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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

WWYD odd situation with ex wife

231 replies

BeingIrked · 20/03/2024 07:27

I'm going to try and be brief, so happy to answer any questions.

To give some background...

I have been with my partner for 2 and a half years and recently got engaged.

He was married for around 20 years and they divorced 12/13 years ago.

Following that, he was in a relationship for several years which ended before he and I got together. We were friends (as part of a social group) for a few years before we got together and I knew his most recent ex.

He is amicable with his ex wife and they have adult children together.

He plays in a band. I used to go and see his band play and his ex wife didn't go to any gigs but since we have got together, she turns up to nearly of them. Despite having a partner, she has made it very clear that she would like to get back with him. This is something she never did when he was with his ex although he was aware that she would have reconciled if he'd wanted to.

I'm not worried that he is interested in any way, but my issue is this.

When she comes to gigs, she behaves in ways that she used to when they first split up. She dances in front of him whilst he is on stage and openly videos him. Just him - not the band. She has her phone upright (rather than landscape to catch the whole band) and is standing so close to him in front that she will only be filming him.

I think this is a bit odd. My exh has a performance based hobby and I would have no interest/think it a bit inappropriate, to go and see him. I wouldn't be standing in front of him filing him.

Anyway, all of this is a bit odd but what I really don't like is that she stands there staring aggressively at me. I did speak to her the first time I met her and she was absolutely fine with me. Their kids were there too and I thought it was odd that she went but she was with the kids. She was perfectly fine with me but did speak to me as though she had 'ownership' of him and was 'allowing' us to be together.

Now, she turns up without the kids and does the same - dancing and videoing him but just standing there staring at me stony faced. I've tried smiling at her, tried talking to her again and she just blanks me whilst staring at me. On a couple of occasions she's been stood on her own 6-10 feet away from me just standing and starting at me.

He doesn't have her as a friend on SM but his profile is open. He blocked her last summer because she posted a comment on one of his posts when we were on holiday last year. It wasn't a friendly, "Looks great, have a lovely time," comment to us both but more 'territory marking'. He didn't like it and blocked her.

He wants me to go to his gigs. I like going to them, but I really don't enjoy this open hostility. Being watched all evening with someone standing 6 feet away staring at me isn't how I want to spend my Saturday nights if I'm honest with you.

She tends to only turn up to gigs at a couple of venues but they play at them quite a lot. Would it be unreasonable of me to to just not go to these gigs? Of course, this doesn't take its account the times she might turn up at other venues.

He wants me to go and because he doesn't see this behaviour, he doesn't really get how unpleasant it is.

OP posts:
LivingDeadGirlUK · 20/03/2024 07:33

He doesn't see her standing at the front filming him?

Loopytiles · 20/03/2024 07:35

This is like something out of a film!

Luckydog7 · 20/03/2024 07:47

She wants you not to go. That's why she's staring at you. Could your dp ask her to stop? He needs to make some boundaries here. It's ridiculous he hasn't noticed but he should believe you.

Ooohhh. I think you should go to the gig and film HER!! If you get 20minutes of her staring at you that's great evidence to show to dp or she will stop! Win win.

If he puts boundaries in he could ask the venue not to let her in as she's almost stalking him.

BeingIrked · 20/03/2024 07:50

LivingDeadGirlUK · 20/03/2024 07:33

He doesn't see her standing at the front filming him?

He says not, which I can understand with a crowd, the dark and stage lights. But it's more that he doesn't see the staring. Because he's playing and it happens anywhere - in the room, at the bar, outside. I don't dance so I'm not in the crowd.

that's not really the issue though.

OP posts:
BeingIrked · 20/03/2024 07:54

Luckydog7 · 20/03/2024 07:47

She wants you not to go. That's why she's staring at you. Could your dp ask her to stop? He needs to make some boundaries here. It's ridiculous he hasn't noticed but he should believe you.

Ooohhh. I think you should go to the gig and film HER!! If you get 20minutes of her staring at you that's great evidence to show to dp or she will stop! Win win.

If he puts boundaries in he could ask the venue not to let her in as she's almost stalking him.

I do get that she wants me to not go. But I'm not really interested in the game playing tbh.

That's why I wondered what other people would do.

I'm not sure how I'd feel about openly filming her doing it whilst she's staring at me!

OP posts:
UltramarineViolet · 20/03/2024 07:54

Mmmm, I'd be suspicious that your DP enjoys the attention even if he has no interest in getting back together with her

ItWasntMyFault · 20/03/2024 07:55

Can you take a friend with you as although you won't stop her, she's less likely to keep staring at you if there is someone else there.

BeingIrked · 20/03/2024 07:58

He doesn't. Never mentions her, never talks about it. I've told him she films him - he thinks that's weird but it doesn't impact on him.

I've only told him once that she stares at me and he didn't disbelieve me but we didn't dwell on it and it hasn't been mentioned since.

But he has a gig at the one venue coming up and, tbh, I just don't want to go. But I'm also aware that's probably what she wants.

I just can't be arsed with it tbh.

OP posts:
Beamur · 20/03/2024 07:58

That's weird.
How uncomfortable.
Does she do anything else?

BeingIrked · 20/03/2024 08:00

ItWasntMyFault · 20/03/2024 07:55

Can you take a friend with you as although you won't stop her, she's less likely to keep staring at you if there is someone else there.

