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AIBU?

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To ban SD from my en suite?!

767 replies

EasterEstherEgg · 02/07/2026 18:48

I’m fuming!!

When I moved in with DH, an en suite was an essential on my list. I have DD12 and he has SS15 and SD17 and I don’t want to share my personal space with teenagers. They’re also not allowed in our bed.

Have come back from a work trip early to find SD getting out of my bath, with my shampoos, body lotions and creams laid out and my bloody dressing gown and slippers on and apparently she often does this when I’m away!

She - and DH and everyone else - are well aware my en suite is off limits. AIBU?

OP posts:
Countedtoten · 06/07/2026 06:45

Also, I think if a post had been by a mum who's husband is the main earner and because of that insists he has his own bathroom no one else is allowed in but is often away from home. She has a son who lives with his dad that comes back with headlice and skin conditions so will let he take a bath in that bathroom and use a bit of nice product to give him a lift. The husband's daughter, who she takes care of while he's away, worries he'll be in trouble and she'd likely cry if she was caught. And he's come home clearly so upset her son has left, I think the replies would be very different.
And the posters saying shes 'slathering' the product on, 'rifles through' ops wardrobe, are just unnecessarily exaggerating the situation, the op hasn't even said that. And saying the stepdaughter who no one knows anything about is a piss taker and sending a massive 'fuck you' message??! Honestly, this thread has become a bit unhinged. And the poster who said she's doing it because the op married 'HER' dad?? He is her dad, like she's his daughter, who presumably he loves unconditionally and wants to take care of while recognising she's a young woman and thinks it's insane his brat of a wife won't let her use her bathroom because she earns more money. Maybe the ops 'piss taker' of a husband is just allowing his daughter to use the grown up bathroom out of love for his daughter.

Countedtoten · 06/07/2026 06:01

A 17 year old that regularly has headlice, athletes foot and ringworm, sounds horribly neglected and if she is not treating the issues herself, vulnerable too.
She's obviously not using much of the product if you haven't noticed until you caught her.
And for her to stormed off back to her mum's, it sounds like you've handled this badly. Just tell her to use her own bathroom and get her a couple of nice products that your daughter can also use, and her own dressing gown and slippers. It sounds like she's enjoying the self care and teenagers are notoriously self centered she just needed the boundaries reaffirming, but if others in the house knew she was doing this and haven't said anything, she's probably taken that as permission, and your own daughter was worried about getting her into trouble and you think she'd cry if she was caught doing the same, shows the kind of parent you are.

InterIgnis · 05/07/2026 23:32

noidea02 · 05/07/2026 20:28

But it’s her home. My family can go anywhere they want in their own house. My kids are, shock horror, allowed in my bedroom. Because they are my family and it’s their house as much as mine. Why do in need private areas in a family home?! My daughter can help herself to whatever she wants of mine!! No sneaking around involved!!

So? It’s not an en suite she’s permitted to use, and OP’s things aren’t hers. She is aware of this. Presumably, she wouldn’t want OP invading her private space and using her things either.

An entirely communal home lacking any concept of private space or property may be your ideal, but personally I find it to be about as appealing as cholera.

HRTQueen · 05/07/2026 23:21

I really could not get upset about this

we use my dads en-suite because it has a great shower his wife probably doesn’t like it but its a family house

ds uses my shampoos and creams I have a moan he uses too much but I don’t care that he uses them

Flamingojune · 05/07/2026 23:18

SpaceRaccoon · 05/07/2026 21:14

Slathering a 70 quid face cream all over your legs is a massive fuck you.

If so, why has the relationship broken down to this extent

Monty36 · 05/07/2026 22:50

godmum56 · 05/07/2026 20:45

she is 17 not 12

My mistake .

Ilovelurchers · 05/07/2026 22:45

SpaceRaccoon · 05/07/2026 21:25

I think she's just fed up of working her arse off and being treated like shit, understandably.
Anyway the step kids will soon be enjoying life without her, her bank account and their large home.

Do you honestly think it's impossible to imagine that some step kids would, indeed, prefer to live with just their parent and siblings, even if that meant a smaller house and a less lavish lifestyle?

