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Step-parenting

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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:
3peassuit · 17/04/2022 12:03

I can’t see any positives for you in this relationship.

fishingforflies · 17/04/2022 12:13

Bless you.
You are in a very abusive relationship.
You are being bullied and used.
None of them like you, they just want what you provide for them.

It's horrible to hear this I'm sure, but I assume you aren't in complete denial as you wouldn't have reached out on here.

Do you have any friends or family in real life you can confide in? If you were a friend or family member of mine I'd want to help you get free.

fishingforflies · 17/04/2022 12:14

You can change you will with a solicitor and they can store the copy for you, all completely confidential and a completely standard way of dealing with wills.

calmingspace · 17/04/2022 18:23

Thank you all for your advice, I have been in touch with a solicitor to have my will redone, like people say, don't need to say anything to him, just do it, DP tells me numerously that his wife would not get anything as they are legally separated, but just not divorced, I did ask legal advice at the time when I did my will after buying house together and was told his wife has a right to contest, I advised him this but he said the solicitor was wrong!

He can be charming, which was how I fell for him at the start, now I'm just happy to go a day without an argument or a falling out over something trivial!

When he's happy with me he would say that I've been really good today......which when I just wrote that line, it felt a bit of a sinister thing to say!
Even when times do seem ok I am still apprehensive and can't seem to relax.
I relax when he's not home 🙈

Hearing that it is ok to not want to do everything my DP and his kids do from so many people, i can't deny I was surprised as I genuinely did believe I was being selfish for wanting not to have to join them in everything they do, I have always felt it's not an option.
I have felt many a times that what was happening was not right, not just with this issue but with other things too, and I am now starting to reach out and question it, I do want to find me and will take every helpful comment made to convince myself I can have a life I would like too x

OP posts:
CandyLeBonBon · 17/04/2022 21:54

Well done. op. One step at a time Thanks

Starseeking · 17/04/2022 22:05

Just in this point:

DP tells me numerously that his wife would not get anything as they are legally separated, but just not divorced

If you are in England, your DP has a very poor grasp of the law. Legally separated means the marriage has not been dissolved, i.e. he is still married!

As he has no will, the attached inheritance rules will apply if anything happens to him, so his wife will inherit, and could force a sale of your house!

DP says I don't spend enough time with his kids
MrsTerryPratchett · 17/04/2022 22:13

I have other policies too, so I think I should just change them without telling him.

No, you should leave and change them.

WakeMeUpWhenTheyHaveGone · 17/04/2022 22:58

Just pack your bags and leave ASAP. He’s treated you so badly you should leave without telling him. Plan to leave when he’s out. You can change all of the paperwork after leaving. The man sounds evil. I wouldn’t want to have that conversation with him.

You don’t sound as though you’re ready to leave yet. Wishing you good luck for when you are ready.

calmingspace · 19/04/2022 21:56

@Starseeking

Just in this point:

DP tells me numerously that his wife would not get anything as they are legally separated, but just not divorced

If you are in England, your DP has a very poor grasp of the law. Legally separated means the marriage has not been dissolved, i.e. he is still married!

As he has no will, the attached inheritance rules will apply if anything happens to him, so his wife will inherit, and could force a sale of your house!

Thank you for the clarification, he will not listen to me though, he tells me I live in the past when I bring him still being married up.

I have other issues hanging over me with him, I am in an awkward situation with his family and he is not being supportive to me, I feel like I am falling apart at the seems at times, if it's not one thing it's another.

Well I have now changed the beneficiaries on my pensions now, just need to get my new will in order. And then maybe I will find the courage to leave, I do feel like it is coming to a head, as the whole family in law issue has added a whole new pressure to our relationship, I know they are being unreasonable towards me, but of course it's me whose not normal, so I feel something has got to give, unfortunately the apple doesn't fall far from the tree when it comes to his family.

OP posts:
Maydaysoonenough · 19/04/2022 21:58

Be blunt. Tell him you are done being the other woman.. And mean it.

