What's this behaviour?

[DavidRosesEyebrows]

I had to phone exDP last night. We have two teens, been separated for over 5 years. The kids were with him last night but had phoned me about an ongoing school issue. I phoned him to try and talk it through but he just put me on speaker phone and carried on faffing about with whatever he was doing and wouldn't talk to me. I hung up in frustration.

He could be controlling when we were together. And I think he'd been drinking. But it all left me really confused. What was he trying to do? Can anyone help me understand?

It sounds like he was blanking you, or making you wait to show you he would only talk when he was ready.

His time his rules perhaps . Hopefully when the kids are back with you , you can suss out what’s happening.
If he is drinking do the kids really want to be staying - as teens aren’t they old enough to decide?

He probably had no idea how to deal with it but rather than take your lead he pretended the conversation was unimportant so he could put it off until a time when he felt in control.

I think you're right. I definitely had the feeling I was being put in my place. I just couldn't really put my finger on it at the time.

Actually they didn't want to stay with him so they're with me now.

And he's just texted me like everything is normal!