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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to object to my 13-year-old daughter moving in with her dad?

742 replies

Bigglebiggle · 11/06/2026 13:11

Have a DD age 13, for the last 10 years she has lived with me primarily and stayed with dad every other weekend and through the holidays. There has been periods in the past she has said she does not like dads and did not want to go, however I have always encouraged this.

I have been with my partner for 3 years, due to get married next year and ever since the engagement DD has been trying to split us up. Recently she has told her dad and school information that is not true, leading to the welfare officer being involved. She does not like my partner as she feels he is strict on her, however he asks her to do what most 13 year olds do, tidy her room, help with chores etc.

DD has informed us and her school she wants to live with dad, however I know this is just a phase and informed her and her dad this is not going to happen, I dont want my child living away from me. Today I have got a call from the school to say DDs dad has picked her up and taken out a court order, im at a loss of what to do, im heart broken.

AIBU to think he is just being over the top and to go to their his house to demand her back?

OP posts:
MMUmum · 11/06/2026 20:00

Moveoverdarlin · 11/06/2026 17:10

You say you’re heartbroken, are you heartbroken enough to call it off with your live in boyfriend? Guessing not.

How heartbroken will you be when Dd refuses to come to your wedding?

HBLpsy · 11/06/2026 19:59

Did you move your partner in without her being happy about it and comfortable with him? For as long as she is a child this is her home and she has no escape apart from the option she has now chosen. Therefore, if you want her to live there you also need to allow her to be comfortable.

You know better than me whether he is a bad person or not, so I’m not saying do or don’t ditch him. But I do think you need to live separately, have time with your partner if you want but don’t let him live with you - or be alone with her, especially in private - either until she expresses that she is okay with that, or until she is grown. This is for her protection and also for his.

Also, I would be really upset if a man my mother was seeing started telling me off at home, particularly if I hadn’t already built a strong trust with him in his own right. Even if he has a problem with her behaviour, and especially if you are there (which you do need to be from now on), I think it is much better that he goes through you.

NameChangeAgain48 · 11/06/2026 19:59

Your bf shouldn't be parenting your child. You should be doing the telling and disciplining. I can see why she doesnt like him. He's come into her home and he's laying down the law. She got away with things, because you allowed it, and now she doesn't. Where she lives really isn't your choice. At 13 she'll get the choice. If her dad has PR his well within his rights to get a court order. You need to decide how you are going to proceed. You also need to find our exactly what is going on with your kid.

Glowingup · 11/06/2026 19:55

GaIadriel · 11/06/2026 19:46

That's a fair point but at some stage you'll probs want to live with your future husband.

I honestly think this would get different responses with the sexes reversed. A single mum who has got engaged to a guy she loves, over a decade after splitting from the father of her child.

However, the man's teenage daughter doesn't like her dad remarrying and tries to split them up by accusing the woman of stuff she hasn't done and getting the authorities involved.

Would people really be saying "oh yeah, he needs to get rid. Dump her and put his daughter's wishes first"?

Some would probably say that. But I think on here, people are often so sure that the child must be right. My sister was really vile to my stepdad when she was a teen but she feels really bad about it now and she doesn’t know why she did it. I also have a friend whose DD absolutely hates her husband (who is the DD’s biological dad). The DD is horrible and calls him a piece of shit and says her mum should divorce him. He’s a nice man (as was my stepdad). We can’t always listen to teenagers unless we want to end up lonely and miserable.

BudgetBuster · 11/06/2026 19:54

GaIadriel · 11/06/2026 19:46

That's a fair point but at some stage you'll probs want to live with your future husband.

I honestly think this would get different responses with the sexes reversed. A single mum who has got engaged to a guy she loves, over a decade after splitting from the father of her child.

However, the man's teenage daughter doesn't like her dad remarrying and tries to split them up by accusing the woman of stuff she hasn't done and getting the authorities involved.

Would people really be saying "oh yeah, he needs to get rid. Dump her and put his daughter's wishes first"?

It appears this 13 year old has loved with multiple men in the 10 years her parents have been seperated though (If I am understanding the OPs comments correct) so I whilst I agree moving in together eventually should be OK, maybe she's just tired of a revolving door particularly if she and this latest partner don't get along?

