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Step-parenting

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Problems with DSS's mum

120 replies

Airylights · 30/11/2015 20:34

Sorry this is long.

I've been on and off with my partner for 2 years. I'm due our first child soon and he has a 3 year old son with a previous partner. They split up when she was in early pregnancy and she went on to have many sexual relations with other men and eventually got into a long term relationship with a man who was at DSS's birth and DSS was taught that was his dad. They have recently split and she is seeing someone else, having yet another father figure around her young son which must be confusing for him.

She has constantly messed OH around with contact arrangements and him paying money. He now is lucky enough to see him twice a week, for 8 hours in total (including the hour and a half MIL has to drive to pick him up and drop him off again). She gives him the times the same morning and if he isn't there for that time then she fucks off out with DSS and her new boyfriend. She demands £100 a month off of him (he doesn't earn much and they don't go down the CSA route) and then she asks MIL for money for other things, so gets around £250 in total. She lives with her parents so doesn't have to pay bills and everything is provided for her son by them so I imagine she just spends the money on booze and fags anyway. MIL has her on Facebook and from her photos and statuses she goes out drinking a fair bit so DSS is left with his grandparents a lot, when he could be with OH.

He is moving in with me shortly to save money and she has said DSS won't be able to visit at our house, he has to visit at his grandmas (MIL's) and that this will never change. So that means when baby is born we won't be able to have them together unless I go to his mums with him which is a lot of effort as it's an hour away from my house. I understand that she may feel threatened by OH having another child but she will be depriving DSS of a relationship with his half sisterSad. Anyone else experienced something like this? I'll be a first time parent and step parent so finding it hard to cope

OP posts:
NoSmileToday · 02/12/2015 21:44

Given that dad has happily gone along with sporadic contact the last 3 years it isn't likely that he will be collecting the child from school and keeping him.
Plus Minnie was still wrong as she said that legally the ex cannot stop it which is untrue because legally (no court order) the ex can do what she likes.

Airylights · 02/12/2015 21:50

No I don't think he is on the birth certificate. His son refers to the other man as 'daddy' too because that's what his ex has taught him. She did a private DNA test when he was 1

OP posts:
M1nniedriver · 02/12/2015 21:51

thanks spanish I know I'm right about that, although, even as an exw hating monster SM bitch apparently there was always something about it that made me feel uncomfortable/sorry for his ex as far as that was concerned. They are her kids and to realise that you have so little control over where they go must be horrible. I actually did step aside for s couple of months to see if she would calm down but alas, 'twas not to be so just had to go against her wishes, there was no choice. It didn't sit comfortable with me though even though she was a controlling nightmare!

She might be the worst mother in the world OP but do you not question why your DP didn't do more?

M1nniedriver · 02/12/2015 21:53

He isn't on the birth certificate??? Bit of an important point to miss out there OP Shock

NoSmileToday · 02/12/2015 21:55

Oooo those legal rights are just slipping away Confused

Airylights · 02/12/2015 22:03

I've just asked him, no he isn't because she cheated on him with 3 other men. That explains a lot

OP posts:
NoSmileToday · 02/12/2015 22:10

But he has had DNA confirmation since so why not get the BC changed?

Let me guess aliens came down from Mars and stopped him??

Look OP stop worrying about the ex and start concentrating on your baby.

See you on the relationships or lone parents boarded in around 6 months.

M1nniedriver · 02/12/2015 22:35

Oooo those legal rights are just slipping away confused.

You almost sound pleased. Confused well for this particular chap I suspect they are. Thankfully most fathers would chase this up. There are legal avenues one can take to gain PR when ones ex has been putting it about Grin

See you on the relationships or lone parents boarded in around 6 months.

Did you loose your decency with your smile? What a shit thing to say! Bitter much Hmm

OP, if he didn't step up when his son was in danger then I doubt he ever will. Not being on the BC would, in my mind, have made it all the more urgent. I hope he treats your child better than he did his first Hmm

NoSmileToday · 02/12/2015 22:39

Not shit just true. The man does not have a good track record of caring for his offspring so it is very likely the OP will find herself alone.