I have told one friend who knew her before. She'll be there anyway.

I've been stood with friends before when she's done it. I think she was a bit drunk and didn't seem bothered that others could see.

OP posts:
BeingIrked · 20/03/2024 08:03

Beamur · 20/03/2024 07:58

That's weird.
How uncomfortable.
Does she do anything else?

Not really...

She's increased chit chat type messages to him because I see her name on his WA screen daily when we're sitting on the sofa or in the car but he doesn't reply unless it's to do with the childen or something they have to discuss.

I've not read the messages obviously but can see the first line. He sometimes gives his phone to reply to messages/answer calls if he's driving so I see the first line then. I've never opened one

He doesn't encourage her in any way.

OP posts:
NoPrivateSpy · 20/03/2024 08:05

He is definitely going to have to tackle this at some point and make it clear to her they are never getting back together.

Given she is wasting her time, that would be the kind thing to do for the mother of his children. Presumably he would like to see her move on and happy with another partner so not really seeing the alternative.

Mindymomo · 20/03/2024 08:09

I wonder what her partner thinks of her attending these gigs. I think I would pretend to film her when she stares at you. I also find it pretty weird, especially the messaging daily.

BeingIrked · 20/03/2024 08:16

Her partner is often there. I don't know what he makes of it. He seems pretty happy go lucky. He introduced himself to me last time and was friendly and she sat across the table from me just staring at me

I'd been sitting with her daughter chatting so it was reasonable that she'd joined us. But she completely ignored me when I spoke to her and just sat staring at me.

My partner wasn't there at the time so he didn't see any of it.

OP posts:
BeingIrked · 20/03/2024 08:22

I know it sounds ridiculous. It's partly why I don't really know what to do. I've not had to deal with anything like this before!

I don't really want it to become a 'thing' between me and him either.

That's why I just feel like it would be easier not to go!

OP posts:
MILTOBE · 20/03/2024 08:26

Get your boyfriend to dedicate every song to you.

muckymayhem · 20/03/2024 08:26

Go backstage? And then join the band for drinks afterwards? That's bound to annoy her if this is a territory marking thing. You have access all areas & she has to pay to watch. She sounds quite unhinged.

BeingIrked · 20/03/2024 08:31

MILTOBE · 20/03/2024 08:26

Get your boyfriend to dedicate every song to you.

😅

OP posts:
BeingIrked · 20/03/2024 08:32

muckymayhem · 20/03/2024 08:26

Go backstage? And then join the band for drinks afterwards? That's bound to annoy her if this is a territory marking thing. You have access all areas & she has to pay to watch. She sounds quite unhinged.

That happens anyway. I arrive with them, lug gear about, have drinks etc before and after. Makes no difference.

OP posts:
Lurkingandlearning · 20/03/2024 08:35

I get what you mean about “can’t be arsed” and are thinking about staying away but I hope you won’t. It’s not just about not letting her “win” I hope you won’t let her influence what you do in any way at all. Now their children are adults she has no relevance in his life whatsoever. Why does he need any contact with her?

I know it won’t be easy but ignore her, look straight through her. Once you’ve seen where she is don’t look in that direction. If she’s in front of the stage - eyes up and not on her.

I think you’re right and she’s hoping that acting like a groupy will win him back but if he’s not giving her attention and you are oblivious to her she’ll probably give up, maybe even realise what an absolute tit she’s being.

Lurkingandlearning · 20/03/2024 08:37

Also, he doesn’t have to see it to believe it happened. He can just take your word for it.

Oblahdeeoblahdoe · 20/03/2024 08:38

If you allow her to bully/intimidate you in this way, what will be next?

StevieNicksWannabe · 20/03/2024 08:39

I think you have a boyfriend problem just as much as an ExW problem.
Married for 20 years, divorced for 12. Another relationship afterwards and now years with you...it's a fair guess that this guy is 60+ years old. Its time to grow the fuck up.

You've told him that her behaviour is odd and makes you uncomfortable. She is openly hostile. He does nothing about it, won't even engage in conversation about it and yet continues to chat daily to her on WhatsApp.

He enjoys the attention and the drama. I'd be out and waving goodbye to the lot of them. What future do you hope to have with this man and his crazy baggage? Who could be arsed?

Missamyp · 20/03/2024 10:03

StevieNicksWannabe · 20/03/2024 08:39

I think you have a boyfriend problem just as much as an ExW problem.
Married for 20 years, divorced for 12. Another relationship afterwards and now years with you...it's a fair guess that this guy is 60+ years old. Its time to grow the fuck up.

You've told him that her behaviour is odd and makes you uncomfortable. She is openly hostile. He does nothing about it, won't even engage in conversation about it and yet continues to chat daily to her on WhatsApp.

He enjoys the attention and the drama. I'd be out and waving goodbye to the lot of them. What future do you hope to have with this man and his crazy baggage? Who could be arsed?

What exactly do you want him to do about it?
She's obviously quite determined to undermine the current relationship at all costs. This isn't uncommon.
Funny how Mumsnet tries to make this a man problem and not the problem of a clearly infatuated ex who happens to be a woman.

Beautiful3 · 20/03/2024 10:27

I think you should bring a friend, so you don't feel intimated and try not to look at her.

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