Neither I nor my daughter's dad cohabit with another adult, and she'd definitely like to keep it that way, even if the alternative came with a bigger house and more money. Not all kids are driven solely by materialism .....

ThatCyanCat · 05/07/2026 22:11

Grendel7 · 05/07/2026 21:38

Even when there were other baths she could use? Nah,this is a deliberate finger to the woman who married HER dad. Simple

Honestly I think it's far more likely she just really likes the bathroom and the products she can't afford and feeling luxurious. Doesn't make it ok but I really don't think there's this level of malice and spite behind it.

OP says the father/husband is a piss taker too, so she's probably not being guided very well, and OP chose the guy.

Woodfiresareamazing2 · 05/07/2026 21:55

FatEndoftheWedge · 05/07/2026 21:12

Or maybe she just wants to make herself feel special ? She feels really grown up acting like the lady of the house ??

I say this as someone who dipped into a much older sisters stuff ? It certainly wasnt out of spite

I do think there's quite a difference between "dipping into" your older sister's things, and your stepmother's.
She knows she's not allowed in the main bedroom or en suite - I do think it's most likely a FU SM I'll do what I like when you're not there. Including using your very expensive Chanel facecream on my legs.

I would be absolutely fuming.

GardenAnarchist · 05/07/2026 21:46

@SurelyNotShirley My goodness, is this what Being Kind is supposed to look like?

AplineDaisies · 05/07/2026 21:43

OP, I had a friend who went through similar. The dad was too soft on his teenage dd because he felt guilty. He wouldn't allow my friend ( the step mum) to tell off his dd and nor did he. This is when she would try on my friend's clothes and rip them.

As an adult , the relationship grew worse as no boundaries were put in place. I can't even begin to tell you how bad things are now. The daughter trying to get the house my friend lives in as her dad has passed away.
Please be firm and follow through and get your dh on board.

Grendel7 · 05/07/2026 21:38

Member968405 · 02/07/2026 19:56

I feel sad for your SD. She thought you were away and was having a bit of relaxing time to herself. I also don’t think you’d be so angry if she was your biological daughter. I do understand that it could be irritating, but in the long term I think you’ll regret not being kinder.

Even when there were other baths she could use? Nah,this is a deliberate finger to the woman who married HER dad. Simple

BeenzManeenz · 05/07/2026 21:30

EasterEstherEgg · 02/07/2026 23:59

To be honest this is the last straw. Both SC and DH treat our house like a dosshouse and I’m tired of coming home late after working hard to find a mess.

I think I’m done.

DD and I will be much happier living separately.

Sounds like the creams and using the bathroom are not the real issues here. Is there a long time pattern of disrespect from your DH and SC? Because I think context would have been useful if this wasn't a one off. And totally understandable that you're fuming that people are taking the piss out of you.

SpaceRaccoon · 05/07/2026 21:25

Justthethingsthatyoudointhisgarden · 05/07/2026 21:17

OP has referred to her step kids as pigs and has nothing positive to say about them. She very obviously doesn't view them as family or even like them. She deserves a massive fuck you.

I think she's just fed up of working her arse off and being treated like shit, understandably.
Anyway the step kids will soon be enjoying life without her, her bank account and their large home.

Justthethingsthatyoudointhisgarden · 05/07/2026 21:17

SpaceRaccoon · 05/07/2026 21:14

Slathering a 70 quid face cream all over your legs is a massive fuck you.

OP has referred to her step kids as pigs and has nothing positive to say about them. She very obviously doesn't view them as family or even like them. She deserves a massive fuck you.

SpaceRaccoon · 05/07/2026 21:14

FatEndoftheWedge · 05/07/2026 21:12

Or maybe she just wants to make herself feel special ? She feels really grown up acting like the lady of the house ??

I say this as someone who dipped into a much older sisters stuff ? It certainly wasnt out of spite

Slathering a 70 quid face cream all over your legs is a massive fuck you.

FatEndoftheWedge · 05/07/2026 21:12

Woodfiresareamazing2 · 03/07/2026 22:13

I'd be furious too, @EasterEstherEgg . It definitely seems like a FU from her to you - she's not only used your en suite and your expensive products, she's worn your dressing gown and slippers too!