Presumably if her father is remarried with additional children it's a long-ish relationship.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 11/06/2026 19:54

throwawayimplantchat · 11/06/2026 13:26

My god if my child was so unhappy living with my partner of 3 years that she wanted to move out, I would be ending the relationship. I’m absolutely baffled that you don’t seem to see that as the natural solution.

I agree completely, @throwawayimplantchat.

Nettie1964 · 11/06/2026 19:53

Why does your DP tell your child what to do? Different if she'd k own him since a baby but not after 3 years. Priorities your chold.

MMUmum · 11/06/2026 19:53

She sounds troubled op, is anybpdy offering her any help to work through her issues?

ThatCyanCat · 11/06/2026 19:53

GaIadriel · 11/06/2026 19:46

That's a fair point but at some stage you'll probs want to live with your future husband.

I honestly think this would get different responses with the sexes reversed. A single mum who has got engaged to a guy she loves, over a decade after splitting from the father of her child.

However, the man's teenage daughter doesn't like her dad remarrying and tries to split them up by accusing the woman of stuff she hasn't done and getting the authorities involved.

Would people really be saying "oh yeah, he needs to get rid. Dump her and put his daughter's wishes first"?

Yes of course they bloody would. Stop with the ridiculous "reverse the sexes" stuff as if it's some kind of reasoned argument. It's not. Even if MN was hugely in favour of men remarrying when it made kids miserable because it loves stepmums so much (LOL, good one), that wouldn't change the fact that it's a terrible idea to force a child to live with an unrelated person who doesn't know their place around them.

CharlieEffie · 11/06/2026 19:49

If you truly believe its just a phase than let her move in with him for a while
Shes actively telling you shes unhappy, she is 13 you can't go round there and demand her back, regardless of what the court order says

GaIadriel · 11/06/2026 19:46

NameChangeMay2026 · 11/06/2026 18:55

But it's not nice for a child to have to share their home with an unrelated adult. While I don't share the common MN view that single mothers should stay single, I don't see why partners have to be moved in. I don't see what's wrong with keeping it as a dating relationship.

That's a fair point but at some stage you'll probs want to live with your future husband.

I honestly think this would get different responses with the sexes reversed. A single mum who has got engaged to a guy she loves, over a decade after splitting from the father of her child.

However, the man's teenage daughter doesn't like her dad remarrying and tries to split them up by accusing the woman of stuff she hasn't done and getting the authorities involved.

Would people really be saying "oh yeah, he needs to get rid. Dump her and put his daughter's wishes first"?

Notabarbie · 11/06/2026 19:43

At this age she can choose who she wants to live with. I think you should have listened to her more carefully when she expressed unhappiness about your forthcoming marriage. She shouldn't be under any obligation to live with someone taking on a parental role when they are not her parent. If she's at the point where she's making disclosures she is clearly very unhappy regardless of their accuracy. I think you've been complacent about her wishes and feelings.

TeamGeriatric · 11/06/2026 19:41

I mean you can't drag her home, by age 13 she has sufficient sway in any legal intervention to be able to decide where she wants to live. I don't think objections from a child to an incoming step-parent are that unusual, I say that as someone who grew up in a blended family and I can clearly remember wanting to stand up during the wedding ceremony and make an objection to the marriage, my Grandma didn't let me. Her raising this as a safeguarding risk at school though is the extreme end of not liking someone. What you don't say is why you are so confident it's jealousy on her part and his approach to discipline, do you really know what he's like with her when you are not present? No-one has ever raised any concerns about his attitude or behaviour? You need to do a deep dive before you decide what to do.

BudgetBuster · 11/06/2026 19:40

Bigglebiggle · 11/06/2026 15:32

All my life she has come first, perhaps too much as ive always done everything for her and always tried to understand her instead of giving consequences for any mis behaviour, because of this she is now acting out at school, stealing and constantly getting into trouble. I love her to bits but my failings as a mother in her early years have now led to her being entitled. This is nothing to do with my other children.

What about your failings as a mother now?

She has no issues with your previous partners, no issues with her stepmother, no issue with siblings but has had an issue with your current partner for at least 3 years. You are lucky that she's even stayed in your home this long if she dislikes him so much.

