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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Just want bio mum to step up

443 replies

mumsthewordi · 25/03/2025 05:57

Long story short, SS decided he wanted to live with dad and me when he was 9,l and he is 13 now, it was meant to be temporary - but he’s never been encouraged to go home and BM hasn’t ever asked him! I was high risk pregnancy and focused on DD and they have a lovely relationship, but I’ve never got use to being a SM too, I feel quite blindsided too as the grandparents and OH just constantly tell me why he should be with us , and yes he’s happy but my feeling is no one’s ever encouraged a positive reconciliation- they say well “she doesn’t want him.” However, I don’t think it’s that simple and she also went through a lot during Covid when he made this decision. I have made sure they have contact but it’s not regular.

its hard but perhaps I feel this way as I don’t have a strong maternal bond towards him and for that I feel guilty because he has a mother.

OP posts:
mumsthewordi · 25/03/2025 14:22

I do understand now that MN is not a place for sympathy for step mums, thank you for the step mums who have reached out, i can also see some posters have spent a great deal of time and effort looking over past threads to try and discredit my posts - they are all honest.

I think the problem is having an unconventional setup (blended family etc) after tragedy and not being as maternal as some would expect on here

i have asked for the thread to be deleted as some posters questioning my integrity is quite difficult to read.

Last post, so thanks for those advising constructively and with a kind heart.

OP posts:
Beetstew · 25/03/2025 14:19

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

mumsthewordi · 25/03/2025 14:18

LilacPeer · 25/03/2025 14:16

Your DD and his DS are siblings but you are happy for them to be apart if he goes back to his mum?

no i wouldn't be - i just would maintain contact as i know his dad would, she doesn't allow this in the same way so it isn't fair

OP posts:
mumsthewordi · 25/03/2025 14:17

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

without giving my name, location i have been as detailed as possible whilst protecting my family - what on earth do you mean!?

OP posts:
LilacPeer · 25/03/2025 14:16

mumsthewordi · 25/03/2025 13:36

a strange way to view it - the siblings should also be together.

Your DD and his DS are siblings but you are happy for them to be apart if he goes back to his mum?

Beetstew · 25/03/2025 14:10

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

MellowPinkDeer · 25/03/2025 14:09

BetterWithPockets · 25/03/2025 13:56

OP, why not post on the step-parents board rather than AIBU? You’ll get a more supportive response there, I think. You can ask MN to move the thread.

You won’t. Because unfortunately the step mum haters like to bring their views there too. No where here is safe for step parents.

mumsthewordi · 25/03/2025 14:06

TwigletsAndRadishes · 25/03/2025 13:16

Is the OP currently working, do we know? Just because it is her house and she pays the majority of the bills doesn't necessarily mean she's working. She could be on extended maternity leave or she could have got a large payout of insurance when she was sadly widowed, which may mean the house is paid for and there is cash in the bank and she's now a SAHM. Either of those things might explain why she does all the cooking and cleaning.

i work but not as long hours and mostly from home, the insurance thing is wild! i wish!

OP posts:
MissDoubleU · 25/03/2025 14:05

I’ve had a fair few responses of “if it were a man” or “when is a man told” but let me just say. If a man came on here and made a post saying he got together with a mother, moved her in, got her pregnant, was fine with being a step dad until now. When his DSD has chosen off her own back to live with her mother full time, and doesn’t want to stay at her dad’s. He wasn’t 100% in, was only okay being a 50% step dad. We’d all give him absolute hell. Rightly so.

Everyone would say the same as I’ve been saying here. You signed up to be a step parent. A child of 9 is old enough to decide which parent they live with. If you’re upset at your partner for allowing this perfectly reasonable adjustment then you should never have dated someone who already had children.

AnnoyedAsAllHeck · 25/03/2025 14:04

TwigletsAndRadishes · 25/03/2025 13:16

Is the OP currently working, do we know? Just because it is her house and she pays the majority of the bills doesn't necessarily mean she's working. She could be on extended maternity leave or she could have got a large payout of insurance when she was sadly widowed, which may mean the house is paid for and there is cash in the bank and she's now a SAHM. Either of those things might explain why she does all the cooking and cleaning.

Yes, she works and is a high earner. Facts you would know had you, at least, read all her posts.

BetterWithPockets · 25/03/2025 13:56

mumsthewordi · 25/03/2025 09:02

Do you really think it’s this simple ? How do you suggest I step up even more ??

wow the meaning of step parent taken on a literal new life for itself on this thread.

