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To think husband doesn't get to have it both ways re children?

722 replies

PickledFrog · 04/04/2024 07:16

My husband has two older children and we have younger DC together.

Since they have been older (12 & 14) he has got into the habit of leaving them at home at the weekend whilst he goes to work (SE so can definitely choose whether to go or not) often not telling me about this until the night before / day of.

He will say it doesn't matter because they are old enough to look after themselves so makes no difference to me. Fine.

I have taken to thinking well I'll just get on with my day then as normal if he says it makes no difference to me I.e. Still going out with the little ones etc..

He will make comments about this though sometimes like if I'm out over lunch time asking me if DSC have eaten, what they have for lunch, should be making sure they have something. Or even sometimes saying it's mean of me not to take DSC out with me if I end up going somewhere they might light for example I once had a trip to a big aquarium/zoo place planned with my sister and our younger children and he was pissed that I didn't immediately take DSC with me when I found out he had decided to go in work, instead they stayed home alone all day.

I just think he wants his cake and to eat it too. You can't say oh it makes no difference to you because they can look after themselves so I'm going out and then in the same breath moan about me not looking after them? Can they look after themselves or not? If they can then it shouldn't matter that I get on with my day, if they can't then he should be at home or at the very least asking me if it's okay.

What do you think?

OP posts:
Lentilweaver · 04/04/2024 13:00

It's always the step mum's fault somehow.

HollyKnight · 04/04/2024 13:01

paulaparticles · 04/04/2024 12:55

Omg you keep reminding everyone that their mum leaves them home alone to go out at night etc...neglect. Why aren't you both going for full custody. How is that ok ? This proves you both dont give a shiny shit about either of them 😶 happy to slag her for doing it though. but happy to not have to pay any child maintenance by having them half the time and not looking after them properly either. Your house must be a barrel of laughs. You look after your children...he looks after his children...house sharing it seems to be just.

She's not slagging their mother off for doing it. She's responding to the people implying the mum would be outraged if she knew the children were being left alone. She's not. Because none of the adults think it is neglect. Because it isn't neglect.

bellezarara · 04/04/2024 13:01

uneffingbelievable · 04/04/2024 12:58

OP - their mother leaves her children to be cared for by thier father. If he chooses to leave them with you during his time - that has nothing to do with her or what she does with her time - none of your business.

PErsonally I would not want to be the person infront of the judge when something bad has happened and you and your pathetic DP argue about who was looking after the 12 yr old.

You re point scoring gunst your DP, drip feeding to hustify your actions and you almost gloat in your actions and feel justified. This whole thread make me nauseous - 2 adults behaving like petty toddlers - grow the hell up both of you.

So the mum leaving her kids gets a 'none of your business' but OP leaving the kids will definitely lead to 'something bad' that will result in being jailed Grin

You anti-stepmums are so hilarious in your double standards.

paulaparticles · 04/04/2024 13:01

Its neglectful parenting though...how is it not ???

HebburnPokemon · 04/04/2024 13:01

Is it reasonable to leave young teens for the whole day? Is it something you want for your teens?

If she doesn't want it for her kids when they become teens, she can choose not to leave them alone?

InterIgnis · 04/04/2024 13:02

paulaparticles · 04/04/2024 12:59

It's not even that you leave them home alone cuz that's understandable to do sometimes...it's the lack of a caring role by yourself as a stepmum and how you don't see how you have responsibility to them in any shape....

She doesn’t. ‘Stepparent’ is a title, that’s it. If a parent wants a spouse that will accept the role of childcare provider then they need to make that clear before they marry someone that isn’t signing up for that.

bellezarara · 04/04/2024 13:03

paulaparticles · 04/04/2024 12:59

It's not even that you leave them home alone cuz that's understandable to do sometimes...it's the lack of a caring role by yourself as a stepmum and how you don't see how you have responsibility to them in any shape....

You're just being goady now. Below is what OP does for the DSC even though she works FULL TIME.

I make evening meals 9 days out of 10 which they eat.
I wash their clothes, bed clothes, sports kits
I hoover their room most of the time and often end up tidying it too.
I pick them up from hobbies on my way home from work during the week most of the time.
I pay half for our holidays, food they eat, the home they live in and so on.

bellezarara · 04/04/2024 13:04

PickledFrog · 04/04/2024 12:17

Yes I do. Would you like a list?

