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breaking off contact with dp's exw- WWYD

52 replies

BandanaBanana · 24/08/2021 08:53

dp's exw is incredibly demanding when it comes to her kids coming round and staying at ours. For context, they split up in 2004 and dp and I have been together since 2018. I have 4 older kids, all adults so it's not like i haven't parented before!

every time they come and stay she complains about something. Usually it's the fact that we let the dc lie in on the weekend when she thinks we shouldn't - she thinks they should keep their school routine on the weekends otherwise it's harder to get them up on Mondays. She sends pages long whatsapps telling me what they can and can't eat because they have allergies. 2 of my dc had v severe allergies that meant we always had to carry around epipens everywhere so I am v well versed in this. She sent me a list with gluten, dairy etc. I asked dp if the kids were coeliac and he said it was the first he had heard of it. Turns out they can eat pasta and chocolate and ice cream but must be dairy and gluten free in all other foods Hmm and then of course, it turns out it's not actually an allergy at all, it's just a preference.

She is v organised with dates and sends them months in advance (which is fine) but then we arrange everything around those dates (and with lots of other kids and commitments, it's quite a big thing) but when she changes the dates, which she does frequently, she then sends pages of rants accusing me of being too inflexible to move things around (even when it might not be anything to do with me).

I have just been muting the conversations as they were starting to do my head in when she sent her latest diatribe which is about the behaviour of my dog and how she finds it unacceptable and it's not trained properly and behaves badly with her kids. She claims her children are amazing around animals - despite the fact they have never had a dog - and how they know everything there is to know about dogs and they tell her things about the dog that lead her to believe i have no clue what I am doing. This is despite the fact that I caught one of the kids smacking the dog on the nose when it wouldn't do what they wanted and had to take them to one side!

I have now had enough and have told dp so. She sends these messages to a group whatsapp she has set up to discuss all matters relating to the kids arrangements with me, dp and her in the group. I want to leave this group now as even muting it is not enough in my mind.

dp is desperate for there not to be a scene and says if i leave the whatsapp group it will ramp her up more and make matters worse and she will probably just text me anyway or message me directly.

WWYD?

OP posts:
Margotshypotheticaldog · 24/08/2021 09:26

Good that you've left the group. Let him deal with her. There is no need for you to have any communication with her whatsoever.

ElspethFlashman · 24/08/2021 09:34

Well done!

Make sure you block her on EVERYTHING else. That will minimise drama. If she goes postal, your DP can just say your phone is acting up.

You could also deactivate your FB for a couple of weeks, so if she tries that route, she won't actually find you as a user and he can say you've left FB.

You can reactivate it after it all dies down but with her blocked and maybe change your profile pic and your user name and she might not even realise.

BandanaBanana · 24/08/2021 09:35

Thanks all!

OP posts:
mstroutpout · 24/08/2021 09:37

Well done for leaving. I'd go as far as to ask your DP not to tell you what she's saying too because he may just start relaying it all to you.

Block her number.

Good luck!

MzHz · 24/08/2021 09:43

Well done

If she kicks off, LET her kick off

The message back to her (from dp) is back off, the kids are fine, well looked after and that as he has no say in their routine when they’re with her, she doesn’t dictate his time with them either. If there’s an allergy issue, feel free to forward Medical details, but sheer preference will be the decision of the dc, and whatever works for him.

If your dp doesn’t take the reins here and put her back in her box, you need to tell him you’re off. Nobody is worth having a woman like that in your life.

AnneLovesGilbert · 24/08/2021 09:44

His boundaries are an issue if he’d rather piss you off than her. She has no right to contact you at all, about anything.

Well done for leaving but have a word with him about thinking it’s okay to inconvenience you to keep some sort of fake peace with his nutty ex.

MzHz · 24/08/2021 09:46

@BandanaBanana

They are NT. it was about a year after we got together that she added me grrr

I have left the group Grin

If I’d have been added, I’d have left immediately

His kids, his issue

Mind you, she wouldn’t have had my number either to begin with

RedMarauder · 24/08/2021 10:14

His ex may not be nutty but both of them have boundary issues.

