When relationships come to an amicable end, exes sometimes choose to maintain a close relationship despite moving on romantically. This can be especially important if the couple has children together and want to continue to support each other as parents.
But one woman believes her new partner is acting unreasonably with the way he tries to support his "ex-wife", as he continues to wear his wedding ring and will not file for divorce. While she understands he wants to be there for his family, she has been left feeling like "the other woman." To make matters worse, the exes message each other "all through the day," leaving the new girlfriend confused as to her role in her partner's life.
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Posting to Mumsnet, the unnamed girlfriend outlined her concerns and asked: " Can I ask my bf to stop wearing his wedding ring?"
The woman wrote: "Going out for a few months, and going well, but there's a few things that are getting to me as we become more serious. His ex-wife (separated a year) and him message all through the day and while she has a bf, she relies on her ex-husband for emotional and practical support.
"Obviously still close as friends and as parents, which is natural - although my ex and i are only really in contact with kid-related things, nothing more."
She also claimed: "He still wears his wedding ring, and has no intention to divorce, doesn't see the point and is committed to supporting his family going forward for his kids' sake, and wants to keep a good relationship with his ex.
"I'm feeling a bit like the other woman. Like an affair, she knows about and tolerates, although I sense she finds my presence in his life difficult."
Expanding on the reason for her post, she added: "I've met some of his family, and he's invited me to a work do, but it struck me they are reasonably going to assume I'm his wife due to the ring.
"He says all the right things, but there feels like she's still the key woman in his life, and I'm the one for fun and sex. I think he's clueless how this makes me feel, and doesn't want to screw this up. He's told her things are over, he ended the marriage, but there's so few boundaries in place. I want a partner I can support and be supported by, but it feels like that role is taken.
"The ring seems like the starting point."
But many people disagreed that the woman should try to improve her relationship, instead suggesting she needed to end it.
One person wrote: "Sweetheart you ARE the other woman at the moment. So sorry."
A second agreed: "You are essentially an acknowledged mistress. He’s married with no intention of divorcing his wife."
And someone suggested: "Chuck this one back in. He hasn't let go."
Voicing a similar opinion, another commented: "This is not the one for you, he hasn't left his marriage yet. Not properly."
Do you agree? Let us know in the comments below
