EX WIFE DRAMA :-(

Anon Imperfect Mum

EX WIFE DRAMA :-(

Please post anonymously.

This is going to be quite long so I apologise.
In October of 2014 I met a man who was (at the time) perfect. From the first meeting we clicked. He has 2 children from a previous marriage and he had been separated for just over a year. I had one children from a previous relationship and had been single for 3 years.
We bonded over everything. We were both co-parenting with our Exs and we all actually became friends. More so me with his ex. In that time we were all so comfortable that I was looking after his children on a regular basis.
Me and my sons dad were close on a friendship level but everything revolved around our son.
Their relationship however, I started noticing (after removing my rose coloured glasses) was way to close for comfort. It got to the stage that EVERYTIME we would spend time together their would be some reason she needed him there... He started spending a lot of nights there... Uncomfortable right?
So after 4 months I told him that the idea of marriage to me means a lot and that he really should give it shot with his ex because obviously something is still there...
I then found out I was pregnant.
Mind you a month previous she had falling pregnant to one of the several men she was interment with, sadly she miscarried. My partner left my home to take her to hospital... We both then helped her through that hard time.
When I found out I was pregnant I panicked... Like badly. He assured me everything would be OK and that he was in a way pretty happy... So I decided to sit back and look at all my options.
He decided to sit down and tell his ex and her first response was "when she booked in to get rid of it"... I was disgusted... He then had the same opinion... He was completely against it. Said that his ex had mentioned divorce papers and he was ok with being separated but she had made it clear she just wanted a couple of years break from marriage...
He was in and out the entire pregnancy.
Up until the day I gave birth. Which was a beautiful 4 months ago.
Our little one is pure perfection and my son loves his sister more then anything.
The night before I gave birth me and the baby's dad had a pretty heated argument because he decided to inform me of this.. "Me and (ex) have decided that the custody will be me being there with you for a night once a month and the weekend in between ill be having my other 2 kids for the weekends"... I said no... He said "I'm sorry but that's all I can offer because then the time is spread evenly"...
Now since my daughter has been born his ex has decided that her children are to have nothing to do with my daughter. Her children only found out about having a sister One month ago. In which she told them without consulting me or my daughter's father first. She has encouraged her children to only refer to my daughter as their half sister.
Now, now that they know they obviously want to meet their sister however, they are not allowed to do so unless I drop my daughter off to her father and leave.
My daughter is breastfed and has been relying on me for four months for comfort, for food, and for love. She has only been with her dad every third weekend since birth and a few random visits in between if we're lucky. He sleeps through her crying or doesn't recognise when she just wants to be held.
In between this already confusing situation he also managed to miss our daughter's first Christmas due to his ex saying that we werent important enough to spend that day with and that his real family is what matters, mind you his ex lives six corners away from my home and he still couldn't even come over for five minutes. I had to text him at 6 PM and remind him that he had had no contact he then called and within 30 seconds his ex started screaming at him telling him that me and my daughter shouldn't be interrupting her day. I know there is a lot of gaps in the story but there is no screen big enough to tell the whole thing. There has been both emotional and physical abuse throughout the marriage and throughout the separation from her behalf. She was quite open about hitting her husband when they were married and abusing him after. My daughter is suffering, and losing out on time with her father due to his ex threatening to take his children away if he tries to change the custody arrangement.
So basically what I'm asking is do I persevere and fight for my daughter's right to have her dad and hope that one day he can get away from his ex and her manipulative tendencies.
Or do I I remove myself and my daughter from the situation so his ex can keep doing what she's doing, she has also threatened to take her children away from their dad's family also, his family are scared that she will actually do that.
His family has been in contact with me and have been quite clear that this emotional abuse from her behalf has been going on since the day they got married and that he is programmed to have to listen to her because he has known no different for a long time. I know that if I push for him to spend more time with our daughter and make it even between the children that she will remove the kids from him and his family and I'm afraid that I will be resented for it.
I don't know what to do but any help or advice is appreciated. I have been seeking counselling for over a year to deal with and another person X marriage and I'm over it.
He is to have no contact with me on the weekends that he has his other children however the one weekend we get with him a month his ex is constantly calling and texting. There is too many double standards to even explain in one story.
She claims she wants nothing to do with our daughter at all but is the one calling the shots for everything and I'm expected to go along with that because according to her I ruined her chance to have her family back.
Please I need advice on how to handle and emotionally abusive, manipulative, irrational and unreasonable ex-wife.
I suffer from anxiety pretty badly and this has caused it to get 1000x worse! I'm at a loss...

Posted in:  Relationships & Marriage, Mental Health, Behaviour

20 Replies

Anon Imperfect Mum

Wow. this is crazy in a nutshell.

