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Step-parenting

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Ex no longer does family things since GF

168 replies

Britpal123 · 22/12/2022 00:02

Hi all,

I have two DD age 7 and 9 I split from ex 6 years ago. We had an amicable split and still did family days out together, birthdays together, he'd come round and help out round the house. However, since his GF and now finance has come on the scene he has pulled away quite considerably and I get texts all about boundaries. For me this must be coming from his fiance as some kind of insecurity. Now it's got to the point where it is now purely drop off and pick ups. He does his own separate things and my kids don't see their parents ever together doing any activities. I feel it's just so sad. He has the kids every other weekend and two days in the week. I asked him if he could help re decorate DD's bedroom. This is something that benefits his kids and took him days to reply and the answer was that's it's not appropriate and to ask someone else!! What do they think that I'll jump on him whilst he's painting. I asked if we could go halves on a Xmas present and again he said that he will be doing this with his fiance. I feel really frustrated that we can't all be adults. I generally get on with his future wife and wish them luck but I don't like that I am being diminished. I've also been told not to text past 8pm etc or ring but info of kid issues haven't got a time limit. On Facebook all pic of me are gone and the ones where i am with the kids. Thats really hurtful because we were a family once and thats memories. Am I being unreasonable or am I dealing with pettiness here.

OP posts:
bloodyplanes · 22/12/2022 00:24

YABVU op! You are not a family any longer therefore you don't need to be doing family activities together! I wouldn't be surprised if his gf has put her foot down about this because its all a bit much! It's not his job to decorate your childs bedroom in your home the same as it wouldn't be your job to do it in his home! I can understand why they feethe need to assert boundaries with you because you don't seem to have any.

SpinningFloppa · 22/12/2022 00:26

Are you the same person who posted about your ex not wanting to come to your house for Xmas anymore since getting a girlfriend?

Coyoacan · 22/12/2022 00:29

It's a shame but you not a couple anymore

BungleandGeorge · 22/12/2022 00:46

Yes it will be coming from the fiancé but perhaps with reason? I don’t think she should be stopping him from attending events with you such as their birthday parties/ school plays etc but you’re totally overstepping asking him to decorate your home for you! How often are you ringing and texting? How many emergencies arise after 8 in the evening? What pictures he has on his fb are entirely his own affair, the fact that you’re bothered by it does suggest you are over involved. It sounds like you had a good relationship, I’d step back now and salvage what you can, respect his choice that he wants to spend time with his fiancé. As long as he’s still spending quality time with the children that’s the main thing

Beamur · 22/12/2022 00:55

Sorry but this is pretty normal. You're not a family anymore.
It's better to be on friendly terms with your ex, but not to the extent of still doing this stuff together.

DrMarciaFieldstone · 22/12/2022 04:35

SpinningFloppa · 22/12/2022 00:26

Are you the same person who posted about your ex not wanting to come to your house for Xmas anymore since getting a girlfriend?

Was about to ask the same.

Kids get on better with clear boundaries, IMO. ‘Family’ days out when you’re not a direct family any longer are always going to have a shelf limit.

DrMarciaFieldstone · 22/12/2022 04:39

I don't like that I am being diminished

Sounds like anger at lack of your control. Why would you need to text hime regularly after 8pm, and why would you care about pictures on his FB? You’ve split, he’s moved on; he isn’t doing anything wrong.

Butitsnotfunnyisititsserious · 22/12/2022 04:45

You aren't a family anymore, you are two separate families now. A healthy co-parenting relationship is great but that doesn't mean doing things together.

Whatmarbles · 22/12/2022 04:48

Sounds perfectly normal to me.
You need to let him go, he is no longer part of your family.

starrynight21 · 22/12/2022 04:58

Now it's got to the point where it is now purely drop off and pick ups. He does his own separate things and my kids don't see their parents ever together doing any activities

This is perfectly normal. You've been separated for 6 years - your ex is moving on and you should too. Wanting to do activities together, asking him to decorate rooms , wanting to go halves in kid's presents .....no, really, it's time to move on and do these things yourself. You come across as very needy to be honest - I don't blame him for trying to set boundaries. You want to blame his fiance but really , he is just being sensible .

SuperSange · 22/12/2022 05:06

They're dealing with pettiness, not you. I'm not surprised they've mentioned boundaries as you don't seem to know where they are.

BeachDayToday · 22/12/2022 05:15

You’re not a family with your ex, that stopped when you split. It was really weird to carry on the way you have been. At least his new GF has normal boundaries which won’t confuse your kids.