I also do not believe that your DH didn't know what she was doing.
He said he knew she went in your bedroom sometimes- what did he think she was doing in there?! A place she is absolutely not supposed to be!
So he doesn't respect your boundaries either.

I would be checking to see if there's any nice things missing - clothes, jewellery, cosmetics, perfume etc...

Good luck with whatever you decide going forward.
In a strange way, catching her like that has maybe done you a favour, if it's the catalyst for you taking action to make a happier life for you and your DD.

Or maybe she just wants to make herself feel special ? She feels really grown up acting like the lady of the house ??

I say this as someone who dipped into a much older sisters stuff ? It certainly wasnt out of spite

SurelyNotShirley · 05/07/2026 21:09

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familyicons · 05/07/2026 20:56

So your husband lets his kids live in a house that's unsanitary? Nice

Justthethingsthatyoudointhisgarden · 05/07/2026 20:51

Fuck me, aren't they all lucky to have you in their lives.

Liberancho · 05/07/2026 20:48

Kez145 · 05/07/2026 18:57

This seems to be an overreaction. I have a household of seven (two daughters and three stepdaughters) and one bathroom. How I’d love to have such worries in life. It also seems to be an awful way to discuss your step child and completely disproportionate. Sure to be irritated is one thing but I don’t think it warrants this level of carry on.

I cannot even imagine what it's like for 7 people having access to only one bathroom within their home. It probably accounts for why you made this post, with your attempts to scoff at the OP's 'worries in life'.

Doesn't make them any less real though. The OP has every right to her privacy and space being respected and that her things aren't used by others. She is a person in her own right, not just the provider for a pretty ineffective H and his kids.

godmum56 · 05/07/2026 20:47

FatEndoftheWedge · 05/07/2026 19:25

This. This is very true and so sweet.
Re the expense unless she's working down a mine for 2.99 a week yes she may know it's expensive but not it's true worth !!
How can she !!

This is so sad and I'm sorry but I don't like this blended family stuff.

how can she? because she is 17 and has access to shopping online

godmum56 · 05/07/2026 20:45

Monty36 · 05/07/2026 18:56

She is old enough to know this is your bathroom. And your face creams etc are yours and not hers. She is twelve. But a difficult age where she may welcome and actually need a mother’s guidance and direction.
Of course she has her own mother. Who we do not know how adequately she is in providing such guidance and direction.
Annoying as it is I would try not to be angry at her. But perhaps she wants to have some fancy creams etc of her own. Not at your price bracket, but something to start off with.

she is 17 not 12

ThreadGuardDog · 05/07/2026 20:43

noidea02 · 05/07/2026 20:28

But it’s her home. My family can go anywhere they want in their own house. My kids are, shock horror, allowed in my bedroom. Because they are my family and it’s their house as much as mine. Why do in need private areas in a family home?! My daughter can help herself to whatever she wants of mine!! No sneaking around involved!!

And that’s the beauty of things - we’re all different. The point is that OP doesn’t want anyone in there. She’s entitled to her feelings, and her privacy - the problem here is that SD has no respect for that.

ThreadGuardDog · 05/07/2026 20:41

HarshbutTrue2 · 05/07/2026 20:36

Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery. She obviously admires her stepmother and wants to be like her. If she comes from a home with head lice, OP home probably seems the height of luxury.

Forget the stepdaughter stuff. I would be annoyed with a daughter using my chanel face cream on her legs. However, a daughter probably wouldn't. They are brought up with boundaries, they are instilled from a very early age. Stepdaughter has been brought up differently. She has just walked into a luxurious home with luxurious toiletries and fancies her chances. I doubt her mum has got nice clothes, en suite and posh toiletries.

It needs to stop. She needs to be told. Again. Husband needs to step up. Does she live with you or shared with her mother? I'd be inclined to say that she abides by your rules or goes to live with her mother. However, first of all, I would ban her from en suite and buy her some nice toiletries of her own. Not Chanel. Ffs everyone knows that chanel is 'special '.

Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery. She obviously admires her stepmother and wants to be like her.

She’s 17. She’s been told in no uncertain terms to stay out of OP’s bedroom. She ignores it and waits until OP is away and then uses her en-suite, her expensive face cream to moisturise her legs, and rifles through her wardrobe. Sorry, not flattering at all. Just nasty.