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Step-parenting

Connect with other Mumsnetters here for step-parenting advice and support.

Walking away....

167 replies

user1484986087 · 11/09/2018 16:46

Been married for 3 years, have a 15 month old son with dh, 3 stepchildren..,and a high conflict greedy selfish ex-wife in the background. Not to mention a spouse whom bends to every demand put forward by the ex wife...really cannot handle this any more and considering divorce.

Ex wife has always hated the fact that dh moved on and she has not...she has poisoned her children against me to the point where I really dislike them being in my space as they are stand offish and cold towards me. The youngest has dreadful manners and I don’t want him influencing my son, but that is a different issue...

Dh paid ex wife c 300k as part of divorce settlement, albeit unrecorded but done informally on the basis of a full and final settlement. She does not work and chose to rent a property for herself and children in one of the most e pensive areas in London. Dh pays 1.5k child maintenance in addition.

Fast forward 3 years later, she claims to have spent the money and says she can not afford to live in private accommodation. Wants us to have the stepkids full time (this is impossible as both dh and I work full time in stressful jobs and our flat is too small for 4 kids in total). Refuses to work as “has a back problem”. Was supposed to have stepkids for part of summer but told dh she did not /could not have them.

Now my dh and ex wife are in mediation. Dh refuses to tell me anything about that is going ok but I have managed to glean from him that he is now paying all of ex wife’s rent and bills, in addition to child maintenance and school fees for his stepkids (17, 14 and 9 yrs).

Is it unreasonable of me to be angry regarding (1) the fact that h makes financial decisions regarding x wife without even telling me (I should add that our finances are separate but I do pay towards bills and childcare) and (2) the fact that I work full time and contribute to the household whilst ex does nothing and expects money on a plate from x husband?!!

At the moment, I am so angry and hurt at dh that as soon as my son is a bit older, I want to walk away from this marriage. The conflict with the x has been going on for the last 6 years with finances/child visits/drop offs and it never seems to end. Worse still is the fact that he seems to treat his ex wife as his wife in terms of financial obligations, I also worry about money for our son’s schooling whilst the ex is having a lifestyle essentially paid.....of course, there is a backstory to the dealings with the ex over the years but too much to go into. Just wanted to vent and ask if anyone on here has been through similar, and how you dealt with it?

OP posts:
swingofthings · 11/09/2018 17:02

Why wait un your son is older? It would actually be easier for him if you separated now.

Veganfortheanimals · 11/09/2018 17:06

What are you putting up with this for....he's more loyal to his ex than you...I'd of walked by now,...walk or get walked over

Aprilshowersnowastorm · 11/09/2018 17:07

The day my marriage ended (my choice) the fact I would no longer had to deal with his ex and dc was truly a grand day.
You are a Saint to still be with him.

Ltb and take him for every penny. Should wipe the smug look of both their faces.

user1484986087 · 11/09/2018 17:08

As I am constantly exhausted due to working and need help with ds, plus i don’t want to move out of the family home and he will not. Also I wonder if I am being unreasonable and am just worn out with the constant to and fro with ex. Dh is not a bad person, I think he is misguided re ex wbut I don’t know what to do about it....in all other respects, he is a good husband and father (to all his children)...

OP posts:
OllyBJolly · 11/09/2018 17:19

I really don't see the XW as your issue here; it's your DH. He has to own this situation and sort out the finances so that he is looking after all his children and contributing to your family home. It isn't constructive to lay all the blame at the door of someone you have no control over, and no real insight into her life. Whether the XW works or not, and whether you work or not is totally irrelevant.

Your issues are with your DH. Address them with him. Is he contributing his fair share to your household? That's the question. XW is a red herring.

user1484986087 · 11/09/2018 17:24

Olly, are you male? Just curious.,,

OP posts:
OllyBJolly · 11/09/2018 17:34

Olly, are you male? Just curious

No, but I've been where you are.

Honestly, blaming the XW is useless. Either you've got the situation wrong, or your DH is disrespecting you and your family. You say he is misguided by XW - really? Is he a child? Is he that weak? The only individual who can change the situation is your DH. If he doesn't want to that should tell you all you need to know.

SandyY2K · 11/09/2018 17:38

in addition to child maintenance and school fees for his stepkids (17, 14 and 9 yrs).

You mean his kids, not his stepkids right?

If so..why do you have an issue with him paying school fees for his kids?

user1484986087 · 11/09/2018 17:39

I may have got the situation wrong, he doesn’t tell me anything re ex w so I don’t know...I just resent the fact that I contribute to bills and mortgage whilst she gets it all free. I am going to tell dh that I don’t expect to contribute if he can afford to run 2 households....