FfaCoffi · 22/12/2022 05:34

OP, I get you.

My friendship group is a bit different from mainstream culture in that lots of us are still friends with our exes. (We formed our friendships in the rave scene of the 90s, perfectly normal to be friends with your exes if they weren't dicks in that subculture).

Decades later, I see several of my friends still are friends with their exes, without it feeling weird, and where there are kids involved, it certainly can benefit the kids that everyone is grown up about it.

Not that our generation were doing anything new, particularly. I remember a couple of friends growing up, whose mum and step mum were friends, and my own parents have a close friend who was my dad's girlfriend for a while, years ago.

Mumsnet has this down as lack of boundaries. I think it's being a grown up about things and that not being ruled by jealousy is a good thing, although I appreciate not everyone would agree.

However, like any friendship, it has to be wanted on both sides for it to work. Your ex's GF is conforming to ideas in our society that are pretty mainstream, about how relationships should work, so I don't think you'll get anywhere with changing their minds.

Unfortunately, you do need to accept that they want a clean break now, and that it's time to let your ex do that, if that's what he wants. Allow yourself to be sad about it, as it IS sad that he is withdrawing in this way. For a lot of people that happens when you split so the mourning of that loss happens then. It's OK to feel sad that it's happening now. But you do need to accept it and let him go, just like when someone wants out of a relationship, it's their choice and there's nothing you can do, except protect your own feelings and your child's through this change.

Itsthewhitehat · 22/12/2022 05:34

Sorry Op, yabu.

It’s not coming from her. it’s coming from them. They are a couple. You are his ex. Boundaries are good and it doesn’t sound like you really have them.

He doesn’t need to still act like you are a couple, to be a good parent.

He also isn’t obliged to do whatever you request of him, because it benefits your child. Your child benefits from having her room decorated? So decorate it. That’s you wanting him to take responsibility for things that should be your responsibility.

You feel your role is bringing diminished. What role is that?

WeDontNeedToTalkAboutJamie · 22/12/2022 05:47

You're not a family any more. My parents used to do "family days out" after they'd separated. On the one hand it was great that they still got on. But on the other my brothers and I were convinced they'd get back together. It was confusing.

amylou8 · 22/12/2022 05:55

YABU, he's not your partner. Judging by your reaction I think his GF has called it right.

Ocrumbs · 22/12/2022 06:32

You really don't sound like you are over him to be honest. And yes you are "diminished" in his eyes as you aren't together any more.

The texting if about the kids sounds reasonable though. He should be able to ignore it if it's not convenient.

You really need to adjust to being two seperate homes and families.

Ps. As a stepmum, don't blame her, he's probably just as fed up of it as she is if not more.

Ocrumbs · 22/12/2022 06:34

And why are you even looking as his Facebook.

hallodarknessmyoldfriend · 22/12/2022 06:37

It does sound like you still have some feelings for him.

I think he is correct to set some boundaries. You are not part of his family anymore, you need to move on.

Getamoveon36 · 22/12/2022 06:42

This is normal. Days out, decorating etc with your ex of 6 years is not. Do yourself a favour a move on.

Theunamedcat · 22/12/2022 07:01

Block his Facebook

Move on

Also if they split up don't go back to how things were its confusing for the children just more on get your own partner

autienotnaughty · 22/12/2022 07:14

Unfortunately he's right, it's not appropriate now he's in a new relationship. Also potentially confusing for the children. It's time to stand on your own two feet and do the decorating etc.

TheOnlyBeeInYourBonnet · 22/12/2022 07:14

What you're describing is normal. I doubt you'd want your ex around for family days out 'for the kids sake' if you had a fiance yourself.

KatherineJaneway · 22/12/2022 07:26

YABU OP. Although you had split, you were still acting like a family with days out with all of you and asking him to do DIY etc 6 years on. It is no wonder that the fiance has put her foot down. He is in a relationship with her, not you, and his behaviour needs to reflect that.

Have you dated since the split?

Pinkandpurplehairedlady · 22/12/2022 07:30

I’ve had experience of this and it’s hard to let go. My ex husband and I have remained really good friends and would do quite a bit together with the children but now he’s in a serious relationship with someone it’s just not appropriate anymore. We used to spend Christmas all together at his mums (including his partner) but it just felt weird and awkward so we won’t be doing that anymore.

It sounds like he’s putting some healthy boundaries in place for you and the kids. It will get easier as you adjust to the new norm.