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Step-parenting

AIBU by restricting ss 14 access to the house?

33 replies

ohyikes · 22/02/2013 23:04

Dp's son 14 was trusted with having a key to let himself in to the house on the weekends that he visits. SS had lost the house key the first time and Dp cut him a new one without consulting me. I was upset by this but decided to keep quiet. Ss lost the key again and same story, Dp cut him a new one again without consulting me.

Ss is careless and always loses things. Once he left his phone on the bus and Dp's solution was to buy him a new one. I didnt think that was ideal so I advised Dp to ring up the transport authority to see if they had it in their lost property section which they did. Same story with the sports shoes Ss left on the bus. We went and collected them from lost property.

I don't think he deserves another key because he is irresponsible and knows that his father will replace anything he loses. It's also our safety he's putting in jeopardy. What if someone picked up the key and followed him home? They would know where we live and have easy access to the house.

I am pregnant and have a ds of my own and it annoys me that dp has no regard for this by handing out keys everytime his son loses them. Ss is only here every fortnight. We are here all the time. If someone were to break in to the house, we are the ones who will be most likely at risk.

AIBU for not wanting ss to have a key until i'm satisfied that he has learnt some responsibility?
Dare I say anything to dp because it'll end up into an argument like everything else to do with his kids. I'm pregnant and I really don't need the stress right now so I really don't have the luxury of arguing until he gets my point.

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purpleroses · 23/02/2013 09:05

As long as your DSS doesn't leave anything attached to the keys with his address on then I can't see there's a security risk. Agree it would be better parenting to expect him to pay for replacements and get them sorted out himself - threatened my DS(13) with exactly that just this week when he lost his keys and he promptly remembered where he'd left them Smile . But think it's really up to your DP whether he pays or forces DSS to.

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allnewtaketwo · 23/02/2013 10:40

I think given that he's lost the keys twice then yanbu

Surely if he's only at your house every fortnight then there is no actual need for him to have a key?

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freddiemisagreatshag · 23/02/2013 10:44

My DD has a key to my house and to her dad's house. She can come and go as she pleases (she's 15). She's lost them once and I have replaced them - I didn't discuss it with my ex I just got a new set of keys cut.

You see your house as somewhere he visits, your DP sees it as his home.

If I were you I'd leave it to DP to sort out.

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purpleroses · 23/02/2013 11:09

You could get him a key fob that attaches them to his bag or coat, or even a piece of string. Agree with Freddie - keys are a big symbolic thing for DSC to have - it shows that you see them as part of the family, rather than visitors. Do think you need to help him learn to look after them rather than just say "well that proves you're irresponsible, and you don't really live here, so you can't have a key any more" which is the message what you're suggesting would give out.

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freddiemisagreatshag · 23/02/2013 11:14

DD has a chain now that clips inside her bag or to her belt it's like this but we got it locally and it means she doesn't have to take the key OUT to open the door. Would that be worth looking at?

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ohyikes · 23/02/2013 12:34

Allnewtaketwo those are my thoughts exactly. He is only here every second weekend so I don't think him having a key is really necessary. He only lets himself in every second friday. He doesn't use a key often enough to need one and he doesn't use a key often enough to lose one either.

Purpleroses and freddie i'm not asking that he pays for it. All I want is for him to take the responsibilty of having a house key more seriously. Maybe my expectations are too high but I expect more from a 14 year old. My ds is 6 and I always have little talks with him about looking after his things and being responsible. Even though I know that at his age i'm probably not going to get much from him but I do this to make sure he grows up to be responsible.

I'm not saying that he shouldn't have a key at all. Maybe if he doesnt have a key for a few weeks and feels the hussle of having to call ahead when he's on his way, then maybe he will take better care.

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freddiemisagreatshag · 23/02/2013 12:38

Ohyikes - please don't take this the wrong way

You view him as a visitor. He's not. It's his home.

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WishIdbeenatigermum · 23/02/2013 12:41

My dcs lose keys all the time. Ensure he doesn't have your address on it and let it go- its more important that he feels part of your family.

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Booyhoo · 23/02/2013 12:45

can i ask why your DP should have consulted you before having new keys cut?

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ohyikes · 23/02/2013 18:08

Well I try to take on a parenting role for all the kids. Don't get me wrong, i'm not trying to replace their mother but if I didn't step in half the time, the kids would take over the house and do as they please and I am not having that. We have rules set and I don't expect the SK's to get special treatment. My point is dp should not let his son take things for granted the same way he shouldn't as well. Something as simple as having a chat with him about being responsible can go a long way and it would be for his own benefit.

Maybe not consulting as such but I feel it should have been part of normal chit chat between partners. He talks to me about school reports, birthday and christmas gifts and other things that his son loses. Why should this be any different? I just feel that I should know what goes on as this is my home and I am his partner.

