Relationships
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  • edited August 2013
  • This is a massive clusterfuck.  He is failing his children.  He's throwing money and elbow grease at the problem but in the end he's doing his kids a disservice.  I can't wrap my head around this.  Why doesn't he petition for custody?  There has to be a bigger reason than he doesn't want to hurt his ex's feelings... that doesn't make sense.  How are an adult's feelings more important than the welfare of a child?  Do you think he wants them?  Do you want them?

    You keep blaming her but your FI is responsible for this too.  She might be a loser and a crap parent.  But you FI is not only financing her lifestyle, he's letting his kids go down with this ship.  Your FI sucks.  For fuck's sake, these are CHILDREN.  And we have a Mom who doesn't care to provide them with a stable, healthy environment, a Dad who doesn't care enough to get them out, and a potential step-mom who's more concerned with her pretty princess day and vacation homes (I see your clarification, and I get it, but you spent a lot of time in your OP talking about superficial nonsense - you are entering into a blended family situation, your FI has kids, and you might have to sacrifice your desires as a step-parent).  You are the adults here... What the actual fuck? 

    Postpone the wedding indefinitely and really look at this relationship.  If this guy would rather cater to his loser ex-wife's feelings than take care of his own children, is this really a guy you want to call your husband?  If this a guy you want to be the father of your children (if that was ever part of the plan).

  • edited August 2013
    This whole thng is a mess.

    I have a friend who is divorced and has 3 kids. In lieu of paying child support, he rents an apartment and all 4 of them stay there.

    He found it to be much more of a bang for his buck than paying 3 checks for child support.

    That arrangement's gone on for over 12 years. The youngest kiddo is now a junior in college and I think he still pays the rent so that his 2 youngest sons have a place to stay.  The oldest is already gone and out of the house. (the second oldest kid is still trying to find a full time job; he graduated college 2 years ago and all he gets is contract work)

    BUT....my friend works, and always has, and that is how she earns her keep. He pays for health insurance for the 2 youngest kiddoes.

    When they were all under the age of 18, he paid for all 3 of their medical coverage.

    Your FI's exYF needs to go. No way should she be staying in his home; he is losing money on that deal.

    Are the kids covered under his health insurance? They should be.

    As for her, she will need to get a job to get coverage for herself. This means go get a job. (and those kids needed to be OUT of her custody, considering she is pretty much a crook.)

    You need to give him the boot and fast. Postpone nothing; end this relationship and move on. Your FI is either a pushover, NOT over his exYF or both --- marriage is for TWO people, not 3.  She will be in your shadow forever and who needs that?

    He also is NOT putting YOU first. "Forsaking all others" is the vow and he already blew that one to smithereens.

    Sad fact is he is still in love with her. 

    As I said, end it with him; there is no room for you in here. There is no healthy dynamic -- you need to come first and he needs to take a harder line with his kids. As a PP pointed out, he needs to get full custody of his kids and he needs to let xYF sink like a rock. THAT is what he needs to do.

    I can't see how a father would permit his kids to be in a home that is not good. She's a crook and a liar and is dishonest; she also treats your FI like a doormat and apparently he likes that a lot.

    Do not marry a guy who is a spineless wimp, a pushover, or one who has his xYF still carrying on what is a very unhealthy alliance with him -- and do not marry a guy who has zero character, no respect for you and uses you as a doormat.  Your FI is all of the afore-mentioned.

    If you have any respect for yourself, you'll tell this jerk goodbye and do it as soon as possible --- and a counselor would be a great idea for you. Find out why you tolerated this bullshit for as long as you did and find out why you thought it was a good idea to TRY to marry a jerk like him.
  • He told me to stop meddling in his business, but I said that since this involves our financial future that it is my business too, and that it hurts me to see him allow her to walk all over him, and that because I love and care about him, I can't just turn a blind eye.

     I feel like he's going to have 2 wives.

    If you marry this guy, you WILL be one one 2 wives.  This woman is the mother of his children.  She is going to be in his life legally until the kids are 18, and it looks like he's going to do everything he can to protect her.  By telling you stop meddling, he is sending the message that this is the way it's going to be with him. The family dynamics were set before you came, and it looks like they will continue after. If you do marry him,  go into it knowing that this situation will NEVER change, especially since the courts keep siding with her and he keeps protecting her.  Accept it or move on.  

