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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

Am so over the deification of the OW

27 replies

PopGoesTheProsecco · 13/04/2023 22:05

Apparently the OW has had to go to bed early tonight because of the wonderful day she’s given DD2 on her birthday.

ExH left for the OW when our children were 6, 2 and 14wks. He was out with the OW on DD3’s due date. Since the split they’ve had the kids EOW and half the holidays.

I have no issue with the OW as my ExH was an abusive arse. But his constant bigging up of what she does with the kids is beginning to grate. They literally have (most of) the kids four days a month. DD1 usually refuses to go.

Sorry, just need to vent. I’m the one who works full time but organises sleepovers, hobbies and activities that the kids want to do and kind of supervises homework. And they get to do fun stuff four days a month which she’s sainted for!

OP posts:
iaapap · 13/04/2023 22:10

they will know that you brought them up

never mind what ex thinks, you are well rid

Vintagecreamandcottagepie · 13/04/2023 22:13

Everything you say is justified.

Easier said than done, but rise above it. He probably does this to wind you up.

It takes a pretty dense person to not realise you are doing by far the rearing of those children.

Bananaramdam · 13/04/2023 22:14

She is irrelevant. The least she can do is, along with your exH, look after your children nicely on these 4 days. You say he is abusive: bigging her is just his way to try to rile you up. Two can play, agree with him that she is amazing.

Darthwazette · 13/04/2023 22:14

Your baby girls will know. Let him feel smug. When they’re older they will know what Mummy’s done and what Daddy and his girlfriend managed.

NotNowGertrude · 13/04/2023 22:15

How do you know this? Can you limit the communication you get from them/him for your own sanity?

DHsPoorBack · 13/04/2023 22:19

Just read back exactly what you wrote.

An abusive arsehole tells you that someone else is doing sooooo well at playing mummy.

Of course he does. She could be Miss Trunchbull and he'd still try to belittle you. This isn't about her and your DC at all. This is an abusive arsehole not being able to resist still being an arsehole to you.

Bananalanacake · 13/04/2023 22:24

I thought you'd misspelled 'defecation' for a minute there.

Surely an abusive man never changes so she'll soon find out what he's like.

CheekyHobson · 13/04/2023 22:27

Ah, triangulation, one of the abuser's classic strategies.

Every time he does it, internally say to yourself, "He's saying this because he's threatened by me knowing I'm a good mum who does a lot more than he does, so he has to make out like his new wife is much better than I am."

Keep in mind that the "wonderful day" is sure to be semi-mythologised, an Instagram version of the day, leaving out any meltdowns, DD not being fully engaged, the OW feeling annoyed at EDH for being on his phone or any number of other small disappointments.

Your response should convey nothing except the total lack of impact his words have on your self-esteem and peace of mind.

"Oh, hope she gets a good sleep. Please thank her for me tomorrow."
"Sounds like everyone had a great time."
"Thanks for letting me know. I'm sure DD will tell me all about it."

And if you want to shove the knife in just a little:
"Gosh, you're very lucky to have her, aren't you?"

Never be drawn into 'proving yourself'. It is literally throwing pearls before swine.

NewNameNigel · 13/04/2023 22:32

I wouldn't be surprised if he's also telling her how great you were to be with to make her feel like you do now. It's worse for her because she's in a relationship with him and is made to feel that she can't live up to you.

CheekyHobson · 13/04/2023 22:42

I wouldn't be surprised if he's also telling her how great you were to be with to make her feel like you do now.

This is an excellent point. It doesn't hurt his interests at all to have both his ex and his current knocking themselves out in a competition of 'who treats the children better', as it allows him to sit back and do very little actual care for his own kids.

Costs him nothing, pays massive benefits, including total deniability of ill intent on his part, and the opportunity to play the martyr if he's called out. "What?! I've only ever said nice things about each of you to the other. You'll pick an argument with anything, won't you?"

DHsPoorBack · 13/04/2023 22:48

CheekyHobson · 13/04/2023 22:42

I wouldn't be surprised if he's also telling her how great you were to be with to make her feel like you do now.

This is an excellent point. It doesn't hurt his interests at all to have both his ex and his current knocking themselves out in a competition of 'who treats the children better', as it allows him to sit back and do very little actual care for his own kids.

Costs him nothing, pays massive benefits, including total deniability of ill intent on his part, and the opportunity to play the martyr if he's called out. "What?! I've only ever said nice things about each of you to the other. You'll pick an argument with anything, won't you?"

So much this.

Literally, next time he tries this, in your most genuine voice, tell him how it's such a weight off your mind to know how welcome the children are. How it's really lovely for you to know that they are being treated so well.

