I feel bad for her kids

Occasionally I’ll take my baby to see his family on the dad’s side of the family. His father hasn’t been apart of our lives since I was pregnant but his family accepted and loves my son. I was very vocal to my son’s father that I don’t want the woman that he left us for around our son. So at family gatherings they keep their distance from us and don’t acknowledge our presence.

The woman he left us for is 9 years older than us and has 5 kids all from different fathers.

I was getting a plate of food and her oldest daughter was in line by me. She started conversing with me and told me she wishes I’d take my ex back. I asked her why and she said that when ever her mom gets a new boyfriend they hardly get to spend any time with her and she prioritizes them. She said she knows her mom gets a lot of child support from all of the kids fathers and sometimes her boyfriends just move in and don’t work. She even said that her mom has been with men who do drugs and drink and that they stay because she can afford their habits. Her being the oldest, she practically raised her younger siblings.

I asked her if she ever talks to her mom about these things and she said she’s tried but she gave up. I felt the pit of my stomach feel so heavy. I felt so bad for her and her siblings. I’ve heard the same from other people but hearing it from one of the kids made me upset and sad for them.

I’m extremely over protective of my son and every minute I’m not working I have him attached to my hip. I can’t even imagine putting anyone before him. I’m happy being a single mother because my focus is solely on him and I never want him to feel like how her daughter expressed herself to me. I just feel so bad for those kids.