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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to want DP and DD's relationship to change?

132 replies

princessj29 · 26/04/2013 09:49

DD is almost 6, DP and I have been together since she was 2. She used to really like him and the three of us got on great and were very happy. DP and I had a baby together 10 months ago and for the past year or so he and DD have been bickering a great deal and I'm really fed up of it and want it to get back to how it used to be. In my opinion, they're both at fault but more so DP - DD is rude to DP and doesn't want to spend any time with him. She is extremely clingy to me, even following me to the toilet rather than staying in a room with him. This morning I needed to do some work so he was taking her to school and she started crying and saying she wanted me to go too, I explained that I needed to work today so I could have a day out to the seaside with her tomorrow and she said she'd rather miss the day at the seaside so I could take her to school. DD loves her baby sister but in my opinion DP causes problems in their relationship. If DP has the baby, he'll bug DD to stop what she's doing and 'help look after' DD2 because DD2 loves DD1 and is very entertained by her. He constantly tells DD1 to hurry along with things because she's 'making DD2 cry' and I don't think DD1 should be made to feel responsible for DD2.

This morning, DD1 came into our bed for cuddles and DD2 blew a raspberry at DP. He said 'oh DD2, you cheeky monkey!' and tickled her so she giggled. DD1 then blew a raspberry at him and he told her off for 'spitting in his face.' I appreciate that a raspberry from a baby is different from one from a 5 year old but he could explain that to her rather than snapping and moaning at her, making her feel rejected in my opinion and starting the day on a sour note. DD1 then came and sat in the bathroom with me while I showered because she didn't want to spend time with him.

I think part of the problem is that DD1 resents DP for not doing enough with DD2 so that DD1 and I can have time alone together. Yesterday, for example, DD1 got sent home from school as she wasn't feeling well. She wanted to curl up on the sofa and read with me like she would've done before we had DD2. I gave DD2 to DP but we'd only read one book before DD2 started fussing and wanting me. Rather than distract her/take her somewhere else to play, DP just sat there waiting for me to take her, then started turning on all her noisy toys so DD1 couldn't hear the story. She asked for a cuddle last night and DD2 started moaning and she said to DP: 'Mummy has DD2 all day every day, can you not just have her for 2 minutes so I can have a cuddle with my Mummy when I'm poorly...!' DP still says he 'doesn't understand' why DD1 has changed towards him but I think she's spelling it out, to be honest.

He wants to do everything as a family, he even follows DD1 and I to the bathroom while we brush her teeth - usually resulting in a baby whinging through it or else hanging off me. When it's just the children and I, DD1 is much happier and accepts that things are different because of DD2 and has no complaints. But when DP is there she gets frustrated that she can't have time with me because I also have DD2. If that makes sense? AIBU to be fed up with this situation and want it to change? Or is it normal for partners and non-biological children to have bickering relationships like this?

OP posts:
Bobyan · 27/04/2013 12:37

Carry on ignoring the issues OP, they'll still be there.

Wibblypiglikesbananas · 27/04/2013 12:46

Your thread has really angered me. Your poor little girl. I can't believe you would put the needs of a grown man above those of your daughter, who for whatever reason, is clearly uncomfortable with this man.

It's hardly surprising she doesn't want to be around him when to me, it appears as though he deliberately sabotages any time she has to spend with you, the one person in her life she should be able to trust and rely on. It's like he sees your time as something to fight over with her - when she should obviously be your priority. He must be extremely emotionally stunted to think this is the case.

And as for all the bickering being down to both of them. She is 6 FGS! He should have the emotional maturity and sense to diffuse situations like this, she isn't yet capable. But you blame her for her part in these discussions and arguments, which, judging by what you have said here, seem to be deliberately caused by him taunting her. I mean, why would a grown man threaten a child with food she hates? What a twisted, calculating and abusive thing to do.

You should be protecting your daughter at all costs. Yes, she has had her world turned upside down by the arrival of a new baby, but you say yourself, there's no problem when it's just you, her and baby. Only when he is there.

HE IS THE PROBLEM! Your daughter can see this. She's doing her best to communicate this to you. Why are still in a relationship with this nasty, controlling idiot to the detriment of your little girl?

mrsjay · 27/04/2013 12:47

Let her start feeling secure again then see if she wants to do some really fun stuff with your dp.

this she is insecure for whatever reasons the adults need to realise this and her stepdad needs to stop being so emotional about his hurt feelings,

op people are just making observations about what you are telling us people are just offering advice and support it is up to you if you want to read and take any of it on board,

Springdiva · 27/04/2013 12:50

You can only change your behavior, by the way, not anyone else's.

So how can you change to bring about the changes in DD1 and DP.

Maybe be extra loving to DD1 and make it clear how much you love her company and are interested in what she has to say. DD2 won't care what you do as long as she isn't left alone crying so, in a way, stop fussing over DD2 but concentrate on DD1 and being loving towards her. Also treat DP not like the spoiled toddler he sounds but like someone you actually like and admire (which you should if you are in a committed relationship with him) and praise him for his 'good' behavior. Tell him how good he is with DD2, how much DD1 loves his attention, how lovely it is to be a family with him and DDs.

Making them see how unreasonable their behavior is won't work and I'm sure you aren't some perfect angel yourself, but if you think your 6 year old is 'difficult' now, god help you when she is 16.

BruthasTortoise · 27/04/2013 12:53

Are you sure your DP doesn't feel like you love/want to spend more time with DD1 than DD2? Maybe he's miffed that his DD is being excluded as it seems that DD1 really doesn't like her. It's immature but if my firstborn had been rejected by his older sibs I would've been hurt.

classifiedinformation · 27/04/2013 13:16

Your dd is 5! You cannot expect her to roll with the changes in the family like you and dp; you are adults and she is a child!

She is clearly feeling very insecure because your dp is showing rather obvious favouritism to his bio dd. He cannot blow hot and cold with your dd, she is not old enough to understand. The "raspberry" incident was incredibly insensitive of your dp and I hope you pulled him up for it.

Your dd is clingy to you because she is craving reassurance that she is still as important to you and dp since dd2 has come along and this is pretty normal for a child her age.

Insist that dp takes dd2 out to visit pil or something and spend some quality time with her. She really, desperately wants your full attention. Good luck.

AlnwickRose · 27/04/2013 13:29

It is normal though for a child to show preferences for one adult over the other. I agree with you OP that the fact that he is a step parent is a red herring.

stopmovingthefurniture · 27/04/2013 14:34

OP, I apologise for the length of this post and the high-handed tone. Although I'm not a professional, I have worked with insecure children in the past and I feel very strongly that your understanding of this situation is wrong. I realise you didn't invite this input so please forgive the intrusion. I'm saying it because I care about your DD's situation.

You need to see a good family counsellor or psychologist.

I also suggest you speak to DD's teacher/close friends/family members/parents of DD's friends and see if they feel DD is thriving.

You seem to see yourself as a victim, having to put up with a DD and a DP who are giving you hassle. Your posts read as not nearly alarmed enough for your DD's welfare. Perhaps, like DP, you are immature and don't fully grasp your responsibilities to DD. For her sake, stay open to this possibility when you see a family counsellor. You're not unreasonable to want change but you're unreasonable to expect others to change when the responsibility for the outcome (i.e. DD's welfare) is none other than your own. Your proactive behaviour should go a lot further than discontentedly posting on Mumsnet. Your DD is worthy of unconditional love and affirming discipline from people who are either professionals or loving family members. By contrast, your DP sounds insecure, clingy, self-centered and a bit of a whining bully; I wonder how he treats DD when you're absent.

To spur you on a bit, consider this: no matter how close you are to DD now, one day she is likely to look back at her childhood and form her own opinion on how hard you worked to give her a safe, loving environment in which to grow up.