SandyY2K · 19/04/2022 22:38

Just came to say that this is an abusive manipulative relationship. He doesn't appreciate you. He's controlling, he's selfish and he's taken advantage of you financially.

I'm glad you've changed your pension beneficiaries and are sorting the will.

Next steps are to leave the relationship BUT stop paying for his kids on weekends.

Get your own social life with your friends back on track and stop letting him control you. He can be grumpy if he wants.

I feel angry on your behalf.

fireburnsbright · 19/04/2022 22:39

OP I think it’s great that you have reached out here as it’s enabling you to realise that you don’t need to live like this any more, that you have been treated so badly by this man after giving him so many years of your life. You sound so lovely and selfless but he and his family have taken advantage of your character and abused you.

Hopefully with time you will be able to reclaim your own life and realise your own worth which it sounds like your partner has massively eroded over the years. This is how men manage to stay in relationships like this for so long.
He could make life difficult for you when (hopefully) you choose to leave so make sure you’re prepared for this and get as much support as you can. Wishing you all the best x

calmingspace · 21/04/2022 09:46

DP son asked if we wanted to go somewhere near where his kids live for a meal at the weekend, we said ok, DP said his daughter could bring her BF, all of them drink alcohol even though DD and BF are underage, and she always gets her dad to get her double gins, plus her BF and his son all expect him to but they alcoholic drinks, BF and DS have pints plus whisky, I can only afford to pay myself but DP has asked if I will go half! - I said I would pay for his daughter food and my own, and my own drinks, I'll be driving, he's kicked off at me saying why am I not paying half, i said I don't have the money, and if he wants to pay for his daughters BF and buy all they alcohol then he can do that, but I am not! - he said he's going to cancel my place and I'm uninvited, I said ok. He shouted at me telling me how horrible I am etc and selfish and has now left to visit his parents in another city, picking up his adult kids on the way, I'm at work today.

I've since agreed that I would pay half for food, but not their drinks, he says where does all your money going, I am the one who primarily pays for all the food and shopping for the home, if he pays anything and he's asking if the joint account is going to pay him back!
He earns more than me too. His parents have paid the majority of his personnel debts off, so he's financially in a better position then me. Is it ok to say no to paying for their drinks? And just the food, I want to not go, but I know it will cause too much upset on top of all the current stress I have going on with him!

OP posts:
SquishyGloopyBum · 21/04/2022 10:06

Op, why on earth have you agreed to go half with them now? Let him uninvite you. They won't get a lift then.

They are using you but you are allowing it. Start saying no.

Coffeeonadrip · 21/04/2022 10:25

OP what will be the first thing you'll do once you're out of this relationship? How would you like to spend your weekend when you have no responsibility to answer to anyone about where you're going, what you're doing, what time you'll be back? Let's get excited about all the awesome things you could do for yourself, friends to meet up with, places to see. What were your hobbies and passions before you got into this relationship?

calmingspace · 21/04/2022 10:41

@SquishyGloopyBum

Op, why on earth have you agreed to go half with them now? Let him uninvite you. They won't get a lift then.

They are using you but you are allowing it. Start saying no.

I am struggling with his anger when I don't agree to do something, i get scared and don't want to argue, I feel so churned up and want it to stop, I can't seem to get out of the turmoil, they is always something, I am a fool I know it, I just don't have it in me right now to stand up to him, I try but it gets me nowhere as he just breaks me back down again 😢
OP posts:
calmingspace · 21/04/2022 10:45

@Coffeeonadrip

OP what will be the first thing you'll do once you're out of this relationship? How would you like to spend your weekend when you have no responsibility to answer to anyone about where you're going, what you're doing, what time you'll be back? Let's get excited about all the awesome things you could do for yourself, friends to meet up with, places to see. What were your hobbies and passions before you got into this relationship?
I don't know who I am anymore, I have hardly any drive, what it would be like to not have to answer to where or what I am doing would be like a weight lifted off my shoulders, a friend has asked me and another friend to do something to catch up, I have said let me know dates and I'm up for it, so hopefully I will get to go out, will be for something to eat with a glass of wine, how lovely that sounds 😊
OP posts:
calmingspace · 21/04/2022 10:46

How lovely that sounds!