I don't think the key has the address on it but what if it drops while he is trying to pay for
the bus and some creep picks it up and follows him home. In this world we live in today you just never know. It wouldn't hurt to be extra careful. I tend to think of all the possible scenarios.

Someone please tell me you understand where I'm coming from.

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freddiemisagreatshag · 23/02/2013 18:10

ohyikes - you're pregnant. And I'm trying to be kind. You are really really overthinking this.

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herladyship · 23/02/2013 18:10

Get a keysafe? Smile

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allnewtaketwo · 23/02/2013 18:12

Oh yikes, I'm with you

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LemonBreeland · 23/02/2013 18:13

I think whether he lives with you full time or not is irrelevant. If my dc lost a key that many times I would take it away and make them suffer the consequences of needing me or dh to be home for them.

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JakeBullet · 23/02/2013 18:15

I DO understand where you are coming from...okay the risk is small as there is no identifying info on the key but even so your partner needs to have a word with him about keeping the key safe and explain the risks albeit small.

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brdgrl · 24/02/2013 01:42

My DSS has lost I think six keys this year, and I totally understand where you are coming from. I am not at all comfortable with that number of keys being unaccounted for. Especially since it is not unheard of for teenagers (I don't mean him, but maybe someone else at his school, for instance, picking up the key when he's dropped it or left it somewhere) to break into houses of people they know. I can't feel 100% sure that the lost keys are at the bottom of a storm drain and not in someone else's hands, IYSWIM.

I am not sure what to do about it myself. We've told him that from here out he will have to pay for replacements, and I hope that will help him to be more mindful. I would not, personally, be in favour of him not having a key, because among other things that creates new problems of having to be home to let him in every time, which would be at least as much of a hassle for DH or I as for him! And I am definitely not ok with having a hidden key outside (although maybe you would consider that option? Or one left with a neighbour who is likely to be home when he'd be coming around?).

I think you need to weigh up whether it is one of the battles you want to fight, or one you want to let go.

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mumandboys123 · 24/02/2013 09:39

Lemon....seriously? 'suffer the consequences'? At 13 years old, the child needs to be able to come home from school and let himself in whilst his parents are still out at work. He shouldn't be walking the streets, surely? Won't that just make him angry and upset and not want to be with his dad? Won't that cause a problem with mum? What would you be saying if his mum said 'well, I don't get home from work till 5pm but he's lost his key so he can suffer the consequences and wait till I get home?'

I would personally suggest some 'bigger' consequences to his carelessness - removal of a priviledge he likes, removal of pocket money to make him pay for it, that kind of thing. And at the same time, trying to provide him with the means with which to keep it safe would recognise that he's not the most careful of people - a heavy, clunky keyring might help him recognise it's missing from his pocket or bag or hear it when it drops to the floor? or as someone else as said, something which stops him having to remove it from his bag ever?

And of course, your partner could have a quiet word to make sure that everything is OK in his son't life and there's no underlying bullying going on...

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HecateWhoopass · 24/02/2013 09:42

what about attaching it to a long chain that he can wear under his clothes round his neck?

Or a belt attachment?

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HecateWhoopass · 24/02/2013 09:42

Or one of those loopy spring things attached to a compartment inside his bag?

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freddiemisagreatshag · 24/02/2013 09:47

Hecate- that's what I've done for DD - I got a long chain with a clip on one end and a key ring on the other and she loops it to the belt loops on her skirt/trousers/puts it inside her bag and then she's got no chance of dropping it.

this is the one I linked to it's like the one she has but we got it locally

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AllDirections · 24/02/2013 09:51

YANBU

My 16 year old DD doesn't have a key because she's lost two. I replaced the first one because really any of us can lose a key but twice I think is just being irrespsonsible.

Now she has to negotiate when someone is going to be home. She can use the key that my next door neighbour keeps for me but she has to return it immediately.

My 12 year old DD has a key, no problems at all with keeping it safe.

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Petal02 · 24/02/2013 10:27

Yikes, I'm with you on this one. An EOW arrangement does not necessitate a key.

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Strongertogether · 25/02/2013 12:31

I agree, I don't think he needs a key if he's just visiting EOW. Just make sure one of you are in when he arrives on Friday evenings, seems pretty simple.

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freddiemisagreatshag · 25/02/2013 13:09

I think not giving him a key is making him feel like a visitor when it should be his home.

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theredhen · 25/02/2013 13:49

My DSD who lives with us a third of the time aged nearly 17 doesn't have a key. The reason behind this is she is ALWAYS picked up by DP or myself and driven to our house. Therefore, she doesn't need a key.

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