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AIBU?

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To post this here as I really need advice

57 replies

Namefonow · 03/11/2024 17:44

I’m sorry, I have already posted this in step parenting but I need some help.

I messed up big time last night and need to recover this for the sake of my children. We are a blended family of 5. Elder 3 are my partners. Younger is mine and we have a 1 year old together.
all having a lovely day yesterday together. I thought I saw the DSS 13 touch DD 6 on her bottom. He caught my eye and left the room. Partner dealt with it brilliantly and sat them both down individually and talked to them. Both said nothing happened. I did not deal with it well at all. To say I lost it would be an understatement. Tried to take the two youngest away and made some serious threats. DSS now doesn’t want me in the house. I get it. But I don’t want to lose my family or my children.
for now I’m staying away but am going back to do bedtime routine with the little ones. I have no idea how to recover from this.
I have apologise d sincerely to everyone but I know it will take time. Any advice would be so welcome. I don’t want to cause anyone any more pain.
for context, I was abused as a young child and freaked out. But that does not for a second excuse my over reaction.

OP posts:
Namefonow · 03/11/2024 21:11

I understand what you are all saying. Genuinely. The children are all that matter. I have come home but staying in the summer house to be respectful. My 1 year is still breast fed and is struggling without me. I have no where else to go. My children (step kids included) are the centre of my world. Their mother does not have custody but I understand where the concern is coming from. The last thing I want to do is brand a good boy with a life altering name.
I did see what I saw. Categorically. However, it may have been innocent from SS’s perspective. They were having a bit of rough and tumble prior to this and she was sitting on his lap. My kids are not in danger as my partner will look after them all. I have not the slightest doubt about that. He is a good man and an even better father.
I made no threats to the boy. My only threat was that I am leaving with the two little ones. But that’s enough to put worry into their heads. I have directed no anger towards him. Before leaving this morning I explained to him why I reacted as I did and apologised. I asked his permission to come home to put the little ones to bed tonight. I have now done that and have gone to the summer house.
there is no doubt that in this situation I could be described as irrational. I was scared and acted in a way that disgusts me. I need help for that and I have booked therapy for early next week.
I guess what I am asking is for advice how to approach my SS and make him feel safe again. He is not a bad boy. He is a good big brother. He is also 13 and I will make allowances for that while absolutely ensuring that his sisters are safe.
OP

OP posts:
Namefonow · 03/11/2024 21:09

I am at the house. I will post the response I made on the other thread which explains more. My children are safe.

OP posts:
Purplewarrior · 03/11/2024 20:54

Well it sounds like DSS did stroke DDs bum. And now you have left them and she’s still there?

C152 · 03/11/2024 20:43

Why are you convinced you over-reacted? I'm not sure why you've left the home, OP, especially if it's possible your stepson is hurting your daugher. I think I would trust what I saw with my own eyes over what two children say and I'd be removing my child from this environment.

Laiste · 03/11/2024 20:18

Does this help ...

I reported it but it turned out i was mistaken.

vs

I was right but did nothing about it.

Which is worse OP?
(the answer is the second one)

It's a shit sandwich either way OP but sadly you have to take a bite. Everything has changed already Flowers

InformerYaNoSayDaddyMeSnowMeIGoBlameALickyBoom · 03/11/2024 20:18

Op going back may result in the police being called depending on the threats she made.

There's no way someone screaming abuse and threats should be in the home regardless if what else is going on. That's not good for anyone.

Do you have a family or friend you could stay with, with your kids, for a few nights? Just until you contact SS or the police. Do you feel up to looking after the kids?

Wolfi3 · 03/11/2024 20:15

Laiste · 03/11/2024 19:54

You say your partner spoke to both kids individually.
Were you there in the room with them for this?

Did you speak to your daughter about this alone at all?

I'm sure you know already OP, advice concerning talking to children about possible inappropriate touching/grooming/abuse includes not asking leading questions or 'putting words in their mouths'. It's quite difficult and is a skill which police and social services are trained to do. This is your own daughter, and you are her mum. You know her best. You should feel comfy speaking to her, but just be aware of your language when you bring this up with her.

I feel you should quietly and for yourself make a written note of exactly what you thought you saw. The date and time. Who said what to who and what's happened since.

The reason for this is that we forget details and our minds change events very easily and very soon after the time things happen. If you can refer back to something you wrote at the time with details it will stop that 'i must have imagined it' feeling going any further.

