Strange request from partner’s ex sparks debate

Families come in all shapes and sizes now, but one woman has been left feeling uncomfortable after a ‘weird’ request from her partner’s ex.

In a post to parenting forum Mumsnet the woman sought advice on how to handle the very sticky situation, and asked if she was being unreasonable by thinking the whole this was “a bit weird”.

She starts by explaining that her partner and his ex split years ago but have two children together that she and her partner often care for on weekend and holidays.

She also has a child of her own from a precious marriage, and agrees with her partner that they “don’t want any more” children.

Her partner’s ex has been with a new man for “about a year”, with a new baby due together - but here’s where things get sticky.

“When she told my partner about the new baby, she said ‘obviously we might need some help with childcare, it’d be much appreciated,’” the woman wrote.

“My partner thought she was joking and said ‘oh, our baby days are long gone but congratulations’, and she said, ‘Oh but you’ll be having [their two other children] anyway’.”

Safe to say the woman and her partner were “stunned and speechless”.

“I know she doesn’t mean every time we have the older two kids, but I think she thinks if she’s stuck we can take the new baby,” she said.

“That’s strange isn’t it? Of course this is not an option is it? It’s cheeky isn’t it?”

The general consensus in the comments were a resounding yes to all of the above.

“She’s completely bonkers. Why would you look after her baby?” one wrote.

Another reminded her of just how many other options there were for the new baby; “If there is an emergency, ill health or postnatal depression this woman’s partner, parents, friends, siblings, in laws or paid childcare professional will have to step up.”

Meanwhile a third was straight to the point – “Tell her no, no and no. Cheeky cow.”

We can only wonder how everything went down after the baby was born!