PopGoesTheProsecco · 13/04/2023 23:04

CheekyHobson · 13/04/2023 22:42

I wouldn't be surprised if he's also telling her how great you were to be with to make her feel like you do now.

This is an excellent point. It doesn't hurt his interests at all to have both his ex and his current knocking themselves out in a competition of 'who treats the children better', as it allows him to sit back and do very little actual care for his own kids.

Costs him nothing, pays massive benefits, including total deniability of ill intent on his part, and the opportunity to play the martyr if he's called out. "What?! I've only ever said nice things about each of you to the other. You'll pick an argument with anything, won't you?"

OMG I think you’re right. He’s never the one doing things - it’s me and her. And he passes judgment on our efforts.

OP posts:
FatFucker · 13/04/2023 23:04

I know you probably find this hard to believe, but one day you will not care.

You will not give a flying Fuck what he thinks or what she does. You just will not care.

However!! In the meantime.

You can do this! Whenever that anger and bitterness (rightly) takes hold and your mind goes off in a rage of unfairness, try the 54321 grounding technique.

Honesty it helped me so much when I got the rage after my breakup.

Try it, I bet you'll e surprised how it brings you back.

Five things you can see
The first step to the 5-4-3-2-1 coping technique for anxiety is to name five things that you can see.
Look around you and count five things that you can see and say them out loud. You might be able to see people walking by, birds flying in the sky, or the rain running down the window. Whatever it may be, as long as you can see it, it counts.
Take a deep breath in between each thing you can see. This will help to level your breathing and will begin to calm you down.

Four things you can touch
Once you have named five things you can see, you can move on to name four things you can touch.
Maybe you are sat on a chair and you can feel the chair on your legs or back. You might be able to feel the ground that you are stood on. Even your hands on a table counts. As long as you can touch it, it counts.
Once again, take a deep breath in between each thing that you name.

Three things you can hear
Once you have named four things you can touch, you can move on to name three things you can hear.
Whether you are inside or outside, you will be able to hear things around you. If you’re at home, you might be able to hear the washing machine or the clock ticking in the background. If you’re outside, you might be able to hear birds chirping or cars moving down the street.
No matter what it is, as long as you can hear it, it counts. Remember to keep taking deep breaths in between each thing that you name.

Two things you can smell
Once you have named three things you can hear, you can move on to name two things you can smell.
It might be easier to do this with your eyes closed, to stop any distractions. Maybe you can smell lovely food cooking in the oven, or you might be able to smell flowers or an air freshener near you.
Whatever it is, as long as you can smell it, it counts. Once again, don’t forget to take those deep breaths. You might be feeling a bit less anxious by now.

One thing you can taste
Finally, once you have named two things you can smell, you can move on to name one thing you can taste.
You might be able to taste the coffee you had this morning, or some food you’ve eaten. Perhaps you can taste chocolate or a tangy taste of orange from your breakfast.
Whatever it is, as long as you can taste it, it counts. Take one more deep breath and you’re done! Hopefully, after this, you feel a little less anxious and a bit more relaxed.

dittbtdity · 13/04/2023 23:18

FatFucker · 13/04/2023 23:04

I know you probably find this hard to believe, but one day you will not care.

You will not give a flying Fuck what he thinks or what she does. You just will not care.

However!! In the meantime.

You can do this! Whenever that anger and bitterness (rightly) takes hold and your mind goes off in a rage of unfairness, try the 54321 grounding technique.

Honesty it helped me so much when I got the rage after my breakup.

Try it, I bet you'll e surprised how it brings you back.

Five things you can see
The first step to the 5-4-3-2-1 coping technique for anxiety is to name five things that you can see.
Look around you and count five things that you can see and say them out loud. You might be able to see people walking by, birds flying in the sky, or the rain running down the window. Whatever it may be, as long as you can see it, it counts.
Take a deep breath in between each thing you can see. This will help to level your breathing and will begin to calm you down.

Four things you can touch
Once you have named five things you can see, you can move on to name four things you can touch.
Maybe you are sat on a chair and you can feel the chair on your legs or back. You might be able to feel the ground that you are stood on. Even your hands on a table counts. As long as you can touch it, it counts.
Once again, take a deep breath in between each thing that you name.

Three things you can hear
Once you have named four things you can touch, you can move on to name three things you can hear.
Whether you are inside or outside, you will be able to hear things around you. If you’re at home, you might be able to hear the washing machine or the clock ticking in the background. If you’re outside, you might be able to hear birds chirping or cars moving down the street.
No matter what it is, as long as you can hear it, it counts. Remember to keep taking deep breaths in between each thing that you name.

