Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to hate being a step mum?

237 replies

PurpleSalem · 04/05/2026 11:24

There is so much context to this story but here is a very brief overview!!

I have been with my partner for over three years… he has a 6 & 8 year old I have a 5 soon to be 6 year old.

It’s never been plain sailing let me tell you that!! The ex on his side has done her very best to poison his kids against me to the point where the 8 year old didn’t see her dad for months.

Obviously she takes everything her mum says as gospel (totally understand that) but it’s just soooo hard to bite my tongue and live with it.

Feel like I’m walking on eggshells all the time.. like I’m not welcome and I’m just basically a frigging slave to the kids who don’t even like me!!!

Anyway, yesterday I bit back.. and i feel so guilty as I usually just keep it inside. After listening to her argue and be nasty to everyone all weekend I just lost it. She was telling me how I couldn’t tell her off as I’m not her mum blah blah to which I snapped ‘if I’m not your mum and you don’t want me to look after you.. cook your own food and was your damn clothes then!!!!’

The 8 year old is so clingy with her dad, talks to me like absolute shite and then goes back to her mum to say ‘oh SM has done this said this etc…’ and it all turns out to be lies!!

Her mum obviously then jumps on any form of problem pasting it all over social media/ tik tok etc slagging me off.

Sigh, sorry to rant.. just at my wits end :(

OP posts:
Northermcharn · 04/05/2026 17:55

HobGobblynne · 04/05/2026 17:24

There's always a theme with new partners discussing old ones isn't there.
Ex is invariably a drug user, spends no money on the children, multiple partners, neglectful and/or abusive parenting, all while receiving disgusting amounts of child maintenance...and yet NRP and new partner seemingly perfectly happy to leave them in the care of that person for the majority of the week...

YES. It always reminds me of when someone has a new boyfriend, and new bf tells us his ex is crazy / money grabbing etc. Or when a male colleague splits up with his wife, she's always crazy and money grabbing. Always. Men are so predictable.

CruCru · 04/05/2026 17:55

WhatHappenedToYourFurnitureCuz · 04/05/2026 11:42

I have no sympathy for you at all. These poor children shouldn't have to live with some woman they aren't related to and who shouts at them for having natural feelings. Their pathetic father shouldn't have put them in this situation either.

Do everyone a favour and move out.

I feel quite sorry for the OP. There is a pretty good chance that the partner moved in with her and her child rather than the other way around. And goodness knows I have snapped at my own children.

Honestly? I wonder if the man saw the OP coming. No one falls in love as quickly as a man who could really do with somewhere decent to live and some help with feeding and parenting his children.

It may be that the OP isn’t ready to split up with this man. I would suggest that she makes herself and her child absent over the next four or five weekends that the partner’s children are coming to stay. Let him take the load for a while.

Leopardspota · 04/05/2026 17:39

sunflowersandsunsets · 04/05/2026 13:12

It's on OP too. She's a grown adult who needs to control her temper.

Oh yes, very true!

jacks11 · 04/05/2026 17:27

YABU overall.

YANBU to find being a stepmother hard, and it is upsetting when you are trying but not getting anything positive back. YABU about the rest.

Ultimately, you and your DP chose to be together. Neither set of DC chose the step-parent, or the situation as a whole. They have had the step-parent thrust upon them, regardless of their feelings or wishes. They are either living with an adult they may or may not feel happy, settled or emotionally safe around (irrespective of how you feel that you should be viewed by them), or are mere guests in their parents home when they “visit”. That goes for your children, as well as your stepchildren. It is unsurprising to me that many children don’t react well, for a whole variety of reasons- doesn’t mean that truly bad behaviour does not need tackled, because of course it does, but that has to be done with understanding and empathy.

Add in parents who are at loggerheads (regardless of who you believe to be at fault for that situation), and at least one parent who stirs things up by being critical of the other child parent and is manipulating a small child into thinking badly of them and their step-parent. And, then you say mum smokes weed in front of her children and does not work- suggesting at least a strong possibility of a somewhat chaotic life at home with her mum. I am absolutely unsurprised, given all of that, that you have a confused, unsettled and probably very insecure and unhappy little girl. Imagine how it feels being her, right now! Perhaps, use that to temper you irritation.