I make evening meals 9 days out of 10 which they eat.
I wash their clothes, bed clothes, sports kits
I hoover their room most of the time and often end up tidying it too.
I pick them up from hobbies on my way home from work during the week most of the time.
I pay half for our holidays, food they eat, the home they live in and so on.

What is DH doing when you're doing all this, OP? Sounds like you've got all the housework as well as working full time?

Lentilweaver · 04/04/2024 13:05

bellezarara · 04/04/2024 13:03

You're just being goady now. Below is what OP does for the DSC even though she works FULL TIME.

I make evening meals 9 days out of 10 which they eat.
I wash their clothes, bed clothes, sports kits
I hoover their room most of the time and often end up tidying it too.
I pick them up from hobbies on my way home from work during the week most of the time.
I pay half for our holidays, food they eat, the home they live in and so on.

Good lord. OP you do plenty. Your DH doesn't do any of this either? Tho I think the DC are old enough to do most of these.

phoenixrosehere · 04/04/2024 13:08

paulaparticles · 04/04/2024 12:59

It's not even that you leave them home alone cuz that's understandable to do sometimes...it's the lack of a caring role by yourself as a stepmum and how you don't see how you have responsibility to them in any shape....

She already listed the things that she does for them since they are there 50% of the time and also asks them if they want to go with her or not when she is taking out the younger siblings.

She is showing more responsibility then their own father from the read of things yet he wants her to do more while he does even less.

HebburnPokemon · 04/04/2024 13:08

it's the lack of a caring role by yourself as a stepmum and how you don't see how you have responsibility to them in any shape...

How do you think it should be? They have two parents.

Iaskedyouthrice · 04/04/2024 13:08

She doesn't @paulaparticles she has no responsibility for them at all. All a stepmother needs to do is be kind and welcoming. That's it. She shouldn't take on childcare, extra housework or any financial responsibility for 2 children she had no involvement in the conception of. Because their father should be doing all of that.
I would be mortified if I found out my ex's partner was doing his parenting for him. Absolutely mortified and I would tell him so.
The OP already takes on a lot of their care despite working full time herself. She is allowed to spend her downtime with her own young children. She should spend her downtime with her own young children. Her own young children deserve a normal Weeke d with their mum. If they don't want to join her like hell should she stay in.
OP hasn't mentioned what she's actually said to her dh about this though. In my house, he would have tried disappearing once and he wouldn't have done it again. He is there father. He needs to parent his children. No ifs no buts.

Dweetfidilove · 04/04/2024 13:13

bellezarara · 04/04/2024 12:12

Where's the tit for tat? OP is allowed to take her dc to soft play instead of waiting until midday for teens to wake up for their lunch.

She most certainly is. Don’t think I said otherwise.

There will be tit for tat though between who will be doing/not doing what.
These things obviously become a battle before the OP either gives in to her husband’s expectations or he begrudgingly starts taking care of his children. By then the rot has already started setting in.

Quitelikeit · 04/04/2024 13:13

HOW OFTEN DOES HE WORK ON A SATURDAY?

Anniegetyourgun · 04/04/2024 13:14

As usual on this type of thread, a lot of people aren't reading what the OP actually says, but insist on getting bent out of shape over an imaginary scenario. Like, OP does nothing at all for her stepkids, she pretends they don't exist! Except for the quite a lot of things she does do for them. She won't take them out with her own DC! Except when she does; the rest of the time they don't want to come too. Her poor husband has to work weekends to keep the roof over two families' heads! Apparently he doesn't, especially given that both mothers work full time and, since care is 50-50 for the DSC, there isn't likely to be any maintenance going either way. She left the house early out of spite! She'd already arranged to meet family, and the teens prefer to sleep in till early afternoon. (I've had 4 teens - they tend to be like that, given the choice. Apparently it's natural because they're doing a lot of growing/developing at that stage.) And the really random accusation that she left them in the house without any food - well, to be fair, I don't remember OP enumerating the contents of their fridge at any point, so maybe she really did leave them to starve, but that certainly wasn't the implication.

Anyway, where were we? Oh yes - YANBU.

