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My Ex

(54 Posts)
Melinda63 Sun 11-Aug-24 01:14:34

I have been divorced from my ex for ten years but we have remained friendly and we still do things together with our daughter and her husband. My daughter is expecting her first child and is a high risk pregnancy so we do everything we can to keep her stress as low as possible. I have just discovered that my Ex may be addicted to pornography online. He doesn't know that i am aware of this and actually no one knows because I don't know what to do. My daughter is very strong and she Is an only child. She normally helps my Ex with things he needs help with in his life because he has severe Adhd. This is not something I can share with her especially since she's pregnant. I came on here because I really don't know what to do and I really don't have anybody to talk to about it. Porn addiction can really wreak havoc in someone's life and can seep over and impact loved ones. I know that I could probably talk to him about it and offer some resources to him. I don't feel like I can talk to one of his friends or his family. Do I just ignore it and allow it to impact his mental health and potentially impact my daughter and her new family? I'm angry because I think he's been doing this a long time and I didn't know about it. I do care about him and I don't want him to be hurt in any way. Neither of us have remarried or been in another relationship. Our little family is very close and I guess i don't feel like I can ignore it. I just would love to hear some sane thoughts about this. Thanks for listening.

Debbi58 Sun 11-Aug-24 01:21:17

It nice you're concerned about him, but I would ignore it , if you say anything, he'll either get angry or deny it anyway. There's nothing to be gained by saying anything, its up to him really .

Hithere Sun 11-Aug-24 01:36:37

How did you find out?

You are divorced but seems like still too closed to him - this is his issue to fix.

His adhd is his to manage as well

Melinda63 Sun 11-Aug-24 02:46:51

I totally agree.It's his issue but he will not fix this on his own. I guess i'm just more worried about the impact on my daughter And her future child. I just want to hand it over to somebody. I really don't want to deal with it. I dealt with enough of his stuff.

BlueBelle Sun 11-Aug-24 04:21:54

Sorry Melinda but what does it have to do with you ? Why would it impact on your daughter ? If he’s a good Dad and it sounds like he is why would it have any harmful effects on your daughter ? you don’t approve but that’s your problem
He’s the same person today as he was yesterday
You don’t say how you found out but as a divorced woman you shouldn’t really be knowing anything about his personal life unless it involves you …and it doesn’t

This is not something I can share with her especially since she's pregnant of course you can’t its none of your business at all being pregnant is nothing to do with it it’s NOT your business to share with ANYONE
Get OUT of his affairs

rafichagran Sun 11-Aug-24 04:47:05

My view is you should just ignore it, don't say anything to your daughter no good can come of it and it really is not your concern.
Keep it friendly with your ex but don't get over invested in the things he does.

LOUISA1523 Sun 11-Aug-24 08:40:39

Keep out of it ....its not your business and not your DDs .....he can still be a good Dad to you DD

GrannyIvy Sun 11-Aug-24 08:50:36

I would find this totally unacceptable and very disturbing and would have to say something. Would you be happy for him to care for a young grandchild on his own in the future. Sorry if you are sure I would speak to someone.

eazybee Sun 11-Aug-24 08:55:51

You have been divorced for ten years and I would be curious as to how you discovered this addiction. This is absolutely not your business and I cannot imagine any professional intervening on your behalf as you are in no way responsible for your EX-husband's actions.

RosiesMaw2 Sun 11-Aug-24 08:57:39

The clue is in the title - EX
No longer any of your business.

pascal30 Sun 11-Aug-24 09:01:46

If he has kept this private and he is harming no-one I would keep out of it.. It is his life and you are stepping into something that is not yours to deal with.. you are obviously shocked by this revelation and you will have to see how your opinion of him changes or whether you can restore your friendship with him.. but don't include your daughter in this issue..

eazybee Sun 11-Aug-24 09:11:44

I have just noticed: I have just discovered that my Ex MAY be addicted to pornography online.

So you only suspect but are prepared to interfere and involve others.

Georgesgran Sun 11-Aug-24 09:18:21

I thought the same easybee just an assumption, based on what?
I wonder if Melinda isn’t getting the responses she expected? As said by all, except Givy it’s non of your business really and watching porn on line doesn’t make a person a paedophile.

Grammaretto Sun 11-Aug-24 09:20:36

If he wasn't your Ex but just an acquaintance who you thought was addicted to porn, would you do anything about it?
I am curious about how you discovered too. Could other people your DD knows have hidden vices?
I think you are probably thinking about this too much.

Cadenza123 Sun 11-Aug-24 12:08:20

It's really nothing to do with you and it's difficult to understand what possible impact it could have on your daughter. You should put your suspicions away and move on.

Cossy Sun 11-Aug-24 12:16:36

Unless the type of porn being viewed is violent, illegal or very disturbing, I’d do and say nothing.

Some people enjoy watching porn, never act on any impulses and just keep it as their guilty secret.

Unless you feel there are safeguarding issues re your daughter and unborn baby, I’d totally back off.

It’s no longer your business, you’re divorced.

hollysteers Sun 11-Aug-24 12:19:09

I have always assumed that apart from having to have contact with them, an ex is dead to you. That means they would be practically treated like a stranger. Would you be bothered what a stranger got up to?
If your DD voiced concerns to you, that would be a different matter.

dragonfly46 Sun 11-Aug-24 12:28:15

I think the OP is more worried that the effects of the addiction will spill over to her daughter and her unborn child.
I too would be worried but would leave it for now until the child is born if you are still worried about the effect on your daughter I would mention it to her. She can then decide herself what she should do.

Cossy Sun 11-Aug-24 12:34:38

dragonfly46

I think the OP is more worried that the effects of the addiction will spill over to her daughter and her unborn child.
I too would be worried but would leave it for now until the child is born if you are still worried about the effect on your daughter I would mention it to her. She can then decide herself what she should do.

Why? Why would you be worried about something that “may” or may not be happening?

Does the OP think he’ll be watching porn at his DD’s home with her new baby?

It’s all a bit strange tbh

Chocolatelovinggran Sun 11-Aug-24 12:39:22

There seems to be some confusion between watchers of pornography and paedophilia.
I despise pornography as it debases women, but viewers are not necessarily a danger to children or babies.
I have no idea whether or not the father of my children watches such - we are divorced, so it's none of my business.

RosiesMaw2 Sun 11-Aug-24 12:41:18

I just wonder if this is a sneaky way of getting at the ex - perhaps to alienate him and the daughter?

Namsnanny Sun 11-Aug-24 13:15:01

I think you have to keep schtum.
But, some years ago I was helping a friend and her daughter clear our the ex husbands house after he died.
We found hoards of paper porn (magazines posters etc) of quite horrible things.
His daughter was so upset by this.
But as she couldnt talk to her father, she felt it was her mother who was at fault for keeping his secret. Even though this wasnt really the case.

Daughter and mother have all but estranged, and I know she went to counselling for the way she felt about her father. As she saw it their relationship was based on a lie.

I'm not trying to frighten you, just pointing out what I think you instinctively feel, that the problem is more complicated than at first it seems.

Good luck.

FlexibleFriend Sun 11-Aug-24 13:30:35

None of your business, so stay out of his.

Ailsa43 Sun 11-Aug-24 13:35:37

I'm personally horrified that an ex wife may be about to destroy the image and relationship of a father to his daughter, for something that's perfectly legal and is not harming anyone.. and is none of her business... Shocking !

Cossy Sun 11-Aug-24 13:58:40

Ailsa43

I'm personally horrified that an ex wife may be about to destroy the image and relationship of a father to his daughter, for something that's perfectly legal and is not harming anyone.. and is none of her business... Shocking !

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