Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Step-parenting

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

DP says I don't spend enough time with his kids

125 replies

calmingspace · 15/04/2022 12:30

Been with DP for 12years, lived with him for 6, he's the non-resident parent and sees his kids at the weekend and holidays, (now 17 and 22) he's never let them down and always been they for them, first few years with him, he kept me at arms length with the kids, and I saw them when he decided, that's fine, whatever worked for him, but if I was to go out with friends whilst he had his kids overnight, he would be very jealous, so I found myself not going out to avoid arguments around who I talked to etc ...when we did move in together I already had stopped doing hardly anything with my friends and even family, he would say I should be spending my free time with him and his kids if an event came up where I was invited, even though I only went out once or twice a year, that was even too much and he would tell me not to get drunk and ask me what time I would be home and if I wasn't on the dot he would be calling me and shouting getting mad as he can no longer trust me, I have never cheated, or even wanted to, so I have pretty much spent all my weekends with his kids, I'm not a natural with kids, but I am friendly and have always been kind and helpful with them both, his children are entitled but I think that comes from having both parents fight for they love, and spoil them rotten as well as let them get away with pretty much everything, that's mostly my DP, my issue is am I allowed to not do stuff with them at the weekend? As now 17, 22, can I plan things myself now, I only want to do the odd thing, maybe once a month, without been told I'm not putting the family first, when I have said I would like to do something at the weekend he views it as I don't want to be apart of his family, and tells me he doesn't want someone like that!
He's still married to his ex, who when I met after 5 years told me they are not divorced as they might be getting back together! So she hates me as we are still together and makes sure the kids know it 🙈

OP posts:
Parky04 · 16/04/2022 10:14

No advice apart from LTB and it's only the second time I have said this!

DelphiniumBlue · 16/04/2022 10:15

He doesn't even like you, he doesn't care about you at all. So you have no responsibility to him.
That should make leaving him easier.
You'll have to get your finances in order... as you suggested, change your will and your policies so that he doesn't benefit from your death, and see a solicitor to make sure that you sever any joint ownership.
Stop paying for his jollies, and if your wages don't already go into a separate account, sort that now.
Then check with your solicitor what percentage of any equity you can expect, and then tell him it's over and you want your share of the equity. If he doesn't agree, you can can get an order for sale- he may be able to remortgage to pay you off, but the bottom line is that you can force a sale.
He's not going change, he's demonstrated clearly that he has no respect for you at all.

Hoppinggreen · 16/04/2022 10:16

You’ve just wasted 12years of your life on this Dickhead
Don’t waste any more

Horcruxe · 16/04/2022 10:16

Reading this is so exasperating.

Every new post from the op just makes it worse.

If you read this then op- you need to leave. Nothing else you need to leave this relationship.

OhWhatFuckeryIsThisNow · 16/04/2022 10:30

He is still married. Anything happens to him you are left with nothing. And that’s for starters. He is playing you like a fiddle. Dump and run.

MrsWooster · 16/04/2022 10:32

Read your op as if a friend /sister/someone you care for had written it. From what you describe, your partner is controlling at best and actively abusive at worst.
Google the Freedom Programme and see if you recognise any patterns of behaviour.
This doesn’t have to be your life…

lovingtheheat · 16/04/2022 10:33

Op you're being abused. None of what you've said is normal. He has done a real number on you.

Financially remove him as a beneficiary on everything. Leave it to your sister, a charity etc. as others have said as your not married, if he doesn't have a will his wife would inherit (if still married to her), if not then his kids. You're NOT obliged to give him notice of any changes so simply do not tell him.

I'd take a long hard look at your life. Yes you've invested considerable time in the relationship, but do you really want this to be the rest of your life? Personally, id prefer to be single in peace.

itsgettingweird · 16/04/2022 10:36

He's emotionally abusive and controlling.

I know it's easy to say "leave".

But if you do leave you can live your own life which is what you want.

If you stay you'll always be questioning your right to a life of your own.

VanGoghsDog · 16/04/2022 10:42

I once even told him I was changing my will to leave it to my sister, he was furious at me, on at me till I didn't go any further with it.
I have other policies too, so I think I should just change them without telling him.

Definitely change them.

And of course you are allowed your own life. Preferably without him in it.

