A woman who demanded her ex-husband's current wife take down a "family" photo she posted to social media featuring her kid has divided opinion online.
The break-up of any family unit during a child's formative years is always likely to have a significant impact, not least on the mothers of those kids now splitting their time between two parents.
This was perhaps best highlighted in a 25-year longitudinal study published in the journal Psychoanalytic Psychology back in 2013 which highlighted the problems some divorced mothers face.
Researchers found that more than half of the moms surveyed were found to be significantly less available and less responsive to their kids in the years following divorce, especially if they had had two or more kids of a young age.
The study also highlighted that around a third of mothers were absent as a result of turning their priorities from parenting to rebuilding intimate relationships and achieving greater economic independence through intensive training.
Given the difficulties faced by mothers in the years following divorce, it's perhaps understandable that they might take a hostile approach to their ex's new partner.
However, one divorced woman has divided opinion after reacting angrily to her kid's stepmom sharing a photo of them together on Facebook.
That's according to the stepmom herself who took to Mumsnet to share the circumstances around their current spat. It apparently all started when she shared a picture of her with her husband, two kids and stepchild from a recent weekend away.
She said she posted the picture to Facebook alongside a caption describing it as a "lovely break with the family." Soon after, she received a message from her husband's ex-wife asking her to "remove the photo" as she didn't like "the thought" of her posting pictures of them online.
While her husband isn't "bothered" by his ex's complaints, and she is "minded to just ignore it," opinion online was seriously split on the issue.
Yonce commented: "Personally I'd probably take the photo down if it was making her uncomfortable, and there's little to no benefit in you keeping it up."
Johnnysgirl agreed, commenting: "Just remove it. Why is it so important to you that you'd antagonize their mother like this?" KiraKiraHikaru added: "I don't understand why you want to make a fight out of it. She's their mom, just remove the picture."
Others, however, felt the mom was being out of line.
Justusandmoo wrote: "It's not just up to her. He is their dad and if he says it's ok then leave it up...don't bow to this or you'll be doing it forever."
MissingNashville concurred, replying: "She's just looking for drama. Don't give it to her," while Cocococococo said: "she should get over her insecurity and be glad her children have a stepmother who wants to include them."
Jesusjoan, meanwhile, could see both sides, writing: "Yes she's probably looking for drama but she's their mother, take the photo down."
Newsweek was not able to verify the details of the case.
If you have a similar family dilemma, let us know via life@newsweek.com. We can ask experts for advice, and your story could be featured on Newsweek.
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