My ex-wife has made life a living hell since my daughter was born

DEAR DEIDRE: Since the birth of my daughter, my ex-wife has been making our lives a living hell.

Whether she’s bad-mouthing my wife, manipulating our son, or making horrific accusations, she’s intent on making me miserable.

I’m at the end of my tether and I’m not sure how to cope.

I’m 42, my wife is 35 and we’ve been married for two years. Two months ago we welcomed our first child together.

My ex-wife is 40 and we share a nine-year-old son. Since our separation five years ago, co-parenting had always been straightforward and we managed to remain civil.

However, things shifted when my wife and I welcomed our daughter.
Since then she has gone above and beyond to ruin our lives.

First, she started running down my wife to my son, and so he started acting up and calling her horrible names.

Then she took to Facebook where she made countless posts calling us abusive and neglectful. Many people commented, believing her lies and it’s caused huge issues in our community.

Now she’s accused us of rejecting my son and replacing him with a ‘new perfect family’.

The worst part is that my son believes all of it and wants nothing to do with me.

Now I wake up every day anxious about what she’ll do next.

I’m at a complete loss and I’m not sure how to cope.

DEIDRE SAYS: It’s clear the arrival of your child sparked some negative feelings in your ex.

Whether it’s through jealousy or resentment, her emotions are driving her and she’s now putting her desire for vengeance over your son’s welfare.

Regardless of her feelings for you, manipulating your son and slandering you online is cruel and unfair.

Please contact Families Need Fathers (fnf.org.uk, 0300 0300 363) who can help and offer legal advice.

In the meantime, my support pack When Parents Fall Out explains more about kids’ feelings and needs in these situations.