Dear Coleen: 'It upsets me that my children still see their stepdad'

LifestyleLove and romance"It makes me wonder what lies my ex is feeding them."04:30, 22 Jul 2026Dear ColeenMy second marriage ended a couple of years ago after eight years. My ex was selfish, sometimes verbally abusive in arguments and quite controlling. I’ve rebuilt my life and leaving the marriage was the best decision I’ve ever made.‌However, my son and daughter from my first marriage, who are now in their early 20s, have continued to see my ex behind my back. He invites them over and they’ve attended family events, and it breaks my heart. They never seemed particularly close when we all lived together, so I don’t understand it.‌They don’t talk to me about my ex, but they do post photos with him on social media, which really upsets me. I feel they don’t understand how hard the marriage