Why would I be bitter?

M1nniedriver · 02/12/2015 22:47

Why indeed? I can see no other reason you would say something like that to a woman who is pregnant granted to a moron. Nasty!

vichill · 02/12/2015 23:05

Sounds like one for Jeremy Kyle.
He could unleash all of his catchphrases on OP's beloved.
Seriously OP, concentrate on protecting yourself and new baby, it doesn't sound promisingXmas Sad

Morganly · 02/12/2015 23:09

Blimey, she went to parties where there was drug and alcohol consumption. What sort of abandoned, reckless hoyden would do such a thing?

unicornflesh · 02/12/2015 23:29

I hate the fact no one seems to be acknowledging how awful this woman actually sounds and acts like she can do no wrong. I am surprised SS haven't taken that poor child. I'm sorry that you have to suffer because of her actions OP, I hope you and your DP can make a fresh start with this baby Flowers

M1nniedriver · 02/12/2015 23:31

Unicorn, I would duck fast if I was you Wink.

unicornflesh · 02/12/2015 23:35

Her DP could refuse her money and so could his family if he isn't on the birth certificate. I'm guessing she refuses to put name on BC because he will apply for custody OP?

AmIAmntI · 02/12/2015 23:49

OP in all honesty I think you need to step back. You aren't this child's step mum.

Your relationship sounds very rocky if I'm being brutally honest. Focus on you and your child. I get you love this guy but what your describing isn't a stable family unit.

I hope it all works out for you unfortunately I'm not so sure it'll be as a unit of 3/4.

The ex (from what you've said) sounds like a nightmare but he doesn't sound all that great either.

unicornflesh · 02/12/2015 23:57

I'm not really sure on what grounds OPs partner sounds like a bad father? He has provided for his child when the mother hasn't, even when not legally obligated to. He has been taken for a ride by the mother on who the father actually is and isn't on the BC so that might be why court hasn't been approached yet. He has had to live his life and work for a child that thinks a strange man is his father. To me the poor guy just sounds like he's been messed around badly and is suffering from the fact mother's have more power.

stitchglitched · 02/12/2015 23:57

That's not true unicorn, he is obliged to pay support because he is the child's father, regardless of the BC.

unicornflesh · 03/12/2015 00:01

There's no proof he is the child's father other than a private DNA OP said the mother has kept from him so he isn't legally obligated to pay anything. There could be another man on the BC for all we know and he might not even be the child's father. The mother could be using him and his family for his money and free babysitting, I have known similar happen to a close friend

stitchglitched · 03/12/2015 00:06

Unicorn if the mother went to child maintenance he would be obliged to pay. He could deny paternity in which case a DNA test would be ordered but the fact that he isn't on the BC is irrelevant. Otherwise there would be a foolproof way for deadbeat Dads to get out of supporting their kids, just by refusing to turn up to register the birth.

M1nniedriver · 03/12/2015 00:06

If he believed he was the child's father why didn't he step up when the child was in danger Confused

stitchglitched · 03/12/2015 00:09

Yeah unicorn, the mother wanted to pretend someone was the father so she could use him for his money, so she chose to frame someone whose legal obligation is 7 pound a week.Hmm

AmIAmntI · 03/12/2015 00:10

Not quite as easy as that unicorn. He could of course stop paying since its a private arrangement but if his ex was to go to CMS he would be obliged to pay maintenance until he proved he wasn't the child father, which isn't as easy as you would think.

The responsibility to provide the proof lies with the parent named as paying maintenance. Until that proof comes through he would still have to pay. And then obviously if the child was his he would need to continue.

Airylights · 03/12/2015 00:11

That makes me feel sick unicornSad Is there any way he can get a DNA done himself? Does he need her permission? She gets £250 a month from him and his family, not £7 a week. I can't imagine what would happen if he isn't his child

OP posts:
stitchglitched · 03/12/2015 00:13

Didn't he take part in the previous DNA test? So surely he would know the child is his?