OP posts:
user1484986087 · 11/09/2018 17:41

I have no issue with him paying school fees for his kids/my stepkids and would expect the same for our son. I have an issue with the ex w being given rent and bills and contributing nothing whilst he pays for everything, and she refuses to work!

OP posts:
Bluecloudyskies · 11/09/2018 17:42

I agree with olly

She can behave shit and damand all she wants but it’s DH that’s giving in and encouraging it tbh. Why isn’t he working with his kids to smooth things over between you and the kids?

Even though she sounds awful the buck really does stop with him.

He’s your problem

Wheresthel1ght · 11/09/2018 17:47

God forbid that a father doesn't want to see his kids homeless.

You sound really unreasonable. Sorry.

She doesn't want the kids. You don't want to be paying for her so move to a bigger place, have the kids come and live with you and things are sorted surely?

I am sorry but out yourself in her position for a. Second as you are considering divorce because your dh is being a good dad... What happens in 5 years when he has a new wife and you lose your job, can't afford your home and you and your son end up on the streets.... Would you be greatful for his help or would you tell him. No?

Seriously this is why step mums get such a bad rep on here!

SandyY2K · 11/09/2018 17:49

Not to mention a spouse whom bends to every demand put forward by the ex wife

Worse still is the fact that he seems to treat his ex wife as his wife in terms of financial obligations

the fact that h makes financial decisions regarding x wife without even telling me

The above is why Olly says the ex is a red herring.

It's your DHs behaviour.

I can tell you resent the fact that the Ex doesn't work. It's annoying...but he was happy to have 3 kids with a woman who didn't work.

This is why so many men don't want to get married. You get divorced and have the financially liability of an Ex.

What happens if he becomes ill or even worse? How will she support herself.

SandyY2K · 11/09/2018 17:59

Was she working when you married him?

indianwoman · 11/09/2018 18:02

This should have all been sorted in the divorce. What do you mean he gave her 300k unrecorded? When he got divorced they should have had a final settlement and that is that. A judge signed off consent order.
She can't come back for more. Are they actually divorced? Why is he not just saying no? It's him you should have the issue with, not her.

user1484986087 · 11/09/2018 18:05

No, but the expectation was that she would work. Instead she has blown the 300k settlement and expects more.
I resent the fact that I pay towards the household and indirectly fund her lifestyle whilst she is not required to work and behaves in an irresponsible fashion with money.
I’ve told my dh that I refuse to contribute to our household whilst he is contributing to hers, and she is not making an effort to work.

OP posts:
user1484986087 · 11/09/2018 18:06

There was no recorded financial settlement on divorce. She was given a payment on the basis that it would be a full and final settlement, albeit on an informal basis. Now she has run out and wants more.

OP posts:
user1484986087 · 11/09/2018 18:08

I tried my best with the stepkids but I really dislike them and they dislike me. The Mum doesn’t like them being separated as they seem to police each other in their dealings with me...they don’t want to appeF too nice to me. On an individual basis they are much easier to speak with.
Before we married, we agreed that we would not have stepkids living with us full time.

OP posts:
user1484986087 · 11/09/2018 18:12

They are divorced as we are married.

OP posts:
notapizzaeater · 11/09/2018 18:23

You need full transparency as to what is happening with his s exW

Though if you dislike his kid so much maybe the best thing would be to walk away.

Snappedandfarted2018 · 11/09/2018 18:24

Why would you have a baby with someone and get married when you don’t like your stepchildren it was never going to work. What happened if heaven forbid she died would you deny the children living with you?

user1484986087 · 11/09/2018 18:25

He says it is none of my business as we have separate finances.
His kids (at least 2 of them) will be 18 in the next few years so walking away for that reason alone is not worth it.

OP posts:
lifeinpieces123 · 11/09/2018 18:27

Op actuallly couldn’t believe you entered into the marriage with your husband knowing he doesn’t have a formal and final financial settlement with his ex wife. Looking at the figures you mentioned, both of you should have quite good job and relatively well off. You got yourself massively exposed financially. It’s difficult to see a solution here: the ex wife has blew all the settlement money she has got and refused to work. You can try to persuade your husband to only pay CMS amount but it may not be sufficient to put a roof over the kids? Otherwise you and your husband could move to a bigger place and take the kids full time but you don’t want to do that...the kids are unfortunate to have a irresponsible mum, so the other parent ie your husband has to step up.

If it was me, I would want to escape too.

Snappedandfarted2018 · 11/09/2018 18:27

His children will always be in his life regardless if they turn 18

ThanksHunkyJesus · 11/09/2018 18:28

Nah you've done your best. The ex can do what she likes, it's your dh you have a problem with. Maybe if you split up you can kick back and sit on your arse like the ex has done all this time!

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