A child should not be grateful for having their basic needs met- things like having meals made or clothes washed. The adults they live with absolutely are responsible for meeting those needs, and that is not dependent on their behaviour being satisfactory. You were highly unreasonable to react as you did, and say what you did. I’m not saying I don’t understand why you might be frustrated/fed up/ annoyed/upset that your partners children have not warmed to you and don’t treat you particularly nicely- I do, and none of us are perfect. But, all you’ve done is confirm all the things her mum has been saying about you are true.

It might not be your responsibility directly, but if your partner is leaving you to pick up extra work for his DC, and you are resentful of this (which is justifiable), then you need to address that with your partner, not take out your frustration on a little girl. Even one who is not behaving perfectly. How would you feel if your DP reacted to one of your children they way you blew up at your step-daughter?

If you, as an adult, cannot control your temper when provoked, perhaps you need to give your DD a bit of Grace too? She is, according to you, being manipulated by her mother. You need to tackle behaviour with your DP, and work together to improve things.

incidentally, if their mother is as bad as you are making out- openly using illegal substances in front of young children, parental alienation (and lord knows what else)- why has your partner not tried to get full custody or things out in place to protect his children?

HobGobblynne · 04/05/2026 17:24

OneShyQuail · 04/05/2026 17:21

How often do your DPs children stay with you?

If shes such an unfit mother smoking weed around them id hope he has them a lot and is fighting for all the time!!!

There's always a theme with new partners discussing old ones isn't there.
Ex is invariably a drug user, spends no money on the children, multiple partners, neglectful and/or abusive parenting, all while receiving disgusting amounts of child maintenance...and yet NRP and new partner seemingly perfectly happy to leave them in the care of that person for the majority of the week...

Salyexley · 04/05/2026 17:22

If you kick off at the child you are playing into your stepdaughter's and ex wife's hands, if you child kicks off just keep your cool

OneShyQuail · 04/05/2026 17:21

PurpleSalem · 04/05/2026 12:02

Thanks for all the responses it’s genuinely interesting so see all points of view!!

I think I thought I would take to being a step parent naturally but maybe I just haven’t. Also had visions of us bonding a lot more than we have.

For reference.. me and DP both work full time and do 50/50 around house. Bio mum hasn’t worked a day in her life, is a benefit cheat & smokes weed around them.

How often do your DPs children stay with you?

If shes such an unfit mother smoking weed around them id hope he has them a lot and is fighting for all the time!!!

supersop60 · 04/05/2026 17:18

sunflowersandsunsets · 04/05/2026 15:55

It's a valid question though. This is what happens when you force a bunch of strangers to live in the same home to satisfy the sexual urges of the grown ups.

There’s no point asking it now.

UnhappyHobbit · 04/05/2026 17:14

Charlenedickens · 04/05/2026 17:05

In a responsible adult way. Not a mean girl bully way

I don’t think you can class someone losing their temper for the first time as a bully”.

GoldMoon · 04/05/2026 17:08

I never really had much to do with my 15 year old sd ( well she wasnt an actual one because I stayed as a dp for quite a few years before we married )
Now she is an adult with her own dc we are in quite a bit more contact and probably more So than her dad .

Charlenedickens · 04/05/2026 17:05

UnhappyHobbit · 04/05/2026 17:01

My point is, if he’s expected to domestically help and parent this step daughter, then she’s perfectly entitled to point out her bad behaviour.

In a responsible adult way. Not a mean girl bully way

Charlenedickens · 04/05/2026 17:04

You need to end thr relationship or he does, no one needs a step,parent who dislikes them and resents them. Thr children come first. Find a man with no kids.

UnhappyHobbit · 04/05/2026 17:01

loislovesstewie · 04/05/2026 14:15

OP says things are shared 50/50. I'd say that's fairly equal.

Edited

My point is, if he’s expected to domestically help and parent this step daughter, then she’s perfectly entitled to point out her bad behaviour.

Boomer55 · 04/05/2026 16:56

HobGobblynne · 04/05/2026 11:42

I think bursting out at an 8 yo is unreasonable.

But I don’t think you feeling how you do is unreasonable.

You need to tell your “partner” that he will be doing the day to day care for his children, not you. And perhaps for a little while make yourself scarce when they’re around.

This. Let your husband deal with his kids. Do something nice with yours.

