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I need to get over hating my ex-husband (sorry, long post!)!

(43 Posts)
fiorinda Sun 06-Jul-14 19:35:21

Hi, I'm new to Gransnet. I'm trying to find some kind of online or printed resource that will help me to get past the deep dislike (bordering on hatred) I feel for my ex-husband.

Some background. My daughter was 3 when I met my ex-husband, and when she was 5 we had our son. My ex went on to favouritise the boy quite noticeably, which caused a lot of problems. When my daughter was 18 her biological father died (he was an alcoholic and had chosen not to see her any more when she was 4 - we never knew why). At his funeral we discovered he had a younger child he had chosen to help to parent, a little girl of 7. My daughter went a bit off the rails for a while (understandably). She's just turning 28 now, and is very different. She has a lovely partner and 2 gorgeous boys aged 2.5 years and 8 weeks. She's very happy and much more confident. I do all I can to help out. I suppose we have a close relationship, she's not an emotionally open kind of person, but she knows I'm there and I see them every week.

I left my ex-husband when our son turned 18 (my ex and our son stayed in the family home) as I'd wanted to leave for years. I have no regrets at all, honestly never missed him for a single moment, though I missed my son and my house (and the cat). I've had nothing from my ex financially at all, even though he earns twice what I earn. However, he has supported our son through university (he graduates this month). My ex quickly met someone new and they were married over a year ago. She's very nice and both my kids get on well with her, which I know is a good thing.

3 years ago I met my now-fiance, and we get married this October. We struggle financially as he's been looking for work and more recently has been a student (about to go to University). But we're incredibly happy together, far happier than I ever was with my ex. I think he seems much happier with his new wife than he was with me, too.

The problem is that I hate seeing photos of my ex and his wife with my grandsons. I hate it when they post gushy stuff about the boys on Facebook. I want to comment that it's a shame he was such a terrible step-father, now he's being such a doting granddad (is he buying her favour? He just paid for my daughter's partner's driving theory test!))! I loathe seeing his wife holding my daughter's children. They posted a photo of themselves with the 2 boys recently and a friend of hers commented that they looked so proud. I was fuming - what reason would she have to be proud of the birth of a baby to her husband's adult step-daughter?!

I know this isn't reasonable or rational!

I know I shouldn't be so bothered by things I see on Facebook!

I know I should be glad my ex makes the effort and spends the money I can't afford to spend on the boys.

I know I should be happy that my daughter gets on with his wife and that she is a nice person!

I want to move beyond this stupid bitterness but I'm not sure how.

Has anyone else dealt with this kind of thing and successfully moved on?

Does anyone know of any books or online resources I might find helpful?

Thanks in anticipation! x

KatyK Mon 07-Jul-14 09:13:59

I can understand your feelings totally. I agree with the comments above re Facebook. It has given me so much upset in the past. I have felt jealous and been seething over things I've seen on their re my daughter and her family. I deleted my account. It's a case of self preservation. I hope it all works out for you.

jinglbellsfrocks Mon 07-Jul-14 09:26:53

I suppose facebook works very well for some people, but not for others. I think fiorinda sounds as though she could handle it very well. smile

janerowena Mon 07-Jul-14 16:16:45

I think I don't take anything too personally, I know my daughter loves me, I know my GCs do too. However nice my DD may be to him on FB, posting Happy Birthday to my lovely dad' type messages - we both know he wasn't! However, he is really trying hard now - but then goes and spoils it on occasion by doing something stupid. I do allow myself am small feeling of satisfaction on such occasions. Small GD is very suspicious of him.

petra Mon 07-Jul-14 17:01:41

An old memory sprung to mind reading this thread. When ex left wife No 2
( I number them because he went on to have 5) I was the first one she called.
She wanted advice on how to deal with him with the divorce.

He turned up one day (out of the blue) I offered him a cup of tea and then it struck me that I couldn't remember if he took sugar (we were married 10 years)

Agus Mon 07-Jul-14 17:20:45

The knowledge that your children and GC love you is more important than anything said on FB. Words posted on the spur of the moment, sometimes with not too,much thought but feeling obliged to post something. Actions speak louder than words and that is what counts for me.

I got myself upset when I received an e mail from DD2 who was building a relationship with her future MIL. I was addressed as Mum Agus with a cc to Mum M..... What made it more poignant for me was that DD2 is in Australia as is her future MIL who can pop in to see my daughter any day of the week whereas I haven't seen her for over a year now.

I have met the 'other' Mum on a few occasions and she has actually stayed with us for a holiday. We get on really well but I think the green eyed monster took over for a while until I realised I was actually glad my daughter had this woman who loved her too and could be there for my daughter should she need her. Then I remembered how many ways my daughter has shown her love and gave myself a good talking too!

jeanie99 Wed 13-Aug-14 12:20:25

Don't look at there face book page for one thing, it's upsetting you so don't look.

Some people spend all their time telling the world and everyone who will listen all about their marvelous perfect life. It doesn't exist know one has a perfect life.

Think about your own life and what you and your partner can do to improve it, you don't have to have pots of money to enjoy life.
Spend time with your daughter and your grand kids and try and make this fun time for you all.

Focus on your life you can only control what you do with your own life not someone else's.

It's a waste of time and energy putting effort into worrying and stressing about all this.

Get planning your wedding and your future life with you partner.

Tomorrow is another day the first day of the rest of your life and look forward not back.