Quitelikeit · 04/04/2024 13:14

Your their kids and my kids attitude is so unhealthy

Fawklight · 04/04/2024 13:15

PickledFrog · 04/04/2024 12:17

Yes I do. Would you like a list?

I make evening meals 9 days out of 10 which they eat.
I wash their clothes, bed clothes, sports kits
I hoover their room most of the time and often end up tidying it too.
I pick them up from hobbies on my way home from work during the week most of the time.
I pay half for our holidays, food they eat, the home they live in and so on.

But you don't do anything with them do you.
Take them out. Take an interest in them for once. Really at 14 - 12 years old they can't be left alone for long periods of time. And they shouldn't be sleeping in until 1pm!

Have you even had a discussion with your husband about the SC.

Jaxhog · 04/04/2024 13:15

PsychoHotSauce · 04/04/2024 07:24

Agree, but let's not blame the OP for any of this. What kind of father deliberately books optional work during his contact time?

This. It's quite unfair to leave ALL child contact to you. And unfair for his 2. He needs to step up.

Thefutureisourownpath · 04/04/2024 13:15

PickledFrog · 04/04/2024 07:24

I would feed them if I were there and making lunch obviously. But if I have plans to go to a soft play for example with the little ones I'm not cancelling that so I can stay home to look after DSC who apparently don't need me to look after them (according to DH).

DSC are fine. They usually end up out with friends playing football or gaming. The odd time I've asked if they want to come out with me they've said no thanks anyway.

Well why isn’t he looking after them and doing stuff with them? He’s a shit Dad and I would be telling him so - no work when the kids are here - as well as his own.

PickledFrog · 04/04/2024 13:17

paulaparticles · 04/04/2024 12:55

Omg you keep reminding everyone that their mum leaves them home alone to go out at night etc...neglect. Why aren't you both going for full custody. How is that ok ? This proves you both dont give a shiny shit about either of them 😶 happy to slag her for doing it though. but happy to not have to pay any child maintenance by having them half the time and not looking after them properly either. Your house must be a barrel of laughs. You look after your children...he looks after his children...house sharing it seems to be just.

Where have I slagged her off? I actually like their mum! I think it's their choice as parents if they think their children are mature enough to stay home. It's certainly not for me to start demanding custody of them due to it.

I brought up their mum doing it because posters keep going on about how horrified and fuming she must be about it. She isn't. Because she obviously agrees it's fine to do as she also does it!

OP posts:
HebburnPokemon · 04/04/2024 13:18

Quitelikeit · 04/04/2024 13:14

Your their kids and my kids attitude is so unhealthy

Elaborate.

Crankyandco · 04/04/2024 13:18

Those poor children. Both you and your husband sound like you deserve each other.

paulaparticles · 04/04/2024 13:19

"yours and "his" how depressing for all involved
So step parents shouldn't ever care for children who live with them and in this case half the time...how utterly miserable a set up this is
A man who is out working cant rely on his wife to help care for his children who live with them 50 % of the time
any one who thinks this is OK is unbelievablely cold

and a mother who leaves them at night regularly how can either of you be ok with this 😶

Do you always remind him that they aren't yours so don't have to look after them cuz you will eventually drive him away.

PickledFrog · 04/04/2024 13:21

Fawklight · 04/04/2024 13:15

But you don't do anything with them do you.
Take them out. Take an interest in them for once. Really at 14 - 12 years old they can't be left alone for long periods of time. And they shouldn't be sleeping in until 1pm!

Have you even had a discussion with your husband about the SC.

Where have I implied that I take no interest in them? You know nothing bar this one scenario regarding a Saturday. You have no idea what I do/don't do or discuss or take an interest in for the other 6 days of the week.

Stop making shit up to fit your narrative.

OP posts:
PaperDoIIs · 04/04/2024 13:23

paulaparticles · 04/04/2024 13:19

"yours and "his" how depressing for all involved
So step parents shouldn't ever care for children who live with them and in this case half the time...how utterly miserable a set up this is
A man who is out working cant rely on his wife to help care for his children who live with them 50 % of the time
any one who thinks this is OK is unbelievablely cold

and a mother who leaves them at night regularly how can either of you be ok with this 😶

Do you always remind him that they aren't yours so don't have to look after them cuz you will eventually drive him away.

Show where OP doesn't care for her step children.