Hiya needing some advice from people who've lived through this experience!
I've been seeing my girlfriend now for seven months, she has a five year old girl and I have a two year old girl. The problem is I'm having real difficulties with her daughter. Now whilst I fully appreciate it is hard for her to adjust to having to share her mum with new people (she's been used to having her to herself for two years now) - her behaviour is becoming intolerable. I need to know a) if it will change b) if so how to change it and c) how much I can/should intervene or d) if I should walk away!
From what I can see my girlfriend has adopted very much a 'guilt' style approach to mothering as she works full time so she has very poor disciplinary techniques (if any), no boundaries, and is totally bossed about by her daughter. Consequently this girl is extremely spoilt, rude, bossy, mean, unkind and selfish. She is almost always horrible to my daughter and it is starting to have an effect on her. I've worked hard to teach my daughter manners, kindness and sharing and it seems to be being reversed now because of the five year olds influence.
It almost goes without saying that she's always rude and difficult towards me and it makes for a really uncomfortable time for all of us.
My girlfriend seems oblivious to the fact that her daughter is like this even though she has to spend a lot of time shouting at her and making ridiculous 'false threats' that she of course never carries out like 'if you don't do this you're not seeing grandpa tomorrow'. All meaningless and useless of course because she never follows through on any of it.
She tends to blame her behaviour almost entirely on this situation but I think a big proportion of it is her parenting. I've gathered that her behaviour was like this before I came along so I know it's not like she was an angel before and is now reacting to me. Do I address this with my GF? So tricky to tell someone their parenting needs improvement but if I don't say anything I can see it will be the death of us.
Please help with constructive comments if you've been though the same thing and something you did worked or didn't work!
Ps I have posted this before but on the wrong thread so got very few responses and none from anyone who had been in this situation.
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Step-parenting
GFs difficult child, throw in the towel or persevere?
42 replies
Tankgirl78 · 02/02/2015 15:24
OP posts:
Frusso ·
02/02/2015 20:59
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AlpacaMyBags ·
02/02/2015 21:02
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