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AIBU?

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To have got rid of stepsons room?

261 replies

Berfudia · 13/08/2025 16:28

Prepared to get flamed here but anyway..
My DP (not married, we've been together 9 years) dated a woman and she had an 18mo DS, they were together until he was 5/6 and split up. DP was the only dad he knew really, his bio dad was in prison. When they split he carried on seeing him and treated him as his own.

His mum moved away 3.5 hours when he was around 11 so it made it difficult but he still made an effort, he just struggled EOW with the long drive and his ex would never meet halfway. I then found out I was pregnant and we have 4yo twin boys. The bedrooms were. 1. Myself and DP. Smaller room. DSS and the other bigger room our DS’s sharing.

When the twins were born his mum starting filling his head with lies that DP didn't love him or want him now he had his “real” boys, made it out like he was an inconvenience. Stepson would push them over when learning to walk so after this I said he wasn't welcome here, a 14 yo boy pushing a 10mo baby wasn't right. Whenever he came he stayed in a hotel with DP and they did their own thing. After a while, he said he didn't want to see DP, told him to fuck off and blocked him. His mum seemed pleased with this. She was dating a new man and would constantly say that stepson didn't need DP anymore. This was the reason she moved so far away.

Fast forward to now, we haven't seen him in about 2.5 years, our boys are both autistic and can't cope with sharing so we replaced stepsons room. We put his (few) belongings that he had here somewhere safe, like football trophies and a hoodie and posters.

He's 17 in a week, his mum messaged DH as she's done with him. He's totally off the rails, smokes weed and does other hard drugs. Invites both girls and boys over and left a condom wrapper lying around (he says this wasnt him), failed his GCSEs and dropped out of college last year in October, just a month after starting and has just been lazing around since. Stealing and selling the things he stole. He took her partners watch and sold it etc. The final straw was him he smashed up her partners car

DP was near that way for work so popped in to speak to him but his mum made it clear she didn't want him there, had his stuff In black bags etc and stepson didn't really fight it he just seemed quiet. They got back at about 10pm on Monday night, DP told him to sleep on the sofa so he didn't disturb me or our DCs as we were already asleep. Fast forward to yesterday, he told us his mum favoured her partners daughters and her child they had together. his stepdad would above him and he does have bruises on his wrists where someone would've grabbed him. Then he found out we’d not kept his room and flipped. He was shouting and swearing and was being unpleasant. We tried to show him we’d kept his things, DP went into the loft and got them. He got the football trophies and threw them away because according to him they don't matter anymore

He stormed out last night, came back around 1am drunk and shouting at DP when he asked him to be quiet. He stole DP’s card and used contactless to pay. I'm not sure how he got around the ID part.
Today he's been asleep on the sofa and I've taken my DC out so he can sleep off the hangover. DP has been with him and apparently he's just being laying there not speaking to him.

Were we unreasonable? Also in case people ask: we rent, and don't have a seperate dining room.

OP posts:
OpenThatWindow · 13/08/2025 16:43

Gymmum82 · 13/08/2025 16:37

Get him packed back to his mum. He’s not your problem. Nor your partners problem. I can’t believe he’d bring this thing back to his 2 tiny autistic children. Get him gone immediately

"This thing"

I really hope you're not referring to the clearly abused boy?

OpenThatWindow · 13/08/2025 16:42

Oh, yikes.

I really, really feel for the boy. He needs a stable, safe home before he makes some really bad choices and potential fucks up his life forevermore.

But. You have a responsibility to keep your boys happy, healthy and in a safe environment - your priority has to be to them I'm afraid.

Call Social Services. 😞

mumofoneAloneandwell · 13/08/2025 16:39

Gymmum82 · 13/08/2025 16:38

Newsflash. He’s not his dad

Yes he is. Hes been his dad since he was young. Just because they dont share dna doesn't mean that that bond and commitment ceases.

MNpenisadvisor · 13/08/2025 16:39

Yeah it's harsh AF on the 17 year old lad but you need to fuck him off back

Gymmum82 · 13/08/2025 16:38

mumofoneAloneandwell · 13/08/2025 16:37

I am usually hot on the shitty step parents

I think that you were very wrong to ban him from your home because he was pushing your 1yo. That could've been fixed with time and effort. But thats in the past.

His mum sounds shocking. She sounds as though she puts herself first, no wonder this poor boy is so angry.

I think that your husband sounds like a decent man, a really decent one. I think that, just because they dont share blood, doesn't mean that this boy isnt his responsibility.

And now that youre married to his dad, hes your responsibility too.

I think you should work on an approach to help the poor young man, that doesn't involve him living with your autistic sons. They may not share blood, but they share a dad, no matter how he came to be one.

The choice to be a dad isnt one that you drop because things get rough.

Could you work out renting a small place close by, with strict conditions re drugs and loud noise. The rest would fall on his dad's shoulders as to counselling him to be a good man, getting him back into school or work etc

And slowly, and very slowly, he could try to form a bond with his brothers.

Best of luck x

Edit, it will not be easy by any means. But its the right thing to do.

His mum doesn't want him. He knows it and I think that you know it. He needs somewhere else to stay and to have a break from her and her toxic ways.

Edited

Newsflash. He’s not his dad

Gymmum82 · 13/08/2025 16:37

Get him packed back to his mum. He’s not your problem. Nor your partners problem. I can’t believe he’d bring this thing back to his 2 tiny autistic children. Get him gone immediately

mumofoneAloneandwell · 13/08/2025 16:37

I am usually hot on the shitty step parents

I think that you were very wrong to ban him from your home because he was pushing your 1yo. That could've been fixed with time and effort. But thats in the past.

His mum sounds shocking. She sounds as though she puts herself first, no wonder this poor boy is so angry.

I think that your husband sounds like a decent man, a really decent one. I think that, just because they dont share blood, doesn't mean that this boy isnt his responsibility.

And now that youre married to his dad, hes your responsibility too.

I think you should work on an approach to help the poor young man, that doesn't involve him living with your autistic sons. They may not share blood, but they share a dad, no matter how he came to be one.

The choice to be a dad isnt one that you drop because things get rough.

Could you work out renting a small place close by, with strict conditions re drugs and loud noise. The rest would fall on his dad's shoulders as to counselling him to be a good man, getting him back into school or work etc

And slowly, and very slowly, he could try to form a bond with his brothers.

Best of luck x

Edit, it will not be easy by any means. But its the right thing to do.

His mum doesn't want him. He knows it and I think that you know it. He needs somewhere else to stay and to have a break from her and her toxic ways.

GoldenRosebee · 13/08/2025 16:36

You have to contact SS and tell them to take care of him.

maowmaow · 13/08/2025 16:36

Get him out of your house as soon as possible today. He has to back to his Mum’s. An off the rail 17 year old is not going to work with your young twins .

good luck

nomas · 13/08/2025 16:32

YANBU. Your DH needs to take the boy back to his mum’s, he is not your responsibility and will endanger your sons.

Goody2ShoesAndTheFilthyBeast · 13/08/2025 16:31

I think its a mistake to bring this boy back into your lives tbh.

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