My advice?
Tell HIM to pick ONE day a week that he spends with YOU and YOUR child. ONE DAY! A couple of hours. weather it be 4 hours after work or something but IN YOUR CARE. So at your house, at a park or whatever. Just so YOU can have a shower in peace, cook dinner without disruption so you can still keep an ear/eye out. DONT let the ex dictate what YOU do. pick a regular day. That was she has to work around you. Your the one being consistent that way.
She can't have a problem once its consistent because its routine. happens every week, and your ex will get used to it. Trust me :)

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Anon Imperfect Mum

Back right off, don't encourage contact. Don't chase him, don't text him. They are BOTH toxic people and are clearly unstable for your child.
Quite frankly any contact that they have with your child long term is going to be bad!
If you really need to, take him to mediation to formalise any contact. But i wouldn't be encouraging this

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Anon Imperfect Mum

Hi, first off I want to say that sounds like an awful situation but it sounds like tou've handled it well.

Personally I wouldn't be pushing for the visits. Bubs still so young so she won't remember any different or miss her dad

It sounds like dad needs to do some growing up and grow some balls.
You shouldn't be involved in what's happening with the ex or her children and there relationship.

Dad needs to step up and stop the contact between you and her and realize he has beautiful children who deserve equal time with him and not to be used as pawns for blackmail

My advice would be that I think you need to tell dad that you will not be part of the Exs games any more. He should be wanting to see his daughter and not letting her cause trouble but if he's not man enough to stand up to her and be a pet of your daughters life then you need to walk away until he is for both of your sake

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Anon Imperfect Mum

The first thing you need to do is take a deep breath and remind yourself that you're doing an amazing job.

This person isn't a father if he's allowing his EX wife to decide whether or not he has a relationship with his daughter.
A child is better off with both parents only if they both love the child unconditionally.
Your daughter will thrive better with just you, over the pain of a father being in and out as he pleases.

I suggest you contact someone in regards to mediation. Get a proper plan in place for when he sees your daughter, if at all.
If he isn't interested in being a father, don't force him. Your daughter will grow up to realize he isn't interested.
If he, brilliant. Maybe mediation will encourage him to step up and spend more time with her.
At the very least, you can get a routine in place.
You can also address issues, such as 'ex wife isn't to contact you when you're with our child'.

And I personally think it is great that you're still in contact with his family! That way, your daughter still has a connection with the other side of her. Well done. :)

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Anon Imperfect Mum

Um what's he doing all that time he's not spending with his other children? I don't quite get it. He needs to stand up for himself. She won't be able to take the kids away. He needs to get his visits court ordered. Also how does she control how he sees your daughter? You said you can't be present when he sees her? What?

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Anon Imperfect Mum

Why is he sleeping at her house?
Anyway its in the past now.
You need to recognise that whatever they've got going is a bit twisted, but it's not your problem. Wipe your hands of them and anything to do with them and what he does with his kids. Arrange his time with the baby & that's it. It's his job to arrange all his kids, not you or your daughters business.
I think the more you leave this all in the past the better off you will be.

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Anon Imperfect Mum

Omg! Wow I am actually speechless.
Get out of there!
The baby's daddy is an absolute wanker. Mind you his ex still has his balls and always did by the sounds of it. How selfish of her seriously!!
I wouldn't push for visits. Just back off. Like previously suggested tell him your terms and tell him to come see you when he has his balls back. Until then this interaction with these completely toxic people is so bad for you. It's not doing anything great for your daughter either.
He can't have contact with you when he has his kids? What the actual fuck! He's an adult and can contact whoever he wants whenever he wants. How did you ruin her chance to have her family back? They can still be a family. He can go back so why isn't he? That's her choice if she doesn't want to not your fault.
Your daughter won't suffer without him in her life but she might if he is. Unfortunately, the ex seems to be a manipulative psycho crazy woman and who needs that in their life? She's using the kids as pawns and you have to think of their well being too.

Enjoy your daughter without all the drama and bullshit!! Keep up with the counseling for your own mental health.
Best of luck mumma.

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Anon Imperfect Mum

Yes, the minute to wrote the words "he was perfect" within your first sentences, alarm bells went off, red flags waving. You may want to google NPD and see if they both fit the bill! If so, you should RUN for the hills if you can. :(

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Anon Imperfect Mum

This is my post...
In reguards to my daughter meet his other children, his ex is not allowing it unless I am NOT present... Which is not happening...
She says she does not want me around her kids because it's inappropriate, but mind you a year ago I was changing their nappies, bathing them, hugging them when they hurt themselves, kisses and cuddles goodnight... But now it's a problem?
His kids have facetimed me and my little girl, and my son as well... So her kids know I'm my daughter mother and have spoken to me... So what the hell is her problem with me seeing them in person?
I do not feel safe having my daughter meet his kids without me present... Both children are suffering quite bad behavioural issues... His son (6) has been suspended from school quiet a few times due to violence, and his daughter I have see pick up things way beyond what her size should allow her to and through it at people... She torments there puppy ect...
His ex wife hit him with a glass full of whiskey at 3.30 in the afternoon a few months ago because he tried talking to her about making things fair for the kids... All this happened infront of the kids.. Instantly he blamed himself .. "I should of changed my tone of voice, she was having a bad day she didn't mean too, she must of had to much sugar that say she gets angry when she has sugar, I should of made sure she was having a good day first, I shouldn't of said anything this is so hard on her it my fault that she was violent"...
Agggggghhhhhhh it's all so full on.