    Also, if you are thinking kids, t doesn't seem like this guy can handle having any more kids around.
  • You're a fool if you think this will change. He clearly likes taking care of her or he'd fix this mess. Don't marry into this train wreck.
  •  He and I are getting married next August, but I feel like he's going to have 2 wives. 


    I think you realize yourself that this is not who you want to spend your life with. You don't deserve you put your life goals on hold/cancel them because of your FI's pre-exisiting priorities. It seems clear that his priorities aren't going to change either. 

    If you imagine your future differently then make it happen, with another partner. Sorry. 


  • Kick him out of you're condo and tell him he can go live with his "real" family. Seriously, this is complete BS.

     If he has 3 jobs and is a principal, why are the kids not on his health insurance? If these kids are really in such jeopardy he would petition for custody, at least until she can get her shit together, then he wouldn't need 3 jobs to pay for her and them. 

     Divorce and custody are really much more simple than people make it out to be. He pays x amount a month for child support and alimony. That's it. If their agreement is she lives in the house, then she lives in the house. If it's too damaged to live in, insurance pays for alternate lodging until it is fixed. If her utilities get turned off, she is not providing a safe environment for the kids and you two get them. 

     It sounds to me that you want a full time mommy for these 3 kids he made, but don't want to have to do any of the work or pay for it. How much do you think she would even make when you subtract day care for 3 little ones? Why should a 3 year old be in school and perfectly potty trained? 

    You have never met this woman and have no clue what raising 3 little kids alone is like. Clearly FI isn't any help since he is conveniently too busy working.

     How much are you watching these kids? Everyone in this situation needs to take a step back and put the kids first. You included. 

    It's easy to judge when you're not the one doing it. If you're so worried about money and vacation homes you should not have gotten involved with someone with 3 kids. This is only the beginning.
  • edited August 2013
  • Why do you care if she has health insurance. That is none of your business. 

     I also have to laugh at calling a single mom of 3 small kids a "lady of leisure" and blasting her for her child being obese and one not being potty trained. Again, what have you or your FI done to raise these kids and help?

    Get out of this situation. You two do not belong together. Who would even THINK of calling CPS and watching kids go into foster care when they have a perfectly able father and future step mother? You are being ridiculous and it sounds like you care not a bit about these kids, just about putting down their mother and making sure she doesn't get anything you feel you deserve. 

    As far as your FI, the same goes for him. He needs to get his priorities straight, and until they are 18, those kids should be at the top of the list. Not your vacation home and keeping new wife happy.

    You absolutely deserve to be happy, just not going to happen with this train wreck.
  • Please leave this guy. He is not willing to do what is best for his children, you, himself or his ex b/c he is selfish. He can work 3 jobs and still be selfish. He could cut back his hours or drop a job change his life style, get his kids in a safe place and be done with the ex (with the exception of visits). Sounds like he views them as an inconvenience. Maybe he sound have thought about that before having 3 of them. This situation will never be a good one for you. Move on and stop wasting your time when there is someone better out there for you. 
    image Nicholas loved for 28 weeks, 4/11/10
    Baby Boy loved for 15 weeks, 5/31/11
    Baby Girl loved for 16.5 weeks. 3/1/12
  • Oh and he will be dealing with the fall out from his decisions for a lifetime. If the situation is truly as you say his kids will not have an easy time in life. They will resent him for his lack of action and not helping them. It will never go away.
    image Nicholas loved for 28 weeks, 4/11/10
    Baby Boy loved for 15 weeks, 5/31/11
    Baby Girl loved for 16.5 weeks. 3/1/12
  • edited August 2013
    Told you to stop medding in his business?

    Excuse me but since this involves YOU and affects you -- and since you are marrying him --- it is your business.

    I will bet there isn't even a COA for that house. How do you know it's even safe to life in? hey could also be breaking a building code by just letting people move in....plus this also sounds like a money pit.

    Dump him posthaste.

    He is paying YOU rent? That sounds like a real healthy arrangement right there between you and him.

    Not healthy for the kids, either: confusing as hell --- and those kids will grow up to be doormats themselves, probably -- he walks all over you and he has no accord for you at all. He can't cut ties with the xYF and it's a very unhealthy relationship he's got going on with her.