TriciaF Thu 14-Aug-14 10:00:06

I agree about avoiding Facebook. Not that a really know about it because I haven't joined, just what people tell me and none of it is helpful imo.
When we first split up I hated my ex for years, various reasons, but TG he had never been bad to the children, just almost ignored them.
Later he actually apologised to me, and from then on the hatred slowly disappeared, I'm sort of neutral towards him now. He has tried to change himself.
He remarried and his wife seems fond of our children, they see her regularly, but I'm not jealous - she has serious problems of her own.
Fiorinda - I think if you can try to find something good in your ex and his wife your hatred will slowly get weaker.I saw him on Skype for the first time in ?30 years while staying with oldest son recently, and it was such a shock!
So glad I'm with dear Eddie now.

Penstemmon Thu 14-Aug-14 10:47:51

Sometimes leopards do change their spots!
My DD2s FiL was not a great father but he apologised to my SiL and tried really hard to be a better grandad. Also SiL was not a particularly good dad to his first family but my DD insisted on him maintaining more positive and regular contact with his ch. and he did. He is now a loving dad to my DGC, his two DDs as well as his other ch.

Eloethan Fri 15-Aug-14 00:57:50

Agus TriciaF and Penstemmon The world can be so depressing at times and it was nice to read such positive posts - that hatred and jealousy can fade and that people can change for the better.

vampirequeen Fri 15-Aug-14 07:17:11

I totally understand your feelings. I protected my daughters from their alcoholic, controlling father as they were growing up so they never bore the brunt of his nastiness. This allowed them to have a relationship with him but they were much closer to me. Then I left and split up the 'happy' home. They make a point of visiting their dad every week whereas I get a visit as and when (usually when I ask). I have agoraphobia so nipping to see them isn't really an option. I don't think they are deliberately punishing me but it feel that way. I hate the fact that their dad sees the grandchildren more than I do and has a stronger relationship with them and my daughters. I hate him even more for still having the power to upset me and I get annoyed at myself for letting him.

TriciaF Fri 15-Aug-14 14:35:41

vampirequeen - your last sentence rings a bell with me too - "I get annoyed at myself for letting him".
At the time I rationalised, stick it out for the children, but later partly blamed myself for my attitude "I can take it."
But that's not a marriage, I should have left sooner.

vampirequeen Fri 15-Aug-14 15:55:31

Hindsight is a great thing. I should have left sooner too but at the time it seemed like I was doing the right thing. Also he said I would lose my girls because I had depression. His words being, "They don't give the custody of children to nutters." I was too scared to leave after that.

Deedaa Fri 15-Aug-14 21:02:30

You could try telling them that you sometimes feel that they have a better relationship with their father vampirequeen but I'm always a bit wary of saying too much - it sounds easy enough, but you don't know what sort of answer you'll get.
I don't think you should blame yourself for sticking with the marriage. We can only do what seems best at the time and as you say hindsight is a wonderful thing. I'm as vindictive as the next person but I would try to avoid hatred if you can, it's always destructive.
I don't seem to have seen you on here for ages - how have you been?

vampirequeen Fri 15-Aug-14 22:20:34

I'm fine thanks Deedaa. It's been a challenging few months but I'm getting better.

rubylady Sat 16-Aug-14 01:54:22

It's so easy with Facebook to click on someone's profile and check out what has been happening. I came off mine because I have, at times, checked out ex. (although last check made me realise to forget him and move forward). One thing put on by my sister was a photo of my mother. The same mother who has abused me for over 40 years. One of her friends had put how much of a "ledge" she is. I was fuming after what she has done and others don't know. So I deleted my account to save me from getting upset. Like others have said, it's all about self preservation. And still is.

All I can say is delete your account. Stay in touch through other media sites like Twitter, or Skype, or e mail. Put to the back of your mind if you can what your children are doing with him and focus on your relationships with them. And focus also on your forthcoming marriage.

Count your blessings that you are no longer with him, that's what I do.
flowers

Kiora Sat 16-Aug-14 06:21:31

One of my very first posts on joining gransnet was about jealousy. This is what I have concluded. It's normal. I have a close relative who's sister had spent many decades living in the U.S. She came home for a visit. Staying with her said relative. The family made a really big fuss. We travelled far and wide to see her. My normally sweet relative turned into the worst, nastiest most horrible person. We were all flummoxed. Until I realised that it was jealousy. She wouldn't admit it though and it got worse. She was miserable and she made us miserable. Simply because she couldn't accept it. I think if you can recognise the feelings for what they are then you can deal with them. Jealously is a horrible sensation. I just accept that I sometimes feel that way and do my best to hide it. Then let rip with a trusted friend after the event that caused it. We are complicated beings us humans. A jumble of emotions. You sound as if understand yourself rather well. So read self help books if you want but I'd rather give it some ' welly' on here to get it off my chest on and get support and advice from others who have felt the same and have a wealth of experience.

Judthepud2 Sat 16-Aug-14 18:54:16

Anger and jealousy are such corrosive emotions, aren't they? I think they do harm to the person that feels them rather than the person that they are directed to.
Been there too. The anger was damaging my health mentally and physically. Went to CBT counsellor which helped a lot. She guided me with identifying triggers for anger and ways to deal with them. One of these was avoidance of triggers, so I would agree with others.........get off Facebook ASAP!

So glad you have found a loving partner now fiorinda