I've been with my partner for two years and have known his two daughters for nearly that. I have no issues with daughters at all, we have a great relationship and when they are with us all is fine despite the fact that I'm very new t this, don't have children of my own and can struggle at times as we all do....
The girls mom is an alcoholic who has struggled with her mental health for years and the drinking was the reason for split between her and my partner. He has always had to step in and help her since I've known him which I don't have an issue with as I know it's to protect the girls however recently I am losing the will to live with it and becoming increasingly fed up of her behaviour and lack of responsibility towards the girls. (They are 7 and 14)
As just one example of this, myself and partner are both shift workers and him and his ex have the kids 50/50, when we have the girls it's on our 5 evenings off out of ten and when we don't have them it's because we are at work that night.
This weekend she rang my partner, when she had the girls, screaming and absolutely hammered, eldest daughter then came on the phone and told him mom was hammered and she had had to clean up sick from the floor and sort dinner/bath out for the little one. Partner went straight round and collected the girls and for the last 5 days we've rearranged our shifts in order to be able to care for the girls at ours in the hopes mom would use this time to start thinking about sorting herself out, which it doesn't sound like she has and instead has used it as a free weekend to get pissed and be with new boyfriend who we think is her facilitator. The kids are so.upset and worried about their mom and this is causing such a massive strain on our relationship because I feel that we help her out and it's never returned, this effects everyone except for her.
I am so frustrated and feel so lonely because I am trying to be supportive to partner and to the girls but I find myself snapping at him because I am so angry with her being irresponsible all of the time and expecting us to pick up the pieces.
I guess I don't really know what I'm asking I just feel like I need to hear from others in a similar situation and ask how they deal with it.
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Step-parenting
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BlueLights22 · 21/01/2019 20:34
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