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Phone Calls w/ SS and Other Petty Annoyances

CastleJJ's picture

We Facetime with DH twice per week, usually on Sundays and Tuesdays. Last summer, BM accused DH of abuse and in her email accusations, she informed DH that SS is "very uncomfortable" with us eavesdropping on SS' phone calls with BM and GF during our visitation. We found this hilarious because it is impossible to eavesdrop on their calls; SS always runs directly to his room or the farthest room away from us, locks the door, and whispers to them like everything is a big secret. It's a huge production and what we have overheard involves BM and GF interrogating SS about us nonstop. 

Over the past few weeks, BM and GF have been clearly eavesdropping on our calls with SS. At first, it was minor eavesdropping like being present in the background of calls or making SS take his calls at the dinner table during dinner just so they could hear. Tonight, DH called and both BM and GF were not only sitting right next to SS, they directly contributed to SS' conversation with DH... they were answering DH's questions on SS' behalf and not letting him speak. DH never discusses anything personal with SS because we know they are likely listening, so they were answering questions about the weather, how the pets were doing, and what SS is doing this weekend. It was completely inappropriate. Do we address this with BM and request privacy during phone calls with SS or do we just leave it alone, especially since BM is high conflict and just does what she wants anyways? I just feel like it is unfair that they expect SS to be sworn to total secrecy while at our house, yet they can sit two feet from SS and talk to DH during what should be a private phone call between SS and DH/us only. 

I also don't know how to handle SS and DD. DD just turned 6 weeks old. SS will meet her for the first time in 2 weeks but I feel like he despises her. When we Facetime, we try to talk to SS about DD or show him DD. We don't do it a lot because we dont want him to feel resentment or feel like he has been replaced. We always make sure to give SS our undivided attention during calls. Every time he sees or hears about DD, SS gets a disgusted look on his face and gets quiet, like almost silent. SS then always changes the subject. Should I be concerned or is this normal? I know that SS is a 10 year old boy who likely has little interest in a baby, but to show such disdain? I am sure BM and GF are painting a picture that DH has moved on and has a "new family" and that we don't care about SS anymore, but I'm just surprised by SS' reaction. I don't expect him to be excited about DD, but isn't it reasonable to expect him to acknowledge her existance? I don't know how we combat it.

Comments

Winterglow's picture

Isn't there anything in the CO that addresses this? If not, then I think it's time something was said before this becomes accepted as the norm.

"BM, please grant SS the same privacy for his calls that you demand from us."

This last time, I certainly would have said something about calling him to talk to him not to exchange the time of day with her and her sidekick.

 

NotYourAverageStepMama's picture

On the phone calls because BM is just going to make up some excuse about why it happened that way and it wasn't on purpose, blah, blah, blah. However we all know it was entirely on purpose and  she will continue to eavesdrop on the conversations anyway especially knowing it gets under DH's skin but would try and pass it off as being "entirely innocent"

As for his relationship with DD and how he acts, I would just wait to see in person. He could be putting on a show for Bm or be feeling a certain way off of things said to him by BM and GF. This is entirely new for him and hearing about and seeing your newborn sibling virtually is entirely different from getting to hold and interact with her in person. 

The_Upgrade's picture

Your poor puppet of a SS has had BM's hand shoved so far up his backside that whatever phrase you heard him utter is really the words of the ventriloquist sitting next to him. It's sad but there's no personality left in him because his real personality never had a chance to develop. 

CastleJJ's picture

It's true. He really doesn't have a personality and he can't think for himself. It's really sad to watch. When we ask him questions, he looks to us for the answers and he is very indecisive when asked to make a choice, even over small things like toppings on pizza or what movie to watch. 

ESMOD's picture

I think I might pointedly tell SS that he can call you back when he is "free".. if he says he is then.. say... no.. I see your mom and GF there.. so you must be busy.. love you see you later.

And.. a 6 week old baby and a 10 year old boy.  I would actually just leave that alone.  I mean.. . you don't have to absolutely ignore the fact that the baby exists... but a 10 year old boy is quite unlikely to be interested in anything an infant is doing.  He is likely to have zero interest playing or interracting with the baby.. it's a 10 year age difference.. and he is a boy.. at least with a girl.. you might have more chance that she would view the baby as a "doll" and want to play with her.. but a boy? nahhh.  I know that the baby is your LIFE!  and you want everyone to love her.. and you don't want there to be a conflict.. but..I just don't see a naturally huge interest in a boy his age wanting any information about a baby... at that age.. he is still probably fairly self centered vs being interested in how "other people are doing " as much too.

The_Upgrade's picture

That's pretty spot on about boys and babies. There's about a 10 year age gap give or take a year between DD and 5 boy cousins. I get along with all my nephews and their parents. There was just zero interest in a messy baby from any of the boys. They were polite and everything, it's just that there's nothing about a babbling, slobbering baby that draws them in. Now that DD is 4 she can roughhouse with the lot of them got them all twisted around her little finger. The boys are also a bit older so they're a lot more tolerant of a toddler's antics. 

CastleJJ's picture

I talked to DH about how he wants to handle BM. He doesn't want to address it with her. He said that she has been increasing email contact recently, sending pointless emails, he believes as a means to get attention, since our focus has been on DD. He thinks that drawing attention to BM's "bad behavior" will encourage her to continue to do it or increase it, since it bothers us, where if we leave it alone, she will eventually tire from not getting the attention she wants. Plus it's not like we talk to SS about anything personal anyway. 

In regards to DD, I understand that a 10 year old boy has no interest in a baby, but it just seems like SS is projecting resentment at this point. I don't expect him to love her and enjoy her, I just want there to be a mutual respect and understanding there. I don't want SS to successfully PAS out over DD's arrival since I'm sure that is the new angle BM is trying. I guess we will have to wait and see how the visit goes.