Your DD may be able to manipulate the behaviour in the home (and the only people better at doing this than little girls are insecure little girls) but that doesn't make her responsible for it. She won't be able to appreciate or bear the consequences of her actions, however good she may be at pressing buttons! Please don't let her become one of those unhappy children who compulsively observe every little interaction between caregivers in order to try and get some traction in an unsafe and unpredictable world. Your DD is already coping with inadequate father figures; you need to grow up and make whatever sacrifices are necessary to ensure your child can thrive.

It sounds like you wouldn't have got together with DP if you'd seen poor treatment of DD back then; it should still be unacceptable to you and the buck still stops with you. I sense that a lot of this may be down to tension between you and DP; are you expecting a standard from DD that you haven't achieved yourself?

It's also unrealistic to expect things to be as they were before; the family is an evolving dynamic that has changed forever now, especially since you've had another child. But it could improve again to be something different, new and good. There are great parenting courses and resources available to you and DP, including free parenting lines (fortunately manned by people more qualified and less judgemental than me :) ) Try googling Positive Parenting or Family Lives. There's also a great book called How to talk so your kids will listen and listen how your kids will talk if you're looking for concrete examples of affirming, secure parenting. Available secondhand on Amazon.

At the end of the day, I don't care if DD is swinging from the lightbulbs. I would still consider it your responsibility to place her somewhere safe, sweep up the broken glass, impose an appropriate sanction and take yourself to task for allowing her to get near the lightbulbs in the first place.

Sorry for the length. Good luck.

wineandroses · 27/04/2013 14:55

Excellent advice from stopmovingthefurniture. Not convinced the Op is listening though. Poor DD.

StuntGirl · 27/04/2013 16:21

I agree, stop's advice is excellent.

Please listen OP.

Bobyan · 27/04/2013 16:53

Unfortunately if she won't take the direct advice from the NSPCC I doubt if she'll listen to anyone on here.

FairPhyllis · 27/04/2013 17:27

So you started those other threads why? In order to troll?

skippedtheripeoldmango · 27/04/2013 17:31

How to talk so Kids will Listen and Listen so Kids will Talk is an excellent book. I was brought up in a pretty dysfunctional family and it's such a great resource for me.

Your DP should be responding every single time your DD pushes the boundaries with her love lists etc by saying things such as "That's ok because no matter what I love you." and then follow up his words with ACTIONS.

I don't understand why you just keep countering. You obviously know that something is clearly amiss or you wouldn't have posted here..and you almost have seemed to have done a 180 during this thread...your OP leant far more towards some of the main problems..now it's as if you don't want to look in the mirror that is being held up to you because this is ultimately your responsibility.

your DD will be best friends with you; it's a survival mechanism. But as she grows older and begins to understand life more, and doesn't rely on you for food/shelter/love that mechanism will fade and her critical thinking will kick in....and you may encounter feelings of bewilderment, resentment and even hate from her. By then it will be too late. NOW is the time to do something.

seriouscakeeater · 27/04/2013 18:17

When I first read the thread on Friday, I thought, I know how this thread is going to end up...kick the bastard out, abuser.. ect, then popped on to see how it was gone and was [shocked] at how over the top the posts were. So I decided to read the whole thread.....

This OP is either unhinged and very fucking bored and creates fictional situations to invoke MN to react in fury or

Puts the needs of every fucker else in front of her poor DD IF indeed the posts are true. And if they are hopefully SS will get involved and sort the mess out for her.

Personally I think its all a load of bull shit.

MrBloomsBloomers · 27/04/2013 19:49

Listen to the way you talk about them. She starts it and he bickers back? How old is he? 12? An adult wouldn't bicker back or try and wind a 5 year old up, he would act like, you know, an adult. I feel sorry for your little girl. A childish stepdad and a mum who would rather believe its the child fault that the stepdad behaves like a child himself.

