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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to feel stuck managing conflict between my two daughters with one really pushing buttons

170 replies

Krispycrem · 25/09/2026 08:20

To really be stuck as to what to do with my two DDs

I have 2 DDs , one neurodivergent 18, one not,16.

DD18 was a dream up to puberty but we’ve had a hard 5 years. We’ve got her assessments, help, moved schools etc

Since aged 11, she’s basically ignored DD2 and they don’t have a relationship. DD2 has long given up trying and as DD1 is highly argumentative , she’s not too keen on doing things with her. Sharing a room on holidays is fraught. DD1 is prone to meltdowns and twice DD2 has borne the brunt of her sister saying she wants to die etc and she is just wary of her now.

DD1 can be quite vicious to me, particularly around any perceived slight and I mostly try and ignore but sometimes I have to draw the line.

What’s become clear is that she has developed this narrative in her mind that DD2 is the golden child and we all judge DD1 etc etc

Thats not the case, DD2 is easier going so there are less arguments but DD1 gets days out, trips away, time etc all with both myself and DH. She just argues non stop and DD2 doesn’t. We ignore as much of the arguments as we can but it’s just been non stop difficult for many years with glimmers of the child she used to be. I think she is improving but it’s a slow process

Im not sure I can do much to address this , I’ve tried reasoning, examples etc but nothing works.

For example- Last night there was a total screaming meltdown because she had lost about 6 sets of airpods (all somewhere in the house , just not bothered to actually match them) and when I pointed out she might try and actually find them and still gave her a pair of my wired ones, she then continued to tell me how awful I was etc, even after I went and found her a pair.

I took the wired ones off her and said fine if you can’t be civil you can’t have them but I was called abusive because I took her earphones she needs to wind down ( they are mine)

She then came into my bedroom, stood there shouting, woke the house up and called her sister names (in DD1s defence her sister did say she didn’t want her at something earlier in the day so she was hurt)

DD1s behaviour is bad, DD2 just doesn’t want anything to do with her sister and I am worn out and sad that it’s come to this. I worry that I am playing a part in this chasm between them but I can see why DD2 is now wary. DD1 can turn, ignore etc at any time

What can I do ?

OP posts:
RudePhthaloDalmadoodle · 25/09/2026 09:00

Has DD1 seen a therapist, been screened for/diagnosed with any kind of MH issues? What happened after her suicide threats, for example? You've said she's ND and that typically presents some challenges, but it doesn't explain all of her poor behaviour.

If I were DD2 I don't think I'd want much to do with DD1 either. At 16, DD2 doesn't have (m)any options for getting away from DD1's terrible behaviour, and that's unfair to her. I wouldn't expect a 16yo to just accept being woken up at night by tantrums and having someone in my household lash out viciously on a regular basis, knowing she just has to live with it for next two years at a minimum.

Krispycrem · 25/09/2026 09:00

Catza · 25/09/2026 08:54

As a ND myself, I profoundly disagree with this. ND does not give us the right to behave like arseholes. There won't always be a mum to tell our work colleagues, healthcare professionals or delivery drivers not to antagonise us. We have to learn coping with the world and if there is one thing our parents can do is to teach us emotional regulation, firm boundaries and how to develop and maintain relationships. I am obviously talking about higher functioning people with ND who absolutely have the capacity to learn these skills.
So there absolutely needs to be compassion but not at the expense of other children in the family who also deserve a happy childhood.

This is my instinct @Catza I know it’s prudent to let some things go, but she needs to be a person in the world and is very capable of this

OP posts:
Krispycrem · 25/09/2026 08:56

Stompythedinosaur · 25/09/2026 08:44

It does seem quite clear that you prefer your younger dd, so I'm not surprised that's coming across to your eldest, who likely doesn't know how to cope with it.

I don't think your dds are obliged to get along, only to be civil to each other.

I think you need to be actively trying to improve your relationship with your eldest. Can you do more 1:1? Find ways to enjoy your relationship again?

Honestly, I do more with DD1. She is more likely to come for a coffee with me, do the shopping with me and I’ve taken her on solo trips to a city to see her favourite sport , to London on an city break etc. I am very mindful that she needs attention so I make it my business to give her as much as possible. It’s not a case of preferring one, I genuinely love them both equally, but if one is constantly arguing with you, it’s difficult to have the same relationship with her as you do with the one who isn’t arguing.

This genuinely isn’t a case of one child feeling unloved because of a parent actions. She undoubtedly feels like she’s not enough but I really don’t think that we’ve done anything particular to cause that. We try so hard to emphasise the positive, promote things that make her feel good. But also have to do a loss of work with her around organisation and fostering independence and she can take this as criticism. The alternative is to do nothing at all and hope her executive functioning develops at some point but it’s risky..

So I suppose in a long way, I’m trying to say DD 1 gets a lot of time and attention we make interactions as positive as we can but her tendency towards conflict and the fact that we need to help her develop these skills means that there are quite a lot of difficult interactions amongst this

OP posts:
Catza · 25/09/2026 08:54

DebbieSavage · 25/09/2026 08:44

Being neurodiverse is incredibly hard in a world that is not set up for our comfort. You should sit your other daughter down and in no uncertain terms that she is lucky to be neurotypical and not to antagonise her sister in any way. Her life will be hard enough as it is.