Great advice here about making notes.

Given what you’ve been through I think DSS and others will come to understand why you reacted the way you did but will your DD understand that you saw it and did nothing if it is a bit more sinister than being made out to be

HermoinePotter · 03/11/2024 20:09

Amba1998 · 03/11/2024 20:05

Why are you automatically wanting to come back from this when you saw something with your own eyes??

why the F have you been kicked out as the only voice to protect your daughter.

get the F back there right now!!!

My thoughts exactly. OP you can’t leave your daughter in a home where you saw her having her bottom stroked by an older step sibling, you also have a 1 year old to think about. You have said you saw it happening with your own eyes, you need to go home and be with your daughter no matter what. You also need to call NSPCC and report what you saw to someone, please don’t brush this under the carpet.

Amba1998 · 03/11/2024 20:05

Why are you automatically wanting to come back from this when you saw something with your own eyes??

why the F have you been kicked out as the only voice to protect your daughter.

get the F back there right now!!!

Laiste · 03/11/2024 20:00

I really feel for you OP. Such a traumatic thing.

But as a previous poster said, please don't subconsciously grab at the chance to say this didn't happen just because it's easier than dealing with the opposite.

If you end up thinking there's a chance you could be right get some advice from NSPCC and they will help you.

Laiste · 03/11/2024 19:54

You say your partner spoke to both kids individually.
Were you there in the room with them for this?

Did you speak to your daughter about this alone at all?

I'm sure you know already OP, advice concerning talking to children about possible inappropriate touching/grooming/abuse includes not asking leading questions or 'putting words in their mouths'. It's quite difficult and is a skill which police and social services are trained to do. This is your own daughter, and you are her mum. You know her best. You should feel comfy speaking to her, but just be aware of your language when you bring this up with her.

I feel you should quietly and for yourself make a written note of exactly what you thought you saw. The date and time. Who said what to who and what's happened since.

The reason for this is that we forget details and our minds change events very easily and very soon after the time things happen. If you can refer back to something you wrote at the time with details it will stop that 'i must have imagined it' feeling going any further.

TheBeesKnee · 03/11/2024 19:42

Namefonow · 03/11/2024 18:05

What I saw was stoking back bottom. Not the worst thing in the world I know but it freaked me out.
however, as both have denied it, I think I must have been wrong. Neither are known for lying.

Do you think they denied it because they were afraid of your reaction?

Why are you doubting what you saw?

Sorry OP my friend at school was abused by her older brother for years, it is more common than people think.

Icedlatteofdreams · 03/11/2024 19:39

I agree with pp, don't gaslight yourself - really concentrate and remove everything else and concentrate on what you actually saw. If you saw him inappropriately touch your DC then you can deal with that in the right way. He doesn't just get to say, it didn't happen if you actually saw it happen in real time.

I wouldn't be leaving my young children in the house as pp said, it's unlikely your DD will disclose something if she feels she is going to lose you if she does.

Can you talk to NSPCC and try and get some advice.

Laiste · 03/11/2024 19:21

I thought I saw the DSS 13 touch DD 6 on her bottom. He caught my eye and left the room. Partner dealt with it brilliantly and sat them both down individually and talked to them. Both said nothing happened.

Can you sit calmly by yourself for a moment now and close your eyes and re-see that moment again?

Tried to take the two youngest away and made some serious threats. DSS now doesn’t want me in the house.

You reacted to something potentially very serious. Your reaction was quite normal IMO if this had really happened as you first thought.

I’m staying away but am going back to do bedtime routine with the little ones. I have no idea how to recover from this.
I have apologise d sincerely to everyone but I know it will take time.

You're staying away from your children? Why?

OP - don't be too quick to dismiss this. I can't say weather you were right or wrong, but if you were right then your DD needs you to not fall to pieces. I don't know what advice to give you. The answer is there in your mind. You have to think hard.

FupaTrooper · 03/11/2024 19:14

I actually wonder if you are using your past to make an excuse for this situation in an attempt to make everything better and go away. Convincing yourself it didn't happen.

I think you need to calmly close your eyes and replay what you saw and his expression when you saw.

Having trauma doesn't mean you can't trust your own eyeballs and instincts.

