Sorry for any lack of clarity on my part. He has suggested in the past about meeting the girlfriend and I have said it was too soon, like three months after he walked out. Clearly he feels I should offer the same interest and social norms for any son with a girlfriend. Except this isn't a normal boy meets girl, lets introduce her to the family.
Clearly on here people speak from experience and some times bad experiences lead to a specific point of view. I was wondering if I start to show an interest and a meeting is then suggested again, if I should now go along with it. As he said, maybe I am the one with the problem about it, not them. Still, problem I do have, but maybe I should just express an interest in the girlfriend and meet her if that is what is suggested rather than being proactive and suggesting it myself. Very torn between supporting him but being mindful of the hurt he has caused my DIL and down the line, his children.
As always, the children are the innocent victims in these break ups, one way or another.
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Meeting DS new girlfriend- or not?
(90 Posts)I'm not clear either whitehair whether a meeting has been suggested or not.
You just say that your DS complains that you don't ask after this woman.
It wouldn't do any harm to occasionally say 'How is xxx', would it?
You don't have to invite her round for tea.
I wouldn't invite her, but you could consider joining DS and his woman if they invited you out.
My main concern would be to preserve the good relationship you have with your DiL and your grandchildren. I'm sure your DiL values your support.
Sorry that you misconstrued my reply Mumofmadboys, I was under the impression that Whitehair was seeking advice rather than support. I shall butt out in future.
DIL is also under the impression things maybe not as hunky dory as it was. They still talk to eachother, he has made noises like people do get back together after being apart
90% of the time that does NOT indicate that things are not rosy with the new girlfriend
usually men who left their wife for another woman say things like that when they notice that their ex is moving on, even if things are great at home with the new woman.
Some men don't like how relatively quickly their exes move on even when they are the ones who chose to break up!
He wants the attention of whichever woman is the bigger ego boost at the time, and right now he "has" the new girlfriend, so the ego boost goal would be getting the apparently "moved on" ex wife to admit that she'ld have him back….
… usually…
or he really wants him back… but usually these sort of lines get trotted out when they think the ex might be getting less available to them just to string a bit longer even if they don't act on it..
Has a meeting with the gf been suggested? You don't make that clear. If not, I would bide my time to see what happens. If your son is pressing for a meeting, then I would go along with it, be charming and welcoming. If not, don't suggest it. You don't know what his choice will be, he is an adult and must make his own choices. You have to balance it out , of course, with being supportive of the DiL and GC. Not easy I know.
Is your last line really necessary judy park? I think whitehair knows this. She is looking for support.
Such a sad scenario. Have you actually been invited to meet this lady. I doubt his new partner relishes the meeting either.
You "think" your son is beginning to realise that the grass isn't greener. Think or hope?
No doubt you have rehearsed in your mind what you want to say to her and that is understandable, however, a wealthy woman in her fifties won't care a fig what you say.
I know that because I have been that woman (no children or marriages involved)
Accept your sons new lady or risk losing him.
As for your son and DIL reconciling, very unlikely, I for one would never have him back, he abandoned his wife and two tiny children when they were most vulnerable, not a quality to be admired.
I was going to type roughly what seacliff said. If there is a chance they could get back together it might be easier for you if you've never met this person. Try to hold off for the time being.
My first instinct would be not to meet her, but if she is going to be in his life long term, you should then get to know her, as you don't want to affect your relationship with your son.
Has he suggested that you all meet? Could you delay things a bit to see what happens, and meanwhile just ask after her when you see him?
Thank you for those prompt replies, I have been mulling this over and going round in circles! Maybe I am over thinking things but if he is now wavering and clearly he is, if I embrace the new relationship am I giving it a stamp of approval and maybe give out the signals it's ok when clearly one way or another his concience is getting to him.
DIL is also under the impression things maybe not as hunky dory as it was. They still talk to eachother, he has made noises like people do get back together after being apart. DIL would probably have him back but he would have to earn it and prove he understands the hurt he has caused and that it would be what they both really wanted. It would never be the same, but that would be no bad thing as I take the point he was unhappy. However, if you read my original post, he didn't give my DIL chance to explore changing things.
Anyway, still interested in what anyone else thinks, maybe as I said I am just overthinking it as they say these days!
Perhaps theirs is a "love that cannot be denied" (and that is coming from a cynic).
Either way, I agree with lucky and smileless. You have to also now get on with this new version of your son's life. 
Or even "too".
Do it - he has made his choice and is supporting his family. If you hold out and avoid her you will be holding out on him to.
I remember your original post Whitehair and am glad that your d.i.l. "has picked herself up and got on with things".
IMO you should meet your son's girlfriend, as you say it takes 2 to tango and whereas "she could have stood back and not broken up the family", your son could have resisted temptation and not broken up his own family.
Rightly or wrongly, he can't have been happy in his marriage or he wouldn't have become involved with someone else. It sounds as if your d.i.l. is moving on with her life as is your son. You say he's being supportive and co parenting so clearly, despite the way he's behaved, loves his children.
You say your son knows how you feel about what happened so he wont be surprised that you're not falling over yourself to meet his new lady, and so will I'm sure appreciate you making an effort, no matter how small.
Good luck.
Previously posted when son left his wife and two children who were 2 and 1 at the time, this happened last February. All devastated and for me came out of the blue. New woman is twenty years older, in her fifties, and although it takes two to tango, am aware that she could have stood back and not broken up the family. So you can imagine my feelings towards her, no innocent bystander but a wealthy business woman who happens to be single.
My loyalty is entirely with my DIL and those amazing beautiful grandchildren. DIL was devastated but has picked herself up and got on with things- like she had a choice? Son is supporting and co parenting so has not totally abandoned them. I also have continued to be there for him, don't ever want him to feel he has nowhere to turn, he is aware of what I think about what he is done. We maintain good contact but for me it is like treading on egg shells.
Now faced with the accusation I never ask after the girlfriend, how she is etc. Well, you might be able imagine my thoughts on this. Trouble is, I think my son might just be begining to realise the grass isn't greener. I need to be there for him if he realises he has totally messed up and needs support. 64 million dollar question, should I meet the girlfriend? I am not good at pretending, that I am in the slightest bit interested in her or what I could possibly say if we met, apart from the obvious. What do I do????
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