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There We Are Then - part 3

993 replies

mummy917 · 02/08/2026 19:20

And another 🤣

OP posts:
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5
SylvanMoon · 17/08/2026 10:05

mummy917 · 17/08/2026 09:58

I have told him that I cannot control what she says/does but that I have had a word with her, which I have, asking her not to do it again. I’ve told him he is more than welcome to take things up with her but it’ll be easier for everyone for him to ignore it and block her if he feels that is necessary. She said she is aware she’s massively overstepped a boundary and said it has been bubbling for weeks after seeing how he’s treated me and the kids, but I’ve told her it’s not an excuse.

I like both fiction and non-fiction but something nice and easy reading too. I’ve only recently found the time to get back into reading so still finding my favourite genre.

You might like the energy in "The Change" by Kirsten Miller. It's described as a feminist revenge fantasy and murder mystery. I enjoyed it and you especially might be in the right mood for it too. Plus it's got some humour in it.

Lostpassporthelp · 17/08/2026 10:12

I think this book might be a good read… it says it’s a novel, however novels can still be quite educational for learning new skills at times…

There We Are Then - part 3
Lostpassporthelp · 17/08/2026 10:14

Lostpassporthelp · 17/08/2026 10:12

I think this book might be a good read… it says it’s a novel, however novels can still be quite educational for learning new skills at times…

Also I’m sure there are several MN’s happy to give you an alibi if you ever need one 😂

tinyspiny · 17/08/2026 10:17

I doubt your mum said anything that wasn’t true , if he wants to take it up with someone he should do it with her .

Waitingforthetimetopass · 17/08/2026 10:30

Recommendations for light reading:
Historical: Cynthia Harrod Eagles - Morland dynasty - I think over 20 books going from war of the roses until almost modern.
Fantasy- Anne McCaffery - Pern series, I recommend starting with dragon singer or dragon song
The making of a marchioness by Frances Hodgson Burnett- a very gentle adults fiction by the author of secret garden

AnnieKenney · 17/08/2026 10:39

The Woman on the Ledge by Ruth Mancini (feel-good revenge)
The Beekeeper's Promise by Fiona Valpy
Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult
Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty
Horrible Husbands by Jessica Huntley
Houdini's Girl by Martyn Bedford (Amazon weirdly has it badged as an erotic novel which is most definitely isn't!)

Jardenalia · 17/08/2026 10:41

I’ve just read Helm by Sarah Hall - not light and fluffy but it engages the brain properly.

I would have done the same in your mum’s shoes (actually by now I would probably have done much worse) but I can understand you telling her off! Twattoo getting it off the mums on both sides is cornering him, which can be dangerous. Grey rock from you is the only option. You’re doing everything right OP!

WhyamIinahandcartandwherearewegoing · 17/08/2026 10:48

I’d be thinking FFS Mum…but also good on ya Mum 😂

Twat hating the fact that people he can’t control are aware of his shitty behaviour - the image he wants to portray to the outside world (not you, he thinks he can do what he likes there) is being risked.

Fuck around/find out.

Lostpassporthelp · 17/08/2026 10:51

Did you read Little Women by Louisa May Alcott as a child? I loved it then, but re-reading it as an adult it hits differently and is definitely worth a read-read.

For very light reading Katie Fford, Cathy Bramley, Veronica Henry, Jill Mansell and Catherine Alliott are great. I also used to enjoy Sophie Kinsella for a bit of escapism.

Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton is also a lovely gentle read.

roseymoira · 17/08/2026 10:55

Bet he was so shocked to hear that his behaviour has been less than ideal

PetulaGordeno · 17/08/2026 10:56

mummy917 · 15/08/2026 17:49

Never thought of it that way about his mum being so shocked at the divorce being in progress. I’m sure if there’s another woman, she will come out of the woodwork very soon.

