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Relationships

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Teenage son saw me having sex and now won’t speak to me

665 replies

mortified48 · 30/05/2026 05:55

Utterly mortified. Bit of background… been divorced for nearly two years after a horrendous marriage. Thanks to good friends helping me with an exit plan, I managed to get out and am now in my own lovely little home. Two DS, 11 and 14 who I share custody with my ex 50/50. Eldest son doesn’t always see eye to eye with his dad who lives about 20 mins walk away.

So yesterday was changeover day and as kids are on half term, they went back to their dad’s at lunchtime and I’m not due to get them back now until Weds (we use a 5 5 2 2 schedule). I was working Fri afternoon and suddenly my eldest appears in my house (he has a key) as he’d had a row with his dad and didn’t want to go back. DS and Ex have a decent relationship but they clash quite a bit and I’m very close to my son. I had a good talk with him and when my ex arrived to come get him, had a talk with him too, calmed the situation and they went back to my ex’s house.

Later that evening my boyfriend of one year came over for some food and a film. It’s worth mentioning here that my kids haven’t met him yet. They’ve bumped into him once, and I talk about him, but more as a close friend I guess. The reason for that is I’m not about to introduce them to someone unless I know they’re going to be sticking around. Ex got a new girlfriend straight after the split and has been with her for 22 months now. At the beginning the kids struggled a little with this, it was quite soon after the split; my ex did the same thing and didn’t introduce her to them straight away incase it didn’t work out. The kids were recently introduced to her properly, and seem ok with it, although it’s a little awkward for them as she’s a teacher at their school. Anyway.. I certainly wasn’t going to introduce my boyfriend to them when they were in the throes of adjusting to dad’s new girlfriend and going on holiday with her and her kids etc.. it’s a lot for them to take in still. So I’ve kept it as mentioning my boyfriends name quite a bit as a friend and then when im sure the relationship has a solid future, i figured this would make it easier to introduce him to the kids.

Back to last night.. boyfriend was round watching a movie, and at about 9pm we got frisky in my living room and then again in the bedroom and then made some food. My phone was in a different room charging. When I went to get it around 11:15pm , I saw a text from the ex at 11pm saying that (unknown to me), my eldest had had a row with him and had run to mine around 9pm, let himself in and saw me having sex 😣 and had got such a shock he ran back to his dads in his socks(!) and now isn’t wanting to speak to me because he feels lied to. I had NO idea he was even in the house and only found out when I went to get my phone from the other room at 11pm. Ex had also texted at 9pm to say DS had rowed with him and was running to mine but I hadn’t seen this. Ex didn’t appear to have tried to stop DS running to mine.
i immediately tried to get in touch with DS as I could see he was still online, but he said he didn’t want to talk and turned his phone off. He’s really upset. I think the “feeling lied to” is probably because I haven’t introduced my boyfriend to him yet and he feels kept in the dark (which he hated when it happened with my ex’s girlfriend at the beginning of their relationship).

Utterly mortified and need advice how to handle this. I’m so close to DS, and he’s never not wanted to talk before and is obviously very shocked and embarrassed and upset. Help!

OP posts:
summitfever · 03/06/2026 21:56

I actually don’t know how none of us came to the conclusion this all might be fabricated bullshit, that actually makes perfect sense. My ex did exactly the same to me, told my kids I left him because I cheated on him with my new bf. It was a clear 8 months before I even met him. Typical abusive twat using his kids to manage his emotions. Pathetic.

Glad it worked out well for you and the kid, hopefully the new bf is a keeper and shows him how a nice guy behaves

AlwaysALittleHomesick · 03/06/2026 22:27

lCircleYou · 03/06/2026 20:58

Despite knowing your ex is a liar, gaslights you etc, you chose not to find out exactly what had happened before coming on here. It’s all very teenage drama like. You are an adult with children so it’s best for your children to act like one instead of adding to the drama your son’s dad obviously likes.

I have to agree. I don’t know why you would believe what your ex told you based on his past behaviour. You need to take everything he says with a very large pinch of salt. Always find out the facts first.

pilates · 04/06/2026 07:19

Give the op a break, what a sick person your ex is to make up blatant lies. Who could imagine someone doing that to their own son? It’s beyond me. The fact that you don’t slag him off shows the person you are. It reminds me of my ex mil who was married to an arsehole. She never slagged him off and always said to my husband growing up ‘one day you will understand’ and true to her word he saw his dad for what he was.

WhatNoRaisins · 04/06/2026 08:50

Your ex sounds like a piece of work making that up.

piscofrisco · 04/06/2026 09:13

Jesus Christ your ex is a head case. What is the matter with these people? Sorry op but I’m pleased you had a good outcome and your DS in fact seems a sensible sort.

thepariscrimefiles · 04/06/2026 09:13

mortified48 · 03/06/2026 18:17

I got myself and the kids out of a toxic situation, now everything I’m doing is with their interests put first and foremost. Unfortunately I can’t say the same for the ex so I’m constantly in full-on mitigation mode. He can war, I will not. I never play tit for tat, I keep things as calm as possible, always. I never slag off Dad, and keep things as positive for them as possible. I wish I could say the same for him. Unfortunately I can’t do anything to control that but I’ll damn well make sure that when they’re with me they don’t feel “in the middle”. I do everything I can to make sure there is no “war”.