I'm not saying he did actually do anything... But also it's almost easier to pretend you imagined it, right?

honeyytoast · 03/11/2024 19:00

My first reaction was wondering what you mean by making serious threats - are we talking “I’ll f** kill you” said towards DSS, or expressing your feelings away from the kids/threatening to take kids away etc? Does he not want you in the house because of things you said to him, or because you thought he did it and were upset about that?

I can’t tell if you’re being really hard on yourself/even gaslighting yourself, or if your actions do somewhat warrant your sincere apology and keeping distance (if that makes any sense)

That aside I think a few good points have been raised - how sure are you that you got it totally wrong?

Richtea67 · 03/11/2024 18:50

Jellycatspyjamas · 03/11/2024 18:18

In all honesty I also wouldn’t be leaving the children without you being there. If there is something going on your daughter doesn’t have you as a protective factor and she now knows that disclosing anything will take you away from her - which is a powerful driver to her keeping quiet.

Excellent advice from @Jellycatspyjamas, I agree whole heartedly with everything they have said.

DaisyChain505 · 03/11/2024 18:48

Please go easy on yourself. It’s no wonder your horrible past experiences triggered you.

all you can do now is put your hands up and say you are truly sorry and that certain things that have happened to you in your past triggered you to react to something that wasn’t there.

time will be a healer and you’ll all get past this.

BMW6 · 03/11/2024 18:45

Why did SS leave the room when he caught your eye?

It's much more like that he did deliberately touch her botton inappropriately than not.

I'll bet at least 50% of women have suffered this kind of shit at least once

doodleschnoodle · 03/11/2024 18:29

I think you need to be really clear with yourself here. You say you think you saw, you say that neither of them admitted it so think you could be wrong, but what did you actually see in that moment? Remove any interpretation, what did you physically see? What was happening at the time? Were they standing still? Moving?

Once you are comfortable that you saw what you saw, then you can continue.

InformerYaNoSayDaddyMeSnowMeIGoBlameALickyBoom · 03/11/2024 18:26

I would call the doctor first thing op, I know you have therapy booked for Tuesday then that's a great start, but you may need some additional help, so it's best to get things started ASAP.

What threats did you make? Did you make the threats in front of the kids?

Do you still think you saw him touching her? If so I would probably report it and get an expert to unpick things, I get your emotional response, of course, but there are specific techniques used to ask kids these things.

Honestly, your relationship is probably irreparably damaged here, there's pretty much no coming back from this, so you need to think long term. You being kicked out away from your kids isn't sustainable.

It all sounds so tough op, when the shock wears off a bit you need to start getting practical.

FfsBrian · 03/11/2024 18:24

TinyBlueHoe · 03/11/2024 18:09

You believe two children over what you saw with your own eyes?

I agree.

The dd might not have actually felt it if she was wearing pants or been scared to admit it because it had kicked off.

Jellycatspyjamas · 03/11/2024 18:18

In all honesty I also wouldn’t be leaving the children without you being there. If there is something going on your daughter doesn’t have you as a protective factor and she now knows that disclosing anything will take you away from her - which is a powerful driver to her keeping quiet.

Jellycatspyjamas · 03/11/2024 18:14

I think there are two things to think about. The first is your own trauma, the circumstances, how old you were, whether you told anyone and were believed. You don’t need to share that here but nothing triggers your own trauma than your own children - I’ve been there. Therapy will help you make sense of your own experiences and to separate that from your daughter. Being hyper vigilant is a left over from trauma, so you may not have seen what you thought you did.

The other thing is you said your DSS caught your eye, in what way. It’s wholly possible you did see something and he’s clocked your reaction and is now back pedalling - which is easy to do if you’ve had an emotional/triggered reaction. Would your DD tell her step dad if something had happened? Particularly if she saw you upset? I’d create lots of natural opportunities to chat to your DD - not about her step brother but just in general so she can tell you in her own time if there’s something she’s uncomfortable with.

Yes it’s a big allegation, and maybe you could have handled it better but you’ve very clearly communicated to all concerned that you’ve got your eye on things, which is a good thing. I’d apologise for your reaction but don’t beat yourself up for protecting your daughter.

TinyBlueHoe · 03/11/2024 18:09

Namefonow · 03/11/2024 18:05

What I saw was stoking back bottom. Not the worst thing in the world I know but it freaked me out.
however, as both have denied it, I think I must have been wrong. Neither are known for lying.

You believe two children over what you saw with your own eyes?