Knockoneofftheshelftowin · 16/04/2022 13:05

Don't tell him you are changing your will. Just do it.

Horcruxe · 16/04/2022 13:16

@Knockoneofftheshelftowin

Don't tell him you are changing your will. Just do it.
This.

I mean what can he do when you're dead?

Sweepingeyelashes · 16/04/2022 14:12

I hope you have the courage to leave soon and reclaim your life. Those two young people are not even your stepchildren. My husband's stepmother of whom he is fond certainly didn't spend every moment of every weekend with three teenage boys. She was widowed when his father died and we all ended up as guests at her wedding when she remarried in her 70s.

I think that @DelphiniumBlue has absolutely the right idea about finances unless you want your declining years to be spent owning a house jointly with his wife and his children. Have your own bank account, don't pay for the weekends and get the house sold if he can't buy you out. You really do need legal advice and a sense of outrage.

I think posters are trying to be helpful and if they say things strongly it is because they think you have been treated badly and they want you to understand that you deserve much better treatment. I know that this is probably difficult for you to hear. Good luck with everything Flowers

Wnikat · 16/04/2022 14:17

This is nothing to do with the step kids and everything to do with your husband emotionally abusing you. Get out!

Alonelonelylonersbadidea · 16/04/2022 14:53

I'm really distressed reading your posts @calmingspace
He has really done a number on you mentally. You must leave him! Do no taste another day with this controlling arsehole.
He is really a bad person.

Aquamarine1029 · 16/04/2022 14:57

It's unbelievable that you've wasted 12 years of your life with this shit head.

LatteLady · 16/04/2022 15:44

OP, he does not need to know what is in your will, that is between you and your solicitor. Did you draw up any agreement about what might happen regarding joint properties if you split? I think you really need an app't with your solicitor asap. If he asks where you are going, tell him the dentist, doubt he will ask much more after that.

Start to see you friends again and if he rings to ask where you are, turn your phone off. You are in control of you, you do not need to do his bidding.

Madamecastafiore · 16/04/2022 15:56

Jesus I'd be checking there isn't a you shaped hole under the patio if I were you!

Wishihadanalgorithm · 16/04/2022 16:04

I only got part way through your first post and knew he was an abusive, controlling shit of a man. Leave. Build your own life. Have friends and socialise. See family. Be yourself. Live happily ever after.

Justcashnosweets · 16/04/2022 16:11

Christ what a horrible controlling bastard he is.
Change your will
Go out with your friends
Spend time with your family
Stop spending any time or money on him and his now grown up children
Tell him to FUCK OFF more.
You deserve so much better than what you have settled for OP, get everything sorted and get out of this relationship as soon as you can. Flowers

IncompleteSenten · 16/04/2022 16:24

Yes you should change them.
Then work on understanding that this is not what a healthy, loving relationship looks like and that you are being taken for a fool.

NewandNotImproved · 17/04/2022 11:09

You need to find somewhere to live, you’ve thrown over a decade of your life down the shitter on a bog standard domestic abuser, and got yourself into a disastrous mortgage situation with a married man.
Focus on yourself, making sure you never accept another abuser into your life.

NewandNotImproved · 17/04/2022 11:10

@Wnikat just to note-he’s not a husband, he’s just a boyfriend and he’s married to someone else. OP has zero legal protections.

Redruby2020 · 17/04/2022 11:13

@Mogul

So what are the good points of this relationship?
Exactly 🤷🏻‍♀️
frazzledasarock · 17/04/2022 11:17

You’re financing this man and his family and are paying towards a larger house which he could not afford without you.

You’ve bequeathed your worldly goods to him and thereby to his not ex wife in your will.

You’ve played childcarer to his kids (who sound like they’re foul to you) for ten years and forgone having your own children because he doesn’t want them.

You think when he’s not berating you outright he’s ‘being nice’ to you.

Change your will, don’t tell him, dump him and get your money back from that house.

This is your one life, you can’t spend it like this being someone’s skivvy and meal ticket!

Starseeking · 17/04/2022 11:31

What is the point of this man OP? Any redeeming qualities? He sounds like a complete and utter waste of space, not to mention emotionally abusive.

Swipe left for the next trending thread