Him giving her your number shows he thinks that you are legally responsible to parent their children when you are not.

Don't be afraid to ramp it up yourself - I've sent you a PM - if she continues with her batshit once you have made it clear to them both not she is not to contact you.

WorkingItOutAsIGo · 24/08/2021 10:23

Your DP needs to start telling her he will parent how he chooses.

Thisnamewasnttaken123 · 24/08/2021 10:33

Leave the group.
Your Dp can deal with her himself.

Tirediam · 24/08/2021 10:39

Well done OP. She sounds bat shit

acolderwar · 24/08/2021 10:59

Would I fuck endure endless lectures from the exw as if I am the mistreated au pair. Glad you've left the group, bye Felicia!

candlelightsatdawn · 24/08/2021 11:40

Dear me well done OP for leaving.

She sounds mad as a box of frogs. If DH wants to be ping consistently well that's on him but you defo didn't have to endure that too just because he doesn't want to rock the boat.

At some point you would hope she would calm down a bit.

GoogleWhacked · 24/08/2021 11:42

@BandanaBanana

They are NT. it was about a year after we got together that she added me grrr

I have left the group Grin

Now block her everywhere!
MalleytheAlleyCat · 24/08/2021 11:45

Good lord how have you ended up in a WhatsApp group with your DH and his EXW?!?

Leave the group. All queries go to DH and pages of rants will not be responded to as clearly this is just a time wasting activity. If DM has a query that’s longer then a text but not urgent them perhaps DH can arrange an appropriate time to discuss.

If lie ins are genuinely causing an issue then maybe you could all reach a compromise on time? But if DSCs don’t feel they struggle to get up on a Monday then I can’t really see an issue. Ultimately they live in 2 households are there are going to be variations in routine, not just for DM to say what works for her and you all fall into line

Hadenough21 · 24/08/2021 11:47

Jesus Christ leave the group and wash your hands of her, this is not your problem to deal with. Let your partner communicate with her. She probably gets some kind of kick out of it all so just disengage completely!

candlelightsatdawn · 24/08/2021 12:00

Just had a thought OP. There's a function setting on whatup that means you can't be added to a new group on whatsup, I'm sure of it.

Worth making sure she doesn't just drag you into a new group just to tear you down again.

Sounds like something that may happen.

Tiredoftattler · 24/08/2021 12:32

OP, if you stop reading and responding what exactly can she do? She can create a verbal scene but does that really matter?

AbsolutelyCrackin · 24/08/2021 13:12

Glad you've left OP.

I've no desire to get into any sort of conversation with my husband's ex about the DSC. She can discuss that with DH. No thank you!

KalvinPhillipsManBun · 24/08/2021 13:38

Leave the group nothing to do with you then.

nevergoesaway · 24/08/2021 13:43

Omg this is a batshit situation for you to have to deal with!! Glad you’ve left the group, you shouldn’t have to be communicating with her about all this stuff constantly, that’s for their own FATHER to deal with!

vivainsomnia · 25/08/2021 08:13

Leave. You don't owe her or her OH to be party to their arrangements. It is between them. Your OH can relate what he thinks you need to know.

starskey80 · 25/08/2021 10:31

Wow, she sounds batshit.

Does she think you're a member of staff or something, talk about controlling.

Well done op. Dont let your partner guilt you into rejoining. He needs to work on his boundaries.

Frankola · 29/08/2021 04:31

You need to block her to stop her contacting you other ways.

And you also need to stay out of it to be honest, for your own sanity.

There's no need for you to be so involved with her communicating about parenting.

freeingNora · 29/08/2021 05:59

What I would also say is that let them organise the times etc dates don't book things let DP take the lead. You don't have to be available childcare for those days carry on your plans and let him deal with. That way you can untangle yourself and choose which bits of the Dsc activities that you participate in. Childcare is parents work not woman's work

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