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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Am i expecting too much??

463 replies

LittleSugaPlum · 16/09/2012 15:05

DH has his two children round every sat for the day.

One boy aged 10, one girl aged 8.

Im getting really irritated with them not flushing the toilet when they have finished, i have one upstairs and one downstairs. Everytime they come, both toilets have never been flushed by them.

They dont use toilet paper either. Yesterday i was out all day, came home around 6ish, didnt go upstairs until 11pm.

Went to use the upstairs loo before bed, the bathroom door was shut - which is unusual.

I opened it and the stench knocked me sick!! I was retching like mad.

The toilet was full of shit, no toilet paper in toilet, it took 4 flushes to get rid of it.

The smell in the bathroom was awful, i couldnt use the toilet.

DH tells me it was the 10year old that had been playing upstairs, the younger one hadnt been upstairs.

AIBU in thinking that at 8 and 10 years old children should be able to wipe their backside and flush the toilet???

Ive never known them to flush the toilet.

The 8 year old took her shoes off in the middle of the kitchen doorway yesterday and walked off into the living room and left them there.

I immediatley shouted her back and said "Excuse me, do those shoes belong there? Someone is going to break their neck on them!"

AIBU thinking that all this is disrespectful to our house?

Im sick to death of getting on their backs about stuff, it really irritates me, or is it normal for children of this age to not flush toilets, put shoes were they belong etc??

When i mention it to DH, he just shrugs and says its because they arent taught to do these things on a daily basis at their mums.

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 16/09/2012 15:27

YANBU about the toilet thing

However, you and/or your DH will have to spell it out to them.

Keep checking the loos and making sure they're flushed...or introduce a repercussion so it hits home.

You are their Step Mother so you do get a say in your home.

MerryCosIWonaGold · 16/09/2012 15:27

ps. do you have any kids sugarplum?

charlottehere · 16/09/2012 15:28

My nearly 8 year old never rarley flushes, its not for lack of nagging on my part! She is always in a hurry so can't be bothered. Hmm

I would boak as well at someones elses child's shit left for hours in the toilet. Prehaps keep reminding them or checking that they have done it. PITA.

The shoes thing, over reaction me thinks. But then again i am messy and leave shoes in middle of floor.

TheOriginalNutcracker · 16/09/2012 15:29

It must be quite annoying, but maybe there is a reason for it.

Ds (9), sometimes doesn't flush because he is scared of blocking up the loo.

LittleSugaPlum · 16/09/2012 15:29

The kids get £5 pocket money each. And a pound is taken off when they have to be repeatdly asked to do something, why they lie to us, constant answering back etc

And every time they come at least £2 is taken off each child, sometimes more for any of the above things

If we did it with the toilet flushing, they would never have any pocket money!

One pound is taken off for each incident. We never take 2 or 3 pound off for one incident, its one pound for each thing

OP posts:
CurlyhairedAssassin · 16/09/2012 15:29

I do not believe for one minute that a 10 and 8 yr old would not use toilet paper after having a poo so from what u have said it sounds like they probably flushed but your flush isn't efficient and didn't get rid of the poo itself. Happens in my parents' house but I as an adult know to flush repeaedly till everything has gone - my kids don't. It's not their fault though, it's the toilet's!

charlottehere · 16/09/2012 15:31

Sorry little but you sound a bit scarey.

WorraLiberty · 16/09/2012 15:31

How long have you been their Step Mother, OP?

AlwaysHoldingOnToStars · 16/09/2012 15:32

Sounds like normal kid behaviour to me unfortunately! Apart from the wiping bum issue, mine all manage that. I have to constantly remind them to flush the toilet though, and my youngest is scared of flushes do I have to follow him in other toilets to do it for him, I wouldn't leave it.

Shoes, bags, coats also get dumped wherever they are standing so I have to tell them to put them in their proper place.

I think you just have to keep reminding them, so if you know they've been to the toilet ask them if they've flushed, and keep reminding them where to put their shoes. They might get it one day!

valiumredhead · 16/09/2012 15:32

You do sound scary!!!

CurlyhairedAssassin · 16/09/2012 15:32

Oh and it says a lot that you say "dh has his children round" rather than "my stepchildren spend every Saturday at our house". You just don't sound very "together", almost as if you just tolerate them in your house.