OP, why not post on the step-parents board rather than AIBU? You’ll get a more supportive response there, I think. You can ask MN to move the thread.

Nanny0gg · 25/03/2025 13:54

mumsthewordi · 25/03/2025 07:07

i don’t want to do this, I rather try to work on my feelings of resentment and the relationship with SS. I need to talk to oh and ask he do more too

Have you thought of having counselling for yourself? To work through the feelings?

Whilst getting your partner to pull his finger out and contribute to the running of the home?

StopGo · 25/03/2025 13:50

Sadly, no one can force a parent to step up and actually parent. Your BF is a single parent with full custody of his DS. That wasn't the case when you got together and subsequently had DD.

Marriage would offer you very little protection especially as you own your home. Ultimately you may have to decide if providing a home and all that goes with that for your BF and his DS is what you want. You are in a very difficult position, I don't envy you.

mumsthewordi · 25/03/2025 13:50

MissDoubleU · 25/03/2025 13:47

Then you should direct your anger and frustration at your DP for not stepping up and leaving everything to you.

i'm not an angry person. I have spoken to him and he has started to do more - just the job doesn't allow much time

OP posts:
mumsthewordi · 25/03/2025 13:49

Also I think my step son saw for himself at 9 a quality of life his mum couldn't afford

OP posts:
mumsthewordi · 25/03/2025 13:47

TheCountofMountingCrispBags · 25/03/2025 06:35

Why on earth did you begin a relationship with a person who had a child? You've had this poor lad, essentially binned by his mother, for 5 years and haven't 'bonded' with him?

Poor little sod.

You haven't read any posts before this comment, if you had you would know SS is very happy.

i had no idea how he was treated by his mother - i don't have much to go on, but i know what i provide. I can't help that, i'd never leave him out. He has nice holidays, clothes, presents - i'm dedicated to his emotional wellbeing and his academic - he is thriving :) and happy.

OP posts:
MissDoubleU · 25/03/2025 13:47

mumsthewordi · 25/03/2025 13:44

they don't look after him much, i do.

Then you should direct your anger and frustration at your DP for not stepping up and leaving everything to you.

mumsthewordi · 25/03/2025 13:44

Sprinklesandsprinkles · 25/03/2025 13:43

A fit and loving mum should be the one doing the talking and bending over backwards to have regular contact and to get him back. It sounds like she's either unfit or unmotivated to have him, so it's right that his dad and grandparents are looking after him properly

they don't look after him much, i do.

OP posts:
mumsthewordi · 25/03/2025 13:43

crumblingschools · 25/03/2025 13:41

So if the SS living with you moves back with mum, would you then have 50:50 of both stepsons?

Absolutely! as right now she won't let OH see the other one

Whereas i'm encouraging a relationship. She is hardwork

OP posts:
DearBee · 25/03/2025 13:43

YANBU - she sounds like a shitty mum and I am not surprised you are calling her 'bio mum' as that is how she is behaving.

You don't have to love SS as your own. Just do your best to care for him. Don't bother trying to facilitate his relationship with 'bio mum' - you don't need to take that on, she and his dad should be facilitating that. And your partner really needs to step up by the sounds of things.

Sprinklesandsprinkles · 25/03/2025 13:43

mumsthewordi · 25/03/2025 07:07

Yes I definitely never considered all these things. I was a widow, probably still I grief and rushed towards some semblance of security - he’s a kind man. I can see the benefits of that too :) I’m just trying to work on us , myself and our family. I just wondered if anyone thought it reasonable to try and talk to his mother - I can see no one thinks that.

A fit and loving mum should be the one doing the talking and bending over backwards to have regular contact and to get him back. It sounds like she's either unfit or unmotivated to have him, so it's right that his dad and grandparents are looking after him properly

crumblingschools · 25/03/2025 13:41

So if the SS living with you moves back with mum, would you then have 50:50 of both stepsons?

mumsthewordi · 25/03/2025 13:40

Regretsmorethanafew · 25/03/2025 13:37

Both of them somewhere else, is what you want.

troll comment if ever i read one, that's not what i want at all. I want recognition, OH to do more, his mum to recognise her son and give him what he deserves at least some of the time

OP posts:
Regretsmorethanafew · 25/03/2025 13:37

mumsthewordi · 25/03/2025 13:36

a strange way to view it - the siblings should also be together.

Both of them somewhere else, is what you want.

mumsthewordi · 25/03/2025 13:36

LilacPeer · 25/03/2025 13:29

so they have one child each? so essentially doing 50% of the work each?

a strange way to view it - the siblings should also be together.

OP posts: