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AIBU?

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Xmas and adult step children

113 replies

OneMerryJoker · 23/11/2025 12:28

We are a blended family, he has 2 adult children age 25 and 29 i have 3 age 15, 20 and 26, my problems is we live 1 street apart from his children, they never visit or call any of us all year round, they never give their dad anything for birthday or Xmas etc, always empty handed never even say merry Xmas or anything when they come in, every year for the last 10 I have given them birthday and Xmas etc invited them over for bbq but this year I decided I was fed up of this and not going to invite them 4 Xmas, my husband did not agree with this decision at all, but I felt my reasons were fair, they always come over over Xmas day, boxing day and new year empty handed and get 3 course meal endless drink, gifts then leave without a thank you or offer of help, my kids come over with a gift 4 each of us, they help with dishes and clearing up etc, now after a huge argument my husband is giving me silent treatment for last 2 weeks because I refuse to be treated this way, am I being unreasonable?

OP posts:
OneMerryJoker · 23/11/2025 13:52

Unicorntearsofgin · 23/11/2025 13:43

I mean their mum died ten years ago and your husband never visits them. Pretty awful parenting from him.

He used 2 visit but everytime he went it ended up in an argument bcoz of the state of the house, its so dirty u can't sit down never mind have coffee, so he gave up after years of this repeated argument

OP posts:
Praying4Peace · 23/11/2025 13:51

caringcarer · 23/11/2025 12:58

It sounds like he hasn't brought his DC up well. You should not have to pay the cost. You put the work in on your own DC upbringing and now they are decent humans. I'd tell DH you are not going to invite his DC to Xmas dinner this year but if he wishes to he can be cooking the Xmas dinner this year. You are having a year off and sitting down with a glass of wine to chat to your DC when they visit. He can ask his DC to help with packing up dishwasher or washing up. You and your DC will be taking a little walk after Xmas lunch. Tell him you will cook on NY day. Alternatively you cook for DH and your DC and he pays for his DC to go to a hotel or get a takeaway.

Are you serious?

AgnesX · 23/11/2025 13:49

OneMerryJoker · 23/11/2025 13:40

My place is the biggest 2 hold every1

Everyone including your step kids? What about just you and your kids. Leave the others to it.

Luckyingame · 23/11/2025 13:45

MrsSkylerWhite · 23/11/2025 13:17

Why do adults behave like this in the first place?

Blended families are set to become a burden, imo, sooner or later. Usually not on the husband/ex-husband involved.

BettysRoasties · 23/11/2025 13:45

Honestly op. I’d host your children at one of their houses is possible or book a cottage / lodge.

Leave dh and his children to host and cook their Christmas together.

Unicorntearsofgin · 23/11/2025 13:43

I mean their mum died ten years ago and your husband never visits them. Pretty awful parenting from him.

OneMerryJoker · 23/11/2025 13:42

Ponoka7 · 23/11/2025 13:34

Have they got learning difficulties, are they ND etc? Where is their Mother? If its a no, who has raised them to be like this? Having said that, I won't be bullied into doing adult presents and I don't think guests should necessarily pitch in.

No learning difficulties just lazy their mum did everything 4 them, and i mean everything even their homework, they were not taught to do things 4 themselves or respect others

OP posts:
OneMerryJoker · 23/11/2025 13:40

AgnesX · 23/11/2025 13:29

Why can't you go to your 26 year olds. Why does everyone come to yours?

My place is the biggest 2 hold every1

OP posts:
OneMerryJoker · 23/11/2025 13:40

ObsidianTree · 23/11/2025 13:30

Have a semi-dry Xmas. Just have enough drink for the meal. Don't do 3 course. Just 1. Hide the rest of the booze for until they are gone. Assume they will clear off once the booze has run out. Just say cost of living etc.

Buy they token gifts of about £10 each.

Say you are only inviting them Xmas day, not boxing day etc. Then maybe plan a more extravagant meal for boxing day?

Where is their mum?

Their mum died 10yr ago, my husband expects them 2 b invited all xmas and new year, and no limits on food n drink coz its only once a year, if they showed any appreciation or respect for us then I wouldn't have a problem but am just sick of allowing them 2 do this, so I thought if I dont do it this year give them the time to think about their behaviour then mayb next year will b different

OP posts:
Firefly100 · 23/11/2025 13:36

Does the 26yo still live at home? Any chance that child could host (you could cook the meal in advance). If not I would save up and take them out for Xmas meal and leave him and his kids to it.

Ponoka7 · 23/11/2025 13:34

OneMerryJoker · 23/11/2025 13:17

He won't go 2 theirs as its filthy, they have 2 b told to shower b4 they come over! they have never had a job, there isnt money 2 take them out 4 dinner, dh doesn't visit them during the year and they don't visit him so I don't see the big deal excluding them at xmas

Have they got learning difficulties, are they ND etc? Where is their Mother? If its a no, who has raised them to be like this? Having said that, I won't be bullied into doing adult presents and I don't think guests should necessarily pitch in.