I am sorry but I am Team Mum here and I’m glad she said her piece. I know it’s thrown a temporary spanner in the works but both mums here are feeling the aftershocks of this man’s shitty behaviour.
OP’s mum has had to watch the devastation and his mum is being used.
Whilst he is doing 2/14 instead of 50/50 and does not want to be challenged.
He clearly thinks all women should be seen and not heard and to take it out on OP is cowardly. He’s lucky a few words from Mum is all he has had to face.
What an absolute gold-plated shit.

Ticktockwatchclock · 17/08/2026 11:08

@mummy917 don't tell him you are going away as he will find a way of using it against you.
Reading wise, have you read any Jodi Picult? I love her books as they keep me wanting to read the next part and always have a twist to the end. Not always light reading but depends what you like. For lighter reading, check out Faith Hogan
Enjoy your break away 🌸

TheMadGardener · 17/08/2026 11:11

Yes, don't tell him you're going away and treating yourself, or he'll sabotage it by ringing to say one of the kids has an imaginary illness which necessitates your immediate return...

SpidersAreShitheads · 17/08/2026 11:17

I usually read fantasy or murder-type books but last year (earlier this year?) at Book Club I went for something outside my norm and read Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby von Pelt.

It’s gentle, heartwarming, and uplifting without being twee. There are moments of humour and no “villains”, and the most beautiful twist. I read it in just over a day as I needed to know what happened.

Normally there’s split opinions on every book but everyone loved this book. Quite a few people had already read it before but chose to read it again instead of the other books that month because they loved it so much.

It’s just been made into a film which I watched last night - the film is fine but doesn’t capture half the story that’s in the book.

I have bought a physical copy to keep and even though it’s not really my genre at all, I think it’s one of my favourite books ever.

Aiming4Optimistic · 17/08/2026 11:21

Just to reiterate that it's very important to take him off the electoral roll for your address - it's one of things creditors will look at when determining where he lives. You don't want that hassle coming to your door if he's applying for credit or not updating his insurance or driving licence details.

I would have steamed open that letter - it's coming to your address and I think you have a right to know what trouble he's potentially leading to your door. Then I would have returned to sender.
If he's driving around essentially uninsured because he's claiming to live somewhere other than his actual address, then he deserves to feel the consequences of that. Just passing on his mail still makes this your problem. He's thrown you under the bus numerous times, so I'm not against doing the same if the opportunity arises. Being continuously nice, just gets you walked all over.

I think I'd ask nursery if there's any way of them having the kids on the Fridays on your weeks only. If that's possible, it would give you that freedom to work.

I would also let slip to his mum that he owes you money. It doesn't hurt for her to see his behaviour as it truly is - money for tattoos but not for mattresses. When the time comes that you end up going for child support, it would be helpful if she is aware how this has come about, given that she's doing a big chunk of childcare for this lazy sod.

Coffeecakebakes · 17/08/2026 11:23

If you like fiction and non fiction and want something light, I would suggest any of Bill Bryson travel books. Funny and informative. I would steer away from anything with a villainous husband for now. You want a break.

IJustMight · 17/08/2026 11:25

PetulaGordeno · 17/08/2026 10:56

I am sorry but I am Team Mum here and I’m glad she said her piece. I know it’s thrown a temporary spanner in the works but both mums here are feeling the aftershocks of this man’s shitty behaviour.
OP’s mum has had to watch the devastation and his mum is being used.
Whilst he is doing 2/14 instead of 50/50 and does not want to be challenged.
He clearly thinks all women should be seen and not heard and to take it out on OP is cowardly. He’s lucky a few words from Mum is all he has had to face.
What an absolute gold-plated shit.

Very good point about his increasingly obvious derogatory view of all women ... OP and his mum are there to do what he wants, look after the children, enable his free time ... they should do it and shut up! And now the outrage that yet another woman is calling his shit behaviour out ... unacceptable!

He really is a twat.