Two things you can smell
Once you have named three things you can hear, you can move on to name two things you can smell.
It might be easier to do this with your eyes closed, to stop any distractions. Maybe you can smell lovely food cooking in the oven, or you might be able to smell flowers or an air freshener near you.
Whatever it is, as long as you can smell it, it counts. Once again, don’t forget to take those deep breaths. You might be feeling a bit less anxious by now.

One thing you can taste
Finally, once you have named two things you can smell, you can move on to name one thing you can taste.
You might be able to taste the coffee you had this morning, or some food you’ve eaten. Perhaps you can taste chocolate or a tangy taste of orange from your breakfast.
Whatever it is, as long as you can taste it, it counts. Take one more deep breath and you’re done! Hopefully, after this, you feel a little less anxious and a bit more relaxed.

What the fuck is this nonsense??

CheekyHobson · 13/04/2023 23:45

What the fuck is this nonsense??

It's not nonsense. When you are in an emotionally agitated state (anger, resentment, confusion, upset) etc and are in danger of reacting emotionally (lashing out, feeling bad about yourself for no real reason, going into a thought spiral about the future or what someone else might be thinking or why they're acting how they're acting), doing a grounding exercise is a great way of bringing you back to the present moment/reality/earth (that's why it's called 'grounding').

The follow-up to grounding is taking a second, calmer look at the situation that has upset you and trying to be more objective about what's going on, and what the most productive (as in, likely to achieve a positive outcome at least for yourself) next step or response is.

Takenoprisoner · 14/04/2023 04:36

Op you need to learn to grey rock the shit out of ex when he blathers on about the ow.

'Right. Was that all? Bye.'

'OK'.

'Dd, say bye to dad, he's going now'.

Hard boundaries are needed here and no conversion beyond anything related to dd. He had a tawdry little affair, you're not his friend and don't need to listen to a single word unrelated to your dd.

JourneyToThePlacentaOfTheEarth · 14/04/2023 04:43

Hard boundaries are needed here and no conversion beyond anything related to dd. He had a tawdry little affair, you're not his friend and don't need to listen to a single word unrelated to your dd.

1000 per cent this

snitzelvoncrumb · 14/04/2023 05:14

It sounds a bit like when a man puts a plate in the dishwasher, turns it on and wants to be rewarded for cleaning the entire house. You are mum. You are their world. The sperm doner and the poor gullible twat he is with are just babysitters so you can have a break. Just remember it’s just a game he is playing, trying to one up you because he has done something stupid and lost his family because of it. One of you kids doesn’t want to go, it won’t be long until none of them want to go. He may never have a proper relationship with the youngest. That has got to hurt. Let him have his moment pretending to be a parent.

honeyandfizz · 14/04/2023 05:20

What the fuck is this nonsense??

😂

supercali77 · 14/04/2023 08:01

I have a friend who's ex is like this. OW is 20 something and he's 40 odd. Goes on about her like she's second mother...fact is, she's the only one who plays with the kids or does anything for them. Suits him completely really...she takes care of the kids while he sits on his arse. Quite the little swindle.

Theunamedcat · 14/04/2023 08:11

Yeah my exes girlfriend is a Saint because she downloaded pokemon go on her phone so she could engage with ds how wonderful! Marvellous! MAGNIFICENT! she saw him once for 2/3 weeks hasn't shown up since ds is baffled but kinda used to it all sadly

MzHz · 14/04/2023 08:19

DHsPoorBack · 13/04/2023 22:19

Just read back exactly what you wrote.

An abusive arsehole tells you that someone else is doing sooooo well at playing mummy.

Of course he does. She could be Miss Trunchbull and he'd still try to belittle you. This isn't about her and your DC at all. This is an abusive arsehole not being able to resist still being an arsehole to you.

@PopGoesTheProsecco print this post off and put it on your fridge

you KNOW this guy! You know a leopard can’t change his spots.

she’s probably going to bed early because he’s done fuck all, she’s run ragged and had enough

AgentJohnson · 14/04/2023 08:31

He’s not bigging up the OW, he’s bigging himself up.

napody · 14/04/2023 08:39

NewNameNigel · 13/04/2023 22:32

I wouldn't be surprised if he's also telling her how great you were to be with to make her feel like you do now. It's worse for her because she's in a relationship with him and is made to feel that she can't live up to you.

Nigel nailed it!

It'd be so hard to resist saying to him 'I know, they're so lucky to have TWO wonderful parent figures in their lives. Just a shame one of them isnt their dad.'

Didgerydoo · 14/04/2023 08:48

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