For a site aimed at women, most of whom are mothers, there are some shocking double standards and bucket loads of misogyny towards mothers having a sex life post break ups with the father of their children. The vast majority of men only leave because they already have another woman lined up and often their relationship with their children after leaving is perfunctory at best and pretty much non-existant at worst.

Your ex twisted the truth about what your son saw/heard to make you feel guilty and he didn't stop his son leaving his home in the dark to return to your house. He is an absolute arsehole and you are done absolutely nothing wrong.

thepariscrimefiles · 04/06/2026 09:17

lCircleYou · 03/06/2026 20:41

Your ex sounds like dick. But you’re as bad running to mumsnet with the drama before even finding out the full facts. Poor kids. Just be a stable, sensible, non dramatic parent who takes time to get the full facts and thinks things through before reacting.

Just as bad! OP was fed a pack of lies by her ex and was understandably concerned about the wellbeing of her son who, it turned out, wasn't traumatised at all and hadn't seen anything that he shouldn't.

How dare you try and police women coming to Mumsnet for advice and support. You are as bad as OP's ex, i.e. judgemental and hypocritical.

mortified48 · 04/06/2026 09:18

thepariscrimefiles · 04/06/2026 09:13

For a site aimed at women, most of whom are mothers, there are some shocking double standards and bucket loads of misogyny towards mothers having a sex life post break ups with the father of their children. The vast majority of men only leave because they already have another woman lined up and often their relationship with their children after leaving is perfunctory at best and pretty much non-existant at worst.

Your ex twisted the truth about what your son saw/heard to make you feel guilty and he didn't stop his son leaving his home in the dark to return to your house. He is an absolute arsehole and you are done absolutely nothing wrong.

Yes, especially considering a lot of people come on this app to get help and advice from fellow mums/caregivers about tricky situations… some of the comments on this thread have been shocking at best and disgusting at worst. Thank you for all those who have actually given constructive or supportive advice. Not sure if some of the others are just trolling for fun, or have something else going on in their lives to make them comment with such bitterness.

OP posts:
IGJ10 · 04/06/2026 09:27

You have clearly raised your son well OP, I’m glad it has all worked out!

Getupat8amnow · 04/06/2026 11:03

OP, I was a teacher for decades before my retirement and have seen first hand what the behaviour of many parents can do to children post separation or divorce.

I have read the whole thread and just want to tell you that you are an excellent and very caring and considerate mother to your children. Your boys are lucky to have you and my only wish is that all children of separated or divorced parents had a mother as good as you are. You have handled this situation with insight and empathy for your son and I wish you and your boys a wonderful future.

As for your ex, he sounds awful and you absolutely did the right thing getting away from him and your children are better off as a result.

Whatwerewetalkingabout · 04/06/2026 11:05

thepariscrimefiles · 04/06/2026 09:13

For a site aimed at women, most of whom are mothers, there are some shocking double standards and bucket loads of misogyny towards mothers having a sex life post break ups with the father of their children. The vast majority of men only leave because they already have another woman lined up and often their relationship with their children after leaving is perfunctory at best and pretty much non-existant at worst.

Your ex twisted the truth about what your son saw/heard to make you feel guilty and he didn't stop his son leaving his home in the dark to return to your house. He is an absolute arsehole and you are done absolutely nothing wrong.

I don't believe all of these negative replies are from women, especially the ones that say things like the OP wanted her son to catch her, there will be alot of "meninists" and disgruntled exDHs on here stirring the pot or looking at something through their own perverted lens.

mortified48 · 04/06/2026 11:06

Getupat8amnow · 04/06/2026 11:03

OP, I was a teacher for decades before my retirement and have seen first hand what the behaviour of many parents can do to children post separation or divorce.

I have read the whole thread and just want to tell you that you are an excellent and very caring and considerate mother to your children. Your boys are lucky to have you and my only wish is that all children of separated or divorced parents had a mother as good as you are. You have handled this situation with insight and empathy for your son and I wish you and your boys a wonderful future.

As for your ex, he sounds awful and you absolutely did the right thing getting away from him and your children are better off as a result.

Edited

Thank you so much for leaving such a lovely reply. I’ve read it several times, it means a lot Flowers

OP posts:
mortified48 · 04/06/2026 21:03

Whatwerewetalkingabout · 04/06/2026 11:05

I don't believe all of these negative replies are from women, especially the ones that say things like the OP wanted her son to catch her, there will be alot of "meninists" and disgruntled exDHs on here stirring the pot or looking at something through their own perverted lens.

Some of the responses have been very extreme, and very bizarre!

OP posts:
ThelastRolo20 · 05/06/2026 06:52

@mortified48you've handled this brilliantly, glad all has been cleared up (sorry about the useless ex). You're doing the right approach with the bf, my mum didn't take the same care and it was awful, men introduced to us far too quickly and it wasn't pleasant. It's lovely your bf is understanding too and that your son wants to meet him eventually, really hope your son gets more time with you - sounds like a far more positive environment. Ignore the batshit on this thread 😂 x

NameChangeAgain48 · 05/06/2026 12:36

mortified48 · 04/06/2026 21:03

Some of the responses have been very extreme, and very bizarre!

Just ignore them. You did everything right. You are allowed a life outside of your kids. Including a sex life (let's all clutch our pearls). You haven't lied to anyone. No one is entitled to your relationship information. Not your ex and not your kids. I think keeping a relationship private from the kids is sensible and responsibilities, especially when they have had so much upheaval already. The biggest issue you have is that your ex is a wanker.

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