A mum has turned to the internet for advice after she was baffled by a “strange” and “cheeky” request from her partner’s ex.
The post was initially shared last year, but has begun to recirculate on social media in recent days – and we can see why.
The Mumsnet user began the post by explaining that her partner has been split up from his ex – who he shares two children with – for years. They have his kids, aged 9 and 11, on weekends and holidays.
She added that she has a child of her own – an eight-year-old from a previous relationship – and that her and her partner don’t have any children together, nor do they want any more.
She continued:
“His ex met her new partner about a year ago and is now pregnant, due next month. She works full-time as does her partner.
“When she told my DP about the new baby, she said ‘obviously we might need some help with child-care, it’d be much appreciated’.
“[Dear partner] thought she was joking and said ‘Oh our baby days are long gone but congratulations’ and she said ‘Oh but you’ll be having X and Y anyway so…’ and it was left at that, as [dear partner] was a bit stunned and speechless.”
The poster was quick to add that while she knows the ex doesn’t mean every single time they have the older kids, she thinks the mum-to-be thinks “if she’s stuck we can take the baby.”
She asked her fellow parents if she was being unreasonable for thinking it was a “cheeky request” and if “it’s a bit weird”.
Most of the commenters agreed that it was “strange”. urging her to encourage her partner to say something about the childcare arrangements.
“Make sure your [dear partner] tells her loud and clear that the baby is not part of any weekend childcare arrangement,” one person said.
“She’s absolutely not thinking straight if she believes you and [dear partner] might actually consider that a possible option. A swift ‘No’ should set her straight,” another wrote.
Someone else pointed out:
“My gut reaction is ‘she’s got a cheek’ and I would suggest it has nothing at all to do with your partner and certainly it is way too removed from you to be your problem.
“On the other hand, if mum genuinely struggles, there could be a negative impact on your step children’s lives and as such, perhaps there is an element of ‘it is our problem’.”
