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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Son doesn't like dads new GF

9 replies

Inmyhouse · 29/10/2025 22:05

This is all so messy.
Not sure how to post previous threads, but please do read if you can.
Backstory: spilt with ex a few years now, he's a pretty crappy father, doesn't pay, inconsistent, unreliable, unstable (he recently told me he was an alcoholic) went to 1 AA meeting a few weeks back, he's back on the "sauce" again and the same pattern has re-emerged!

Anyway, there was an incident a month ago where my ASD son (6) was forcibly washed down by my ex's new GF while my ex held him.
My son has sensory issues and hates showers, I've told my ex this many times, he says I haven't I say he forgot!
Since then my son has said he doesn't want to see the new GF. I've not mentioned her at all. On Sunday was the first time my son saw his dad in a month since it happened (without the gf) he came and saw him for 4 hours, I booked soft play and my son wanted me to come, he is really clingy to me at the moment. To make life easier I said I would but I said to my ex 'im not there, treat me as if I'm a ghost, take this time as your own' and to be fair he did, for 20 mins before hiding in the soft play area to facetime his gf. My son came out in tears and said "daddy wants me to speak to xxx" I don't want to. I never said anything to my ex in front of my son but I gave him the 'look'
Anyway my ex is desperate for my son to spend time with her, while I get it will happen in time I don't feel easy with forcing it. My ex hasn't said the words but I know he won't see my son unless his gf is there. I think she has a issue with my ex coming to my home and seeing our son.

AIBU for him to just wait it out for awhile more and build a relationship with his son before forcing his gf into this?
She has children, she moved him into her house a few months after dating.
They are still together after a year, so this might last awhile but I just don't want to push my son into something he isn't comfortable with

OP posts:
Whereismyfleeceblanket · 29/10/2025 22:07

Imo they abused your dc and your ex can explain to a judge why they did that. You fail your ds if you send him.

IsntItDarkOut · 29/10/2025 22:08

Why are you sending him unsupervised to spend time with an alcoholic who lets a strange woman wash him.
Stop this now.

FuzzyWolf · 29/10/2025 22:08

That’s just cruel to hold down an autistic child and cause a sensory overload. I’d keep him away from her for as long as possible.

Lovemybunnies · 29/10/2025 22:10

I’m not sure it’s abuse. But it makes me uncomfortable and I would have been furious if this was my DS/DD. It’s not acceptable at all.

Nogimachi · 27/04/2026 11:39

No, you should be guided by your 6 yo here and so should your ex. It sounds as if he just wants to be able to palm his kid off onto her to look after. Why wouldn’t he wash his own child?

I’d be super wary of allowing your child to spend time in a house with older step siblings. Where there are step siblings there’s a risk of abuse, it sadly seems, and he is still very little.

123becauseicouldntthinkofone · 27/04/2026 12:11

IsntItDarkOut · 29/10/2025 22:08

Why are you sending him unsupervised to spend time with an alcoholic who lets a strange woman wash him.
Stop this now.

This exactly

Ablondiebutagoody · 27/04/2026 12:21

Do not send him to that house ever. The new gf is abusive, ex is an alcoholic, God knows what her kids will do to your boy.

DeskGnome · 27/04/2026 12:23

Given the thread is 6 months old, I'm not sure any advice at this point is going to do the OP any good.

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