LittleSugaPlum · 16/09/2012 15:35

i used to wash their underwear, and it was always caked in shit, i used to chuck the underwear!

They do smell sometimes :-(

I never have trouble with the toilet getting rid of the contents on one flush.....

Horrible as it sounds but i dont wash their underwear or chuck it anymore, i simply bag it up and send it back to theirs mums caked in shit. If she cant be bothered to teach them, then she can clean their underwear. She has never once complained about the poo the kids come home with in a bag

OP posts:
LittleSugaPlum · 16/09/2012 15:37

I ve been a step mum for over 12 months. I dont have kids of my own, but was a nursery nurse for a few years, so i do know that 3-4year olds are more than capable of doing things

OP posts:
Startailoforangeandgold · 16/09/2012 15:38

Just talk to them!
They may be DHs children, but if you've had time to get married you must have had time to get to know them.

You all have to rub along, if they annoy you tell them so. If they are helpfully and pleasant tell them that too!

8 and 10 year olds are generally quite nice and, unlike toddlers and teens, can generally be engaged in conversation.

Some of DDs friend look at me as if I'm bad if I speak to them, but they soon get the idea.

AlfalfaMum · 16/09/2012 15:38

Agree re overreaction to shoes.

The not flushing toilets drives me nuts though.. My own kids are crap (!) for it despite years of hissy fits on my part. DD1 has only just cottoned on and she's thirfuckingteen!

If I was you OP I would pester their dad to remind them, ie you spot unflushed loo, go straight to him and get him to sort it whether he gets them to or does it himself. It's bad PR for a part time stepparent to be the one giving out.

Startailoforangeandgold · 16/09/2012 15:39

Mad not bad

ShutTheFrontDoor · 16/09/2012 15:39

Why don't the children stay the weekend?

mellen · 16/09/2012 15:42

You do sound scary. I'm getting an impression of two kids, possibly upset after parents separation, having to come round to a house where they don't feel at home and get shouted at by someone who doesn't like them. Sad
Maybe that is unfair, but it might be worth considering if there could be some truth in it.

DixieD · 16/09/2012 15:44

My kids are younger but the broken record technique is what works here.
After every visit to the toilet. Have you washed your hands? Did you flush the toilet? Did you wipe your bum?
DD is 5 and is fairly reliable, so if she says yes I don't check. DS is 3 and not so reliable. So I smell his hands/ listen for the cistern etc with him. He has got much better, but bum wiping is still a problem. I check his underwear now every evening for stains and point tem out if there are any. And repeat again that he must tell me if he needs help, it's starting to sink in.
If I find an unflushed toilet, they are stopped from whatever they are doing and brought to the bathroom to flush it. And repeat, and repeat, and repeat.

Startailoforangeandgold · 16/09/2012 15:44

I'm not a step parent, but why is it dad (who might not even be there) job to tell them off.

They are children in the OPs house, she has the absolute right to tell them what is expected.

I tell DDs friends off if they are silly. I don't keep a list for when their parents pick them up.

LittleSugaPlum · 16/09/2012 15:46

They dont stay over night because:

There is always an issue with them not bringing spare clothes and underwear, and i was always replacing underwear that was getting soiled.

The used to leave clothes all over the floor, across the landing, wet towels were left on the floor etc

When they had a bath in the evenings, the bath was always full of shit and i had to clean it everytime they came out of it.

The started coming to our house riddled with nits, saying their mum knew they had them but wouldnt get rid of them.

It was too stressful having them over night, it works better having them for the day instead.

OP posts:
omletta · 16/09/2012 15:48

All kids forget, just remind them, it really shouldn't be a big deal.
I think you are completely over reacting.

Step parenting is very hard, but if you get this distressed over the small things, the biggies will be very tough.

ekidna · 16/09/2012 15:49

jesus christ poor kids who is looking out for them?

MrsRobertDuvallHasRosacea · 16/09/2012 15:49

You don't sound very em, understanding OP?

Especially your last post.
And where is your dh in all of this?
Does he not say anything?

WorraLiberty · 16/09/2012 15:50

Poor kids

It sounds like none of the adults in their lives love them enough to actually care about them.

Yourself and your DH included by the sound of you Sad

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