    She should be living in an apartment that she pays for and the only contact he should have with *her* is with anything that happens to do with the kids.
  • This is obviously not the guy for you. 
  • If your FI is defending her when he knows that she's putting her kids' health in jeopardy, your Mia problem should be with HIM. She can be as terrible and crazy as she wants, that's none of your business. But your FI is enabling and defending her, and leaving his children in a horrible situation. There is no room in this guy's life for you. If you marry him, you're marrying this problem. It's not going to go away, especially because your FI is enabling it. The only way to end this situation is for you to remove yourself from the equation. Find someone who has time and energy to devote to YOU. You deserve better!
  • Look, this isn't going to work. He isn't someone that should ever get in a relationship or a marriage with anyone. EVER.

    If you marry him you will always work to support him and his other family. You will grow to resent him, the ex wife and the kids. It isn't a healthy situation for anyone but really not for you.

    He is saying this his business?!? Yet he plans to marry you, is living in your house, is engaged to be married to you and thinks you will save your money for him and a vacation house?!?

    You talk about him enabling her but what you aren't seeing is that you are also enabling him.

    Cancel the wedding, break up with him and kick his ass out. Dollars to doughnuts he ends back up with her. Also, call CPS. She left 3 kids in a car in the heat. The youngest is 3 FFS. It's a fatal accident waiting to happen here. Your FI is NOT a good guy, he is sacrificing the well being of his CHILDREN because why?!? His reasons aren't good enough they are total BS. He LIED to CPS and covered for her. WTF?!? Who does that?!? What a total POS.
  • My friend whose xH pays for the apartment for her and the kids instead of child support:

    He paid for that apartment when he was out of work for nearly 3 quarters of a year!

    Shows you where its at with priorities and character and not breaking a promise to those you love --- what is THIS guy bringing to your table?

    If he won't go to bat for his own kids, he's a sorry shit indeed., THey need to be out of that home and with him full time and she needs to sink like a rock.
  • Your FI needs to petition for custody.  There is nothing good about their living situation and their father needs to step in and rectify it.  

    They are his children.  They come first.  They are innocents in this trainwreck.

    I am sure that it is unlikely that you guys can fit 3 kids into your condo.  I am sure that fact weighs heavily in your decision.  But the children need proper care.  If you guys aren't willing to provide that (and no, just giving her a house to squat in doesn't qualify), then you are just as guilty of neglect as she is.

    Seriously, put a halt on the preparations for the wedding.  You have a big issue that needs to be resolved and it will take all of your financial and mental energy to resolve.


    And there is no shame in saying that you don't want to be in a blended family.  It is a big responsibility and frequently a thankless one.  If you aren't willing to move heaven and earth to provide a stable home for those three kids, then you aren't willing to make the sacrifices necessary to be a step-mom.  There is no shame in that.  Not everyone does.  But to marry a man with children and NOT be willing to do EVERYTHING to make sure they are well-cared for IS SHAMEFUL.


  • Always remember that there are more than four men in the world.
    image
  • Really?! You DD and then flag everyone's comments as abuse? Ha!
  • Well, this is strange.

    OP - if you're out there, I get that this is a tough pill to swallow but I don't know what else you expected to hear. This is your life, this is what you're signing up for, like it or not. But you have the opportunity to get yourself out if a crappy situation. Your FI and his ex are unlikely to change, so stop wishing they would. You're in control of you. You make the change since they won't.
  • Stop abusing the abuse button.  It is not a dislike button and it is to be used only when posters say something against the TOS, not when they disagree with you. 
  • Always remember that there are more than four men in the world.

    Isn't it something like 3 billion? ;)
  • Stop abusing the abuse button.  It is not a dislike button and it is to be used only when posters say something against the TOS, not when they disagree with you. 
    Please note that anyone who was flagged in this post will NOT be issued any warnings. The "flagging" feature in the new community is so posters can flag any content that violates TOS. If you do violate TOS then you will be issued a warning through a PM.

    Unfortunately, I am unable to take down any of the actual flags on the posts.

    Please feel free to PM me if you have any questions about this new feature on The Nest's community!


    Be sure to follow The Nest on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest!
  • That's really weird to flag everything as abuse, especially because most of us were telling OP she deserves better. Someone's really done a number on her self-esteem. :(
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