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Anon Imperfect Mum

Walk away, can't you see your daughter is better off without that toxic drama in her life? Can't you see you are so entrenched in it now you just want to vent but not change it?

You can't change other people but you can protect your child and change yourself!
It's time to put up the walls. Stop contact with the siblings. Fine if it's safe but it ISNT ever safe!
Let it go, protect your daughter, live a happy life without them.

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Anon Imperfect Mum

There has been significant changes, like I said I can't type everything of a year and a half on a forem.
My guilt takes over as I've been a victim in my past and instead of people helping they left, there is nothing worse then battling alone.
He is my daughters father and he at one point was a best friend and I don't take that lightly. I am and have been breaking down how much contact is made and it's definitely helping.
I want to help him, obviously not at the cost of my daughters safety but for me, I want to be there like I am for everyone else.
I know his slowly realising certain aspects of a pretty big shitstorm but my main concern is I can deal with his ex.
I have a feeling I'm going to have to confront her and some stage and tell her I'm over this Chinese whisper game!

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Anon Imperfect Mum

You CAN NOT fix them!

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Anon Imperfect Mum

Nope you won't help him. He'll pick himself up when he decides to, you can be there and support him - with boundaries - then.
Move on. Your baby has years before she'll be interested in those siblings. You don't need to be involved with her and her children at all. Take that time to distance yourself and get some distance from this whole situation.

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Anon Imperfect Mum

I'm going to be brutally honest here.

You need to stop this now. He is not you! You said you had problems in the past and were left to deal with them alone and that is horrible and I'm sorry you had that.
BUT you are not the person to help him. You are too involved here as he is your daughters dad.
You trying to help is just further complicating things and you're olaying into the Exs games.
Your daughter should not be involved in this drama and high school
Bull shit. Walk away now and maybe he will realise he's lost his daughter due to his EX and finally wake up and man up

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Anon Imperfect Mum

Yep this isn't ex wife drama. This is ex boyfriend drama because he chooses to react with her. And this is you're drama if you.choose to react & engage with him.
No excuses, just distance yourself for the good of yourself and your kids.

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Anon Imperfect Mum

I suggest not taking your daughter around them at all. If the little girl is chucking things and the brother is also displaying violence it doesn't sound like a safe environment with supervision or not. Imagine all the stuff that goes on you don't know about. these kids will not grow up ok. If the father wants contact explain it has to be away from that environment. When mediation ask why drop lots of hints about how the kids are showing signs of abuse and are repeating that behaviours. Maybe even step in now. I wouldn't feel comfortable knowing how those kids might grow up without help.

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Anon Imperfect Mum

Do you really want her around your child? My advice get all the proof you can about her abuse, go to mediation for him to see his child, do not let her anywhere near yours

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Anon Imperfect Mum

Wow u got yrself into a right mess there! Didn't take contraception for a new relationship, stuck with this weird scenario for 4mths or so, & there were already so many exes involved it was bound to end up crazy, it's too late now to change anything or anyone but if you had higher standards you'd be better off ..
You say you "want to be there for him, just like you are for everyone else" ??! That right there is your mentality problem!

now the fact is that you have to be stronger & show you've learnt from the past mistakes you've already talked about & just don't expect much from this man or his so-called ex but focus on doing what's right for your own kids . :/

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Anon Imperfect Mum

Went through the almost exact same thing, dated a man for a month or so he was seperate do from his woman and kids he got back with her then 2yrs down the track he comes around one night and says are not together any more she kicked him out a couple of months ago we sleep together he gets back with her I find out I'm pregnant I tell him he refuses to claim my child who after he was born looks exactly like him so I go through legal aid and force a dna to prove a point test comes out 100% as expected only had sex 3 times the whole year isn't hard to figure out who the dad is, she pretty much says it he has anything to do with ur child or his family have anything to do with them they will not see her kids I give him and his family 1 and a half years to have a relationship with my boy had an open door policy no contact still so I got a new job in a new town moved away blocked the whole gutless family on fb because I realised this man has no balls my child will not be treated like his second best by anyone and I'm not playing into her games I have a new partner my son doesn't know he's real father his almost 6 I would send him a text say u know where we are until u grow some balls and act like. Real man don't bother sick of being treated like ur secret family and I'm not playing ur psycho ex's games if u want to be her lap dog go for it but we deserve more

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Anon Imperfect Mum

I could have written this myself except im still with my partner luckily he woke up to his ex ways. Go to counciling and get them to help build up your resilience it will be hard but you can do. Go to mediation with the father the ex wont be able to go as its not her child best of luck

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