You have my sympathies. Please don't let your neurodiverse daughter down.

As a ND myself, I profoundly disagree with this. ND does not give us the right to behave like arseholes. There won't always be a mum to tell our work colleagues, healthcare professionals or delivery drivers not to antagonise us. We have to learn coping with the world and if there is one thing our parents can do is to teach us emotional regulation, firm boundaries and how to develop and maintain relationships. I am obviously talking about higher functioning people with ND who absolutely have the capacity to learn these skills.
So there absolutely needs to be compassion but not at the expense of other children in the family who also deserve a happy childhood.

something2say · 25/09/2026 08:46

I would be much firmer on DD1 and work hard to minimise the effect her behaviour is having on the household and the family. Your soft soap approach, where there are no real consequences, is teaching her that this is OK, and I bet she is crying out for some hard boundaries. Be prepared for push back but this has to change.

DebbieSavage · 25/09/2026 08:44

Being neurodiverse is incredibly hard in a world that is not set up for our comfort. You should sit your other daughter down and in no uncertain terms that she is lucky to be neurotypical and not to antagonise her sister in any way. Her life will be hard enough as it is.

You have my sympathies. Please don't let your neurodiverse daughter down.

Stompythedinosaur · 25/09/2026 08:44

It does seem quite clear that you prefer your younger dd, so I'm not surprised that's coming across to your eldest, who likely doesn't know how to cope with it.

I don't think your dds are obliged to get along, only to be civil to each other.

I think you need to be actively trying to improve your relationship with your eldest. Can you do more 1:1? Find ways to enjoy your relationship again?

Krispycrem · 25/09/2026 08:41

Bellesbest · 25/09/2026 08:33

Ok so then your priority need to be your 18 year old adult daughter who seems to have an uncontrollable temper and quite frankly doesn’t seem remotely capable of being independent on the basis of what you describe

She absolutely is our priority, hence interventions , changing schools etc

OP posts:
Krispycrem · 25/09/2026 08:40

Bellesbest · 25/09/2026 08:32

How on earth is this 18 year old getting on? College? Uni?

She’s in her final year of school and managing , but with support. We are doing her best trying to help her get to the point where she can be ok on her own

OP posts:
Bellesbest · 25/09/2026 08:33

Krispycrem · 25/09/2026 08:31

DD1 ignored for years and now wants to engage (on her terms) DD2 just doesn’t want anything to do with her sister now

Ok so then your priority need to be your 18 year old adult daughter who seems to have an uncontrollable temper and quite frankly doesn’t seem remotely capable of being independent on the basis of what you describe

Bellesbest · 25/09/2026 08:32

Krispycrem · 25/09/2026 08:31

Both students

How on earth is this 18 year old getting on? College? Uni?

MeowDoku · 25/09/2026 08:32

Bellesbest · 25/09/2026 08:22

Both are behaving abysmally for 6 year olds let alone women

I don’t know what to suggest… they sound bored either way too much time on their hands. Are they students? Working?

What has the second daughter done wrong? Sounds like she's had at least 5 years of awful and abusive behaviour by the eldest so she's just detached. Don't teach DD2 that she has to accept that treatment she doesn't. I have a ND husband and child, yes it gives them challenges sometimes significant ones, that doesn't mean they can't treat others how they please and expect them to accept it

Krispycrem · 25/09/2026 08:31

Bellesbest · 25/09/2026 08:30

It’s strange because on the one hand the I says DD1 ignores her
but then on the other she says DD2 wants nothing to do with her

either way - this wouldn’t be my concern

DD1 ignored for years and now wants to engage (on her terms) DD2 just doesn’t want anything to do with her sister now

OP posts:
Krispycrem · 25/09/2026 08:31

Bellesbest · 25/09/2026 08:22

Both are behaving abysmally for 6 year olds let alone women

I don’t know what to suggest… they sound bored either way too much time on their hands. Are they students? Working?

Both students

OP posts:
Bellesbest · 25/09/2026 08:30

TruffleSlinky · 25/09/2026 08:29

Why is DD2 behaving abysmally?

It’s strange because on the one hand the I says DD1 ignores her
but then on the other she says DD2 wants nothing to do with her

either way - this wouldn’t be my concern

Abstaining · 25/09/2026 08:30

What’s the 18 yo’s plan? Is she off to Uni anytime soon? The space would do them both good.

Bellesbest · 25/09/2026 08:29

My focus wouldn’t be on my daughters getting on - that’s a lost cause.

my focus would be on fact my 18 year seems utterly unprepared for life and is likely unemployable if she behaves like this

TruffleSlinky · 25/09/2026 08:29

Bellesbest · 25/09/2026 08:22

Both are behaving abysmally for 6 year olds let alone women

I don’t know what to suggest… they sound bored either way too much time on their hands. Are they students? Working?

Why is DD2 behaving abysmally?

TruffleSlinky · 25/09/2026 08:28

Sometimes siblings don't get on. Maybe it would be easier just to accept this and stop hoping it might get better? I don't think you're the reason for the 'chasm' between them. Don't worry about their relationship with each other, just focus on your own separate relationships with both of them.

Bellesbest · 25/09/2026 08:22

Both are behaving abysmally for 6 year olds let alone women

I don’t know what to suggest… they sound bored either way too much time on their hands. Are they students? Working?

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