IJustMight · 17/08/2026 11:26

Waitingforthetimetopass · 17/08/2026 10:30

Recommendations for light reading:
Historical: Cynthia Harrod Eagles - Morland dynasty - I think over 20 books going from war of the roses until almost modern.
Fantasy- Anne McCaffery - Pern series, I recommend starting with dragon singer or dragon song
The making of a marchioness by Frances Hodgson Burnett- a very gentle adults fiction by the author of secret garden

Loved the Pern books; re-read the first 6 not long ago

Zebracat · 17/08/2026 11:32

Team Mum also although I wouldn’t have done that. My mum did - gave a public dressing down to my eldest child’s useless Dad. He told me later it did make him see how selfish he had been. Twatoo is just so used to playing the victim isn’t he? And you are so used to protecting him and soothing his hurt feelings. You don’t have to that anymore. He’s upset - good, he needed to hear it. But he has no right to subject you to any kind of tirade, and should be told that.
I love to read. My soothing books are generally golden age detective stories, not too slushy romances ( there’s an Ashley who’s written a whole serious about some Lancashire villages), or superior vintage children’s books- I particularly love Eva Ibbotson. That might all be a bit niche though. I do also like Elly Griffith and Mick Herron who are more mainstream. And I adore Georgette Heyer, although she’s so old fashioned they aren’t even much seen in charity shops.

Seeing70 · 17/08/2026 11:39

I don’t blame your mum - must be very hard to watch someone behave line this towards your child, especially as they’re not as able to help you as much as they’d like. That said, i would, like you, have asked her not to do it again and made it clear to TWAToo that you can’t be held accountable for the opinion others are forming of him as a result of his shitty behaviour,

Reading: anything by Leanne Moriarty is impossible to put down. Also ‘The Dry’ and the other two books by the same author (can’t remember her name). Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club novels are gentle, feel good reads (assuming you missed those when they came out because you were doing the parenting of two people).

Have a lovely night away xx

Holdinguphalfthesky · 17/08/2026 11:59

I really like Lisa Jewell and Marian Keyes. They both write books with some meat to them but which are very easy to read.

Favourites for me are Rachel’s Holiday by Marian Keyes, and None of This is True by Lisa Jewell.

Have a lovely time!

Ethelspagetti · 17/08/2026 12:08

Victorius19 · 17/08/2026 10:03

I'd have told him to contact your Mum, not you. He's pathetic.

Agreed. Keep it between them both. You’ve done nothing wrong and have only spoken the truth. If he doesn’t like the facts then he clearly is embarrassed by her actions and needs to change.

BettyscakeShop · 17/08/2026 12:22

I was sceptical but Graham Nortons books are really great good and fab story lines. I loved Frankie.

Pollypocket9876 · 17/08/2026 12:29

mummy917 · 17/08/2026 09:58

I have told him that I cannot control what she says/does but that I have had a word with her, which I have, asking her not to do it again. I’ve told him he is more than welcome to take things up with her but it’ll be easier for everyone for him to ignore it and block her if he feels that is necessary. She said she is aware she’s massively overstepped a boundary and said it has been bubbling for weeks after seeing how he’s treated me and the kids, but I’ve told her it’s not an excuse.

I like both fiction and non-fiction but something nice and easy reading too. I’ve only recently found the time to get back into reading so still finding my favourite genre.

If you want something super easy reading that is light humour then try these Confession of a forty something F##k up and More confessions of a forty something F##k up, by Alexandra Potter. Perfect to read with a cocktail in hand.

GreenCandleWax · 17/08/2026 13:02

Coffeecakebakes · 17/08/2026 11:23

If you like fiction and non fiction and want something light, I would suggest any of Bill Bryson travel books. Funny and informative. I would steer away from anything with a villainous husband for now. You want a break.

The one about Australia is hilarious, and the UK one is funny too, but he goes a bit dry with the USA one probably because he was American himself (until becoming a naturalised Brit). 😃

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