You go ahead and prioritise yet another man (sounds like there's been quite a few in and out of her relatively short life). Apparently all her life she has come first... except the last 3 years minimum (an entire quarter of her life) where you've put a strange man ahead of her.

I hope.she is happier with her father.

Besafeeatcake · 11/06/2026 19:34

So your DD is fine with your ex’s new wife and child.

She has been fine with your past relationships.

She has repeatedly told you that your fiancé isn’t nice to her.

The natural conclusion is something isn’t okay with the way your new partner is treating your daughter. Stop blaming her for this situation and listen to what she is saying.

I would be setting up cameras.

Lotsofsnacks · 11/06/2026 19:31

When I was a young girl I can’t think of anything that would’ve been worse, then multiple men moving in to live in my house, throughout my childhood. DD is telling u she isn’t happy, and you are not listening!

Wingingit73 · 11/06/2026 19:30

You cannot marry oe contue with a man your child dislikes to this degree. You are not telling the full story.

fivepastmidnight · 11/06/2026 19:29

if she's lived with other men that you've moved in previously without problem it sounds very much like it is this man in particular and you are ignoring what she's saying. Additionally why is your boyfriend even seeing the inside of your daughter's bedroom to know that it's messy and need tidying up? you either try and rebuild your relationship with your daughter whilst she lived with her dad and or put the brakes on getting married. I think you definitely need to listen a lot more closely and take on board what she's saying.

StellaTheCriminalMastermind · 11/06/2026 19:25

ThatCyanCat · 11/06/2026 19:12

I'm always a bit put out tbh when people start going on about how they've always put their kids first. You're supposed to put your kids first. You're supposed to create a safe and secure environment for them. What do you want, a medal? And if you're so selfless and sacrificing, why is it suddenly a problem now? Why can't you just date your boyfriend and not force your child to live with him when he makes her miserable?

Oh god same. Why do they always have to move them in? Money I guess? If my marriage had imploded while my kids were small, it’d have been a cold day in hell before I let some rando bloke become a surrogate dad. Even an (presumed) good one, they’re just too vulnerable. Date away if that’s what you want, but keep the kids far away from it

PinkHairbrushClub · 11/06/2026 19:22

I moved out when my mum insisted on moving in and then marrying a man I couldn’t stand. This is her only way to escape when you aren’t listening. Start listening. It’s taken 25 years to truly repair my relationship with my mum.

Happytap · 11/06/2026 19:20

SooPanda · 11/06/2026 15:37

Not wanting to live with an adult man who makes her unhappy is not “entitled”

This! Don't make her live with him. Choose your daughter over this man. I wish my mum had

PancakeCloud · 11/06/2026 19:16

Prioritise your daughter

OrchardDoor · 11/06/2026 19:15

ThatCyanCat · 11/06/2026 19:08

OP has experienced marriage and living together. And her child had to go along with that too.

When you have a child, that means putting them first and not always doing what you want when you want. If she really can't wait to get married to the guy who orders her child around and argues with her about her, great news, the kid just made it really easy for her. The important thing is experiencing marriage and living together with him, so what's the problem, huh?

Exactly. OP has made her choice. Living with her new strict man comes first.
She doesn't now get to demand her dd comes home to continue being unhappy.

PrueRamsay · 11/06/2026 19:14

Bigglebiggle · 11/06/2026 15:32

All my life she has come first, perhaps too much as ive always done everything for her and always tried to understand her instead of giving consequences for any mis behaviour, because of this she is now acting out at school, stealing and constantly getting into trouble. I love her to bits but my failings as a mother in her early years have now led to her being entitled. This is nothing to do with my other children.

You keep telling yourself that. Doesn’t make it true.

I hope your DD is safe now. You really should be ashamed.

Glowingup · 11/06/2026 19:13

OrchardDoor · 11/06/2026 19:09

It's not just about parent wants, it's about what's best for the children.
The Royals aren't a great example of a functional family.

Idk, Zara and Peter (who had a stepdad) seem pretty down to earth compared to many of them and seem happy and normal people. And while there are horrible exceptions like Andrew, it’s not like they’re Britain's most dysfunctional family by any means.