ObsidianTree · 23/11/2025 13:30

Have a semi-dry Xmas. Just have enough drink for the meal. Don't do 3 course. Just 1. Hide the rest of the booze for until they are gone. Assume they will clear off once the booze has run out. Just say cost of living etc.

Buy they token gifts of about £10 each.

Say you are only inviting them Xmas day, not boxing day etc. Then maybe plan a more extravagant meal for boxing day?

Where is their mum?

AgnesX · 23/11/2025 13:29

Why can't you go to your 26 year olds. Why does everyone come to yours?

Snowcat4 · 23/11/2025 13:26

They

Snowcat4 · 23/11/2025 13:25

Hey sound dreadful,and so does he
I bet your children don't like any of them

OneMerryJoker · 23/11/2025 13:17

SpinningaCompass · 23/11/2025 13:13

Why not ask him to leave? Who owns the house? Whose name is on the lease or rental agreement?

He won't go 2 theirs as its filthy, they have 2 b told to shower b4 they come over! they have never had a job, there isnt money 2 take them out 4 dinner, dh doesn't visit them during the year and they don't visit him so I don't see the big deal excluding them at xmas

OP posts:
MrsSkylerWhite · 23/11/2025 13:17

Why do adults behave like this in the first place?

SpinningaCompass · 23/11/2025 13:13

OneMerryJoker · 23/11/2025 13:12

Unless every1 wants food poisoning my husband can't cook, I would love 2 leave him and his 2 to get on with it but where do me and mine go, I don't see why we should leave as we lived here long b4 he moved in

Why not ask him to leave? Who owns the house? Whose name is on the lease or rental agreement?

OneMerryJoker · 23/11/2025 13:12

sittingonabeach · 23/11/2025 13:09

You have DH problem. I assume he patented them to be lazy. And also sounds like the apple hasn’t fallen far from the tree as you seem to be the one doing all the work round presents etc. Why doesn’t DH cook?

Unless every1 wants food poisoning my husband can't cook, I would love 2 leave him and his 2 to get on with it but where do me and mine go, I don't see why we should leave as we lived here long b4 he moved in

OP posts:
sittingonabeach · 23/11/2025 13:09

You have DH problem. I assume he patented them to be lazy. And also sounds like the apple hasn’t fallen far from the tree as you seem to be the one doing all the work round presents etc. Why doesn’t DH cook?

Smilesinthesunshine · 23/11/2025 13:08

I would set up a group whatsapp to all that are coming for Christmas. Suggest that we all contribute various items to make the day wonderful.
John case of red
Benjyboo case of white
Sanjay M&S trifle
Delila large box of thorntons

SpinningaCompass · 23/11/2025 13:07

So he's as immature as they are and emotionally abusive (silent treatment).

They ignore you all year until it's time to rock up and be catered to with good food and get handed gifts and get drink to excess. Fuck that.

HE wants them to be invited and let them act like that, he can sort food and drink for them, clean up after them, and fund their gifts by himself.

Helloyellowbluemoon · 23/11/2025 13:06

I can resonate with you. Stay out of it. He must see what you are seeing himself. They have shown themselves for what they are. I once touched on the subject telling him he was being used an atm and didn’t mean anything else to them. He was furious. I can see it now. Sat there with crocodile tears at his funeral. Deep down there only there for show until they receive some inheritance. They collect a couple hundred quid at Christmas and birthday and don’t say another word to him. Empty handed all year round. I was the one buying both of them birthday gifts and paying attention to special occasions. I have stopped completely. Neither reciprocated. So I stopped. The last straw was saying nothing when there sibling was born and neither asked to visit or see him. One of them has a habbit of ringing up demanding money with no please or thankyou. Never heard either of them say please or thankyou in the years I have known them. Haven’t seen or spoke to either in 4 years. That’s how it will stay.

OneMerryJoker · 23/11/2025 13:03

I can't keep the best bits till later hahaha coz they don't leave till early hrs next morning once they r drunk and usually sick

OP posts:
Cosyblankets · 23/11/2025 13:02

OneMerryJoker · 23/11/2025 12:59

I have tried this in previous years, my husband suggested 2 them 2 bring sumthing, and they did, they brought 4 tins of alcohol for themselves! My husband does not cook so i do all cooking and he does cleaning up, but he never asks them 2 help, he knows they r lazy and just accepts it and thinks every1 else should 2

Then you need a specific list to tick off with names on
Sprouts... Jim
Parsnips...Jane
WIne..........Joe