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Was I unreasonable to say no?

5 replies

RedBubble8 · 26/09/2026 14:40

Birthday today - had a lovely morning with DC - breakfast in bed, lovely handmade card etc. Dc was spending later part of the day with ex husband as that is our schedule. Ex picked child up in the late morning as normal. Then texted to say can child (and him) leave presents round late afternoon. I replied saying there was no need as we had already had a lovely birthday morning and I was happy. Backstory - ex was horrendously unfaithful in marriage and it has taken me to now to even begin to enjoy my birthdays. I don’t want to have him on my doorstep twice in one day. I will see my child again later this evening or at the latest, tomorrow morning. Now I feel awful though that my child may feel put out.

OP posts:
ACatNamedRobin · 26/09/2026 14:56

No you're completely fine

TheSlantedOwl · 26/09/2026 14:58

You’re totally fine and you don’t need to feel any guilt. At all. Enjoy your day and be proud of setting a boundary!

Muchmore · 26/09/2026 15:01

Agree. No need for an additional visit. You did well.

TheAvidWriter · 26/09/2026 15:04

You feel awful because you were, at some point taught that your needs didnt matter, so when you put a boundary up and reinforce it, you feel guilt.

There are two ways to see this. One he is trying to teach your DC that we can still treat our ex partners with respect and so he is teaching your DC how to to be kind even when things do not go our way.

What he is also doing is appeasing his own guilt for the past.

You are not unreasonable.

And happy birthday.

itsnotalwaysthateasy · 26/09/2026 23:42

Ex H should have been more organised and had presents available when he picked your child up. It would have been a no from me too.
Happy Birthday! Bunch of flowers emoticon! 😀

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