Michelle Raleigh, a divorced mom, shared on TikTok her struggle with co-parenting after discovering her toddler son refers to his stepmother as ‘mama’. This revelation, met with denial from her ex-husband, has left Raleigh grappling with feelings of jealousy and betrayal, highlighting the complex challenges faced in co-parenting scenarios.
In an emotional TikTok video, Raleigh recounted a routine handover of her son after a visitation with his father and new wife. The visit went as usual until she noticed her son using a new word, ‘mama’, to refer to his stepmother.
@michellebellexo I’m literally shaking. I don’t know how to handle this. #mama #exhusband #babydaddyprobs #teatime ♬ original sound – Michelle Raleigh Bartender
“I found out that my toddler has been calling my ex-husband’s new wife ‘mama,’” said Raleigh, her voice heavy with emotion. Her ex-husband dismissed her concerns, stating that his new wife is the toddler’s ‘mama’ when Raleigh isn’t present.
This response left Raleigh reeling. “I birthed him. I personally feel like I’m the only one who gets that privilege,” she said, expressing her hurt and confusion over the situation.
The complexities of co-parenting extend beyond this incident. Raleigh has previously used her platform to discuss the challenges she faced when a Reddit user revealed her ex-husband’s criminal background online. This public revelation, she said, affected every aspect of her life, from her parenting to her job and old relationship.
Despite the hardships faced, Raleigh acknowledges that the stepmother is good to her son. She is not trying to keep the child away from his father or his new wife; instead, she hopes for a healthy space where they can all spend time with the boy. However, her ex-husband’s dismissal of her feelings over their son calling another woman ‘mama’ continues to distress her.
Raleigh emphasized that being a good co-parent means putting personal feelings aside for the child’s happiness. “My ex-husband is a great dad when he is sober,” she stated, adding that she is happy now despite all the difficulties.
“I want him to have as much of a relationship as he wants to with his dad,” Raleigh said. “So, he can see them whenever he wants.” But the boundary of calling another woman ‘mom’ still remains a sensitive issue for her.
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