Was how I was ending that 😊

OP posts:
Purplecatshopaholic · 21/04/2022 10:51

Oh op. This thread is just so sad. You need to get out, and do it now! You will realise you are entitled to a happy life, away from this abuser. Please make plans to leave - and in the interim, start saying No to things. You can do this.

NewandNotImproved · 21/04/2022 10:53

Next time the abuser gets angry and aggressive, call the police. No need to get bogged down in abusive married boyfriends little squabbles about his kids, none of it is your problem. Dumping him will be easy, it’s just the house to sell.

Littleorangeflowers · 21/04/2022 20:11

Christ almighty. Leave him. As fast as you can. He's not even divorced???!!!!!!!!!

calmingspace · 21/04/2022 20:33

It seems he's the only person who thinks being married after all these years is acceptable, other than his wife that is!
He's only ever been we me after his wife and she has had multiple relationships, nearly all of them moved in with her, yet she still bad mouthed me to the kids, they have on occasion mentioned it as well as it's obvious with how cold his kids are towards me, DP says it's my fault apparently, I need to do more for them to get they love, it's crazy how I have that situation from kids who I've spent nearly every weekend with for years and then I have such a loving bond with my nieces and nephews who I definitely feel they love and I see them every now and then when I get an opportunity to, even 15 minutes and I can feel the warmth and love from them 🥰

OP posts:
Maydaysoonenough · 21/04/2022 20:37

He is using you so badly op. Take the money he is trying to sponge and use it to get a taxi to a family member or friend. Ltb tonight.

Starseeking · 21/04/2022 21:47

@calmingspace

DP son asked if we wanted to go somewhere near where his kids live for a meal at the weekend, we said ok, DP said his daughter could bring her BF, all of them drink alcohol even though DD and BF are underage, and she always gets her dad to get her double gins, plus her BF and his son all expect him to but they alcoholic drinks, BF and DS have pints plus whisky, I can only afford to pay myself but DP has asked if I will go half! - I said I would pay for his daughter food and my own, and my own drinks, I'll be driving, he's kicked off at me saying why am I not paying half, i said I don't have the money, and if he wants to pay for his daughters BF and buy all they alcohol then he can do that, but I am not! - he said he's going to cancel my place and I'm uninvited, I said ok. He shouted at me telling me how horrible I am etc and selfish and has now left to visit his parents in another city, picking up his adult kids on the way, I'm at work today.

I've since agreed that I would pay half for food, but not their drinks, he says where does all your money going, I am the one who primarily pays for all the food and shopping for the home, if he pays anything and he's asking if the joint account is going to pay him back!
He earns more than me too. His parents have paid the majority of his personnel debts off, so he's financially in a better position then me. Is it ok to say no to paying for their drinks? And just the food, I want to not go, but I know it will cause too much upset on top of all the current stress I have going on with him!

It's obvious they only invited you so you could be their designated driver.

If you haven't had counselling/therapy OP, I suggest you start soon. These people are trampling all over you and treating you incredibly badly, your self-esteem must be rock bottom, and you'll need help in building it back up again.

Also LTB asap.

girlfromtheloch · 21/04/2022 22:14

Focus on the warmth and love you feel from your nieces and nephews and realise that’s what you deserve to feel every day in your relationship and from your stepchildren. It sounds like you have adjusted to not only never feeling this but also to being mistreated and emotionally abused.
You have been with your partner a long time , you might need some professional help in understanding why you have stayed in this relationship to help you with your relationships in the future. It’s good you’ve looked at the freedom project. The below may help you a bit and explains why sometimes women find it difficult to leave
broxtowewomensproject.org.uk/trauma-bonding/

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