that just means he'd be in the house with the dangerous men. Having family go through your son when the ex asks them to babysit sounds really inappropriately controlling - after all, if she asked a friend to babysit instead, your son might never know about it.

Do your son and the ex have 50/50 custody of your grandson? If so, the best he may be able to do is give his son the best care while he has him, and keep family members involved during his custody times (which he can't do if they're not speaking). IF he feels there's a case for him to sue for full custody, that's something to seriously consider - but realistically if he has had recent mental health problems that may work against him there.

wowserstrousers · 06/02/2023 17:34

2013 what you have said makes lots of sense.
I myself remain civil with her as I too look after my grandson for example on strike day when she needed to work.I have come along way with that I will have her in my house despite the fact that she will leave me on her doorstep every time when I return him because I dont want my gson thinking I have a big problem with his mum. I have been there when she has hit my son when she spat in his face when she had the police arrest him at my house saying he had assaulted her earlier. Thankfully my cctv could prove when he arrived at mine and that he was still there in that time frame.
In some ways for my son it is self preservation that he asks that we check in with him.I know that some of his exs new casuals have form I aren't prepared to say how I know without incriminating a third party.
The thing is if anyone in our family asked if they could see him or have him over it wouldnt be a problem the fact more is she will swap a weekend when he has made plans for great things to do with his son and she will want to swap with some crazy excuse he will agree then he will see her on facebook out quite often he will ring round to see who has his son.Surely that isnt right?

OP posts:
wowserstrousers · 06/02/2023 17:36

When he is saying he wants people to go through him it isnt him being controlling he just needs to know who has his son if his mum is out.

OP posts:
MichelleScarn · 06/02/2023 17:43

wowserstrousers · 06/02/2023 16:40

No it was my mums house she got a house in sheltered accomodation and needed to sell her house.My mum was on him a lot when he wasn't really himself and took advantage of the fact he needed somewhere to live.He couldn't buy the house in the end as he met someone.his partner has an autistic child and routine is key the life they had was a good few miles away otherwise it would have been perfect he said. As it was he looked after the house until it was ready to sell and the first viewer took it.

So your son has moved away from his son to move in with a new partner and her family, and he's annoyed his grandmother and aunt who live in same area as his son are seeing him and babysitting?

Coffeellama · 06/02/2023 17:49

wowserstrousers · 06/02/2023 17:36

When he is saying he wants people to go through him it isnt him being controlling he just needs to know who has his son if his mum is out.

Why? She would just ask other people that dont have to go through him… and even so, i IS controlling trying to determine who can have the kid and when, when it’s not his contact says. If she’s so terrible, why can’t he have custody?

Yesthatismychildsigh · 06/02/2023 17:51

Your son sounds very controlling. It’s nothing to do with him if they offer to babysit, as long as they’re not abusive to the son. And a bit of a user, moving into grandma’s saying he’ll buy it. You seem blind to this. No wonder he’s like he is.

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