When parents divorce and get remarried, things can get rather hostile, especially when there are children involved. It's not often that the relationship between biological parents and stepparents is smooth sailing. In fact, things are often rather rocky and difficult, especially when stepparents try to push themselves into the children's lives.
Recently, one Reddit user opened up about her ex-husband and his new wife and the tension that they're experiencing with her two sons. Apparently, her ex-husband's new wife, Emily, is not thrilled that her sons refuse to acknowledge her as their mother.
The mom shared that she and her husband broke up over a number of issues.
One of the big issues was her husband's coworker, Emily. Emily had worked with her husband for years and always told her husband that he "deserved better" than the original poster, aka OP, who shared her story on Reddit's AITA forum.
In addition, the OP shared that Emily even pretended to be her husband's wife at work events. Eventually, when the two finally separated, her husband began officially dating Emily.
Over the years, Emily has been very 'hostile' with the OP.
The OP and her ex-husband share two sons, ages 10 and 12. She explained that Emily has been openly hostile with her because her ex-husband's family still includes her in family things and still communicates with her. Emily even called her mother-in-law a [expletive] because she said that his son's ex-wife was a "great mom."
Emily also has caused issues with the custody agreement between the OP and her ex.
"My ex got a firm warning from the judge about using Emily to do exchanges of our boys, and to deal with custody issues. This was after her confronting me a number of times during exchanges in front of my children and of her showing not just hostility, but saying things that could be taken as alienation of a parent," the mom shared in her post.
The OP said Emily is now trying to change her ways after finding out she cannot have kids.
After learning that she cannot have her own children, Emily wanted the OP's two sons to consider her a "mother." The sons, however, refuse to do so.
Apparently, Emily is angry over it and wants the OP to help her and the ex-husband by speaking with her sons and asking them to view her in such a way.
The OP flat out said, 'Nope.'
At an awards night at the kids' school, Emily wanted to take a picture with the two boys and they refused. When she told them they had to, the boys told Emily she wasn't their mother so she couldn't really tell them what to do or demand that of them.
The OP's ex-husband and Emily were angry and told the mom to scold the boys alongside them. However, she said no and noted that the boys didn't say anything untrue or disrespectful.
Emily and her ex-husband said the OP was teaching her sons to 'disrespect women.'
Many people online totally disagreed. A lot of them felt as though the OP was in the right to say no and to stand her ground.
"Weird how its disrespecting women when your kids don't want to [do] something, but its not disrespecting women when Emily is openly hostile to you," one forum user commented.
Others said Emily is overstepping.
Commenters said that Emily is not the boys' mother and they aren't pawns to use.
"She’s not their mother and they aren’t substitutes or stand ins because she has fertility issues.They’re 10 and 12, and all she and your ex are going to do is alienate them and permanently damage their relationship with your boys if they don’t learn to back off," wrote one commenter.
Some people suggested the OP should be careful with Emily.
With the courts involved in custody, some people shared the mom should be very aware of all that goes on.
"I'd document everything she does/says. As a child who suffered at the hands of an evil stepmother, have the boys been asked if they still want to spend time with their Dad if she's present," one person asked.
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