AcrossthePond55 · 04/05/2026 16:45

@PurpleSalem

YABU and YANBU at the same time. YANBU to not like the way things are vs the way you'd like them, but YABU to stay be unhappy. The problem is, there is nothing you can do to change things. Your DP would need to do that and it sounds as if he doesn't feel things need to change. And the ex is beyond either of your control. Now, I'm not saying whether you're right or wrong in wanting things to change, just that you aren't going to be able to effectuate it.

Perhaps you're not cut out to be a step-mum and there's nothing wrong with that! I knew it from my early 20s and as a result I never dated men with children. It wouldn't have been fair to me, to him, or to them.

The thing is, you aren't going to change the ex, the DSC, or your partner. So your choice is to live in unhappiness in a chaotic home (which will affect your own child) or to move out or ask him to leave if it's your home. If he is willing to live apart but continue the relationship without involving his children or trying to involve them again in a few years when they're older, fine. But if he isn't, that's fine too because it's quite possible that he was looking for a 'nanny with a fanny' and if not, chances are nothing is going to change as far as the ex and his DC go.

SpringPuppie · 04/05/2026 16:33

I don’t think you are unreasonable to not enjoy being a step mum, it can be pretty thankless.
I have a 16 year old stepdaughter who has been in my life since age 5, I remember around age 9-11, she became quite snappy/unwelcoming to me. I dealt with it by backing off.. After all she wasn’t there to see me she was there to see her dad.
What it really boiled down to was a little girl who wanted her mum and dad together, it’s not personal and we get on great now… I think helped by the fact her mum has always been lovely to me and encouraged a relationship.
Your problem is your dealing with two crap parents and these kids are stuck in the middle. Why did your boyfriend have a second child with a woman who smokes drugs, he should be protecting his children but instead he’s walked away and you have stepped in to this mess, if I where you I’d end things with him.

10namechangeslater · 04/05/2026 16:33

Get out and prioritise your own child or live to regret it.

Walig54 · 04/05/2026 16:30

It's a Daddy doesn't do his job properly scenario. It's His problem, what is he doing? Just because you are female doesn't mean you do all the parenting when together.

You and your life are worth far more than this. Leave and be happy.

Decacaffeinatednow · 04/05/2026 16:22

@Northermcharn
’mangled’ may be more apt.

WildLeader · 04/05/2026 16:22

@PurpleSalem either end this relationship or only see him when he hasn’t got his kids

he should be doing the work for them, not you.

i don’t blame you at all. This is mostly of the exes making and will only get worse!

the ex is the reason you end this. The dp is the second reason because he’s not dealing with this and nipping it in the bud.

I’ve got a dp with a formerly combative ex, it’s ruined the relationship I had with his youngest daughter. Luckily all adults now so i can leave DP to it when he’s seeing her. She may come around in time. Who knows.

but you’re in the deepest of weeds

walk away.

Flamingojune · 04/05/2026 16:20

I would think twice about dating a man with such young kids. In many cases it doesnt say much for his character

abracadabra1980 · 04/05/2026 16:12

Yet another example of a toxic, 'blended' attempt at a family. FGS put the feelings of the very young children first, and your own needs second.

Sartre · 04/05/2026 16:08

Flamingojune · 04/05/2026 11:37

Why did you get into a relationship with a man with a 3 yr and 5 year old?

This basically… why? I never understood it. People have the choice to date men without children yet choose dads and whinge about the horrors of being a stepparent. It sounds miserable but like it always has been, yet you stuck around and even moved in with him. Why?

GreenCaterpillarOnALeaf · 04/05/2026 16:02

I am not a step parent but I’ve had step parents for a lot of my life. I know I was horrible to my step mum sometimes when I was 8. My mum never even slagged her off, my mum and her actually get on okay. Looking back I don’t know how she didn’t snap.

I do think you should say sorry to the child. I’ve snapped at my own kids btw, people on mumsnet act like they’ve never snapped at their kids but we all have. The important thing is that you apologise and explain why you did it “when you say hurtful things like that it makes me feel like you don’t appreciate all the things I do and how much effort me and your dad put into you having a good time” ect.

Also… your husband needs to step up and do some housework to take care of his children. As other posters have said.

WhatNextImScared · 04/05/2026 16:01

Your frustration is not at the child, it is at your partner because he is a dad who is willing to pass his children from one women to another instead of parenting them himself.

If it was me I’d want to focus solely on my own DC and keep them away from any complex situation like this.

Being a mum is hard enough. You dont have to be a step parent.