MrBloomsBloomers · 27/04/2013 19:58

Is it just the two daughters you have OP? Because you've posted this month about your seven month old AND your ten month old. I'm a little confused Hmm

BruthasTortoise · 27/04/2013 19:59

Have just read through the entire thread and want to retract my previous comment. He sounds like a prick and for the sake of both your DDs you should not only want but demand a change in his behaviour or else remove yourself and your DDs from the situation.

Amykins · 28/04/2013 09:45

Like FairPhilys, I wonder why you have started the other threads?

CouthySaysEatChoccyEggs · 28/04/2013 11:12

He'll have fun in the teen years then, if he's getting 'hurt' by a 6yo missing him out of her 'love lists'.

DD as a teenager regularly shouts at me that she hates me and wishes she had a different Mum. Usually when I have told her that she is not watching an 18 rated film when she's just 15, or when I tell her that she can't go to the under 18's night at the nightclub...

She doesn't mean it, I don't take it to heart, it's just her inability to properly express her frustration at not being allowed to do as she wants, and it's NOT personal.

30 minutes later she will be hugging me and telling me that she loves me.

Your DP needs to grow up and stop taking the words of a 6yo so seriously.

He's a grown adult, she's a child, a child who is desperately seeking reassurance and time with her mum.

If your DP won't look after your DD2 so that you can give your DD1 that time, then ask a friend to have your DD2, or family, or even get a babysitter.

It's very important for your DD1 that she doesn't feel 'pushed out' of your family now that your DD2 is here.

Story times alone with you, trips out to the cinema, even playing a board game in her room just you and her...

princessj29 · 28/04/2013 11:30

BruthasTortoise - you may be onto something. Not that he's miffed DD1 doesn't like DD2 because she adores her but maybe he's miffed that I have no problem being away from DD2 if he takes her for a walk etc while I'm working at home but have no problem having DD1 home with me. That's obviously because she can self-entertain rather than favouritism but maybe he feels I'm happy to palm one child off but not the other?

Am going to talk to him tonight as his behaviour was really getting on my (and DDs) nerves yesterday. For example, she bought a toy yesterday which made DD2 cry the first time she put batteries in (its a flipping dog and made DD2jump) I told her she should play with it in same room so DD2 gets used to it but not right in front of her. DD2 was fine with it. While I was running bath DDs were playing in bedroom, DP told DD1 she had to take the toy out of the room so as not to scare DD2. DD1 told him what I'd said but he said:'I'm not arguing, just take it out.' She took it to DD2s bedroom to play with it, he then took DD2 in there and told DD1 to turn toy off. She said she hadn't finished playing with it, he said 'it scares DD2, turn it off or I'll take the batteries out altogether.' She said: 'well if you hadn't followed me to this room, it couldn't possibly scare DD2!' And came to see me. He's being a dick, right?

OP posts:
Bobyan · 28/04/2013 13:02

As I said on Friday OP, he's a shit and your DD knows it.

VelvetSpoon · 28/04/2013 13:15

I have read the previous threads about bed-sharing etc...I think the OP is the worst kind of fool tbh, who is unable or unwilling to asser herself and allows herself to be manipulated and controlled by men (the Ex making her DD share a bed, current partner being deliberately unpleasant to her DD etc) to the detriment of her child. Receives a lot of advice on threads which is completely ignored, only to come back a few weeks later seeking more advice Hmm.

I don't say this lightly, but I am also hoping SS become involved with this family, because this little girl needs protecting, and her own mother doesn't seem prepared to do so.

Beechview · 28/04/2013 15:14

He sounds horrible and cruel. Your poor dd having to live like that in her own home, where she's meant to feel safe and secure.
I don't know how you've seen this happening and not taken action but please sort this out. This has to be a priority.

Have a look at this site;

www.ahaparenting.com/parenting-tools/connection/building-relationship

ParadiseChick · 28/04/2013 15:56

You need to do something.

Why doesn't she want to be alone with him?

Why dies he infringe on any time alone with you that she has?

StuntGirl · 28/04/2013 17:29

"As I said on Friday OP, he's a shit and your DD knows it."

This :(