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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To never want to celebrate Christmas again

190 replies

crepeyneck · 28/12/2015 10:28

This is third Christmas as single parent to three teenagers. They spend the whole time in each others rooms and I am alone for four days. In total I have had company for 2 hours.. I have spoken to them about this before and nothing changes. I feel so upset that I am not even given a second thought....

OP posts:
Penfold007 · 29/12/2015 08:34

Your DCs have learnt this abusive behaviour from their father. It's is totally unacceptable and you need to stop enabling it. Christmas holds bad memories for all of you and they have been rejected by their father.

Make sure you are getting the correct child support payments and get some decent legal advice. Take control and claim your life back.

Nanny0gg · 29/12/2015 10:22

So - New Year, New start.

Presumably you buy food they like, cook, wash up, clean and tidy the house, wash and iron their clothes?
What do you pay them for (important question imo)

It all stops. They are old enough to do their own. Unless of course they choose to help run the home they live in, in which case it's fine to do things for them.

Do you pay for their phones? Their wifi? Their fares? Anything else? Needs re-negotiating.

They can't keep a civil tongue in their heads? They get no favours at all until they can treat you with respect.

Be civil to them but that's as far as it goes.

Sit them down and tell them how it's going to be from now on. If they don't like it they can find somewhere else to live. They are old enough to not use you as an emotional punchbag for their father's behaviour.

Have a wonderful 2016!

planter · 29/12/2015 12:16

I think four years is enough to get over a breakup, yes.

What I think is odd is this throwing the baby out with the bath water attitude. That you think them being nice is an illusion, not that them being horrid is an aberration.

Telling them to go to their dads next year is a massive mistake - pushing them further away could be the nail in the coffin.

To be honest you do sound like hard work and you don't want to listen to any of the good advice you've been given here. You sound like you can't stand them. Hate the behaviour, not the kids themselves. Punish the behaviour (which you're not doing) but don't shove the child away, especially after the rejection they have experienced from their dad.

You could lose them completely by being bitter and hurt and pushing them towards their dad, but you don't sound like you care?

planter · 29/12/2015 12:18

And no one has said you need to put up with personal insults, in fact funnily enough you're the only one who stands for it! Everyone else has said they would punish that, but you haven't.

Owllady · 29/12/2015 12:36

I just switch the internet off if mine try and over power me. I also never expect them to cook dinner etc. For me, as it would just add to the annoyance :o They most probably did cook you some dinner and then ate too much themselves. I think it's awful how they are treating you but I think you need to stop taking it so personal and put your foot down.
I don't think it's easy at as 'll though having three teenage sons on your own as a single mum

HPsauciness · 29/12/2015 14:16

I'm only going to say this once again- next Christmas is far too late to deal with this. It's not about next Christmas, it's about how they treat you on a daily basis and resetting the power balance in your house. You pay the bills, you provide the food, you do the laundry, you presumably give lifts and enable their lives, you control the internet- you are completely able to leverage better behaviour from them.

You seem very stuck in a victim mode, all your children are 'bad', and everyone is against you. I wonder if you are in fact a bit depressed, I would be after trying to parent for three years on my own, it's incredibly tiring and exhausting and relentless, which is why you have taken this behaviour so badly.

But, this one ganging up over Christmas isn't the whole of them, or the whole of your relationship, and needn't repeat, unless you let it.

Do you think you are depressed? (you have that sense of powerlessness about everything that is quite a feature of depression). Could you afford a small amount of counselling to offload some of this stuff?

The children won't suddenly be all remorseful if you strop at them, refuse to buy present and go elsewhere for Christmas, they will just experience the rejection of both parents, rather than just the one.

I honestly think there is room for change here in your own perception of what is going on, and if you got some support for yourself, and to help you make changes at home, this could all work out better than you think.

Bettercallsaul1 · 29/12/2015 14:31

Couldn't agree more with junebirthdaygirl.

What the OP has here are three teenagers, behaving unpleasantly as teenagers often do. It is a cliche that children go through a selfish, rejecting stage towards their parents in their teenage years - often being very rude and offensive - before emerging from the chrysalis to become delightful adults. It would be terrible to reject these three young people, who have already suffered abandonment from their father, at this vulnerable and crtical age. That is not at all to say that the OP should tolerate some of their behaviour - the insults must stop and there must be rules about helping out in the house. But the idea of ceasing to love them, or throwing them out to fend for themselves, is horrendous.

The reason the OP is having such a terrible time with her teenagers is that she has three and they are ganging up on her. One rude, unco-operative teen can severely affect family life but three must seem like a nightmare - a united , hostile front, ranged against her. Each one is probably not worse than many teenagers, but with three in the house, the OP has become the outsider, trying in vain to impose her values and standards of behaviour on what has actually become a dominant group with its own, different values and views. And the OP is on her own - unsupported by a partner her own age, who could help her get things in perspective, and having her attempts to manage things sabotaged by her ex. I have the utmost sympathy for the OP.

My advice to the OP is to firstly echo what previous posters have said about tackling the boy one by one -explaining how unacceptable their present behaviour is, and how it must change. Mention particular incidents and discuss them calmly, looking for common ground. Do not avoid expressing your sadness and sense of isolation caused by their behaviour - address them both as the head of the household and as an individual. I would be amazed if this did not make a difference - it is much easier to see someone else's point of view if appealed to as an individual, rather than as part of a pack. Try to contine to have individual relationships with each of them. Then, as everyone has said, cut down on the amount you do for them and let them do their fair share in the house. Do it calmly, gradually and not vindictively - what you are aiming to establish is fairnss, not revenge. So, for example, buy the ingredients for dinner, let them know they are there and then leave them to it. Show them how to use the washing machine, where to hang up the wet clothes and let them get on with it. Not only will this leave you feeling much less resentful, - at giving so much and getting nothing back in return - but it will increase their respect for you as they see how important a contribution you have been making to their lives. They will not manage the cooking or laundry nearly as well as you and it will do them good to lose their present sense of superiority! You have lost your childrens respect by being too accommodating - this is the time to claim it back.

I honestly think that these measures would start to right the balance of power in your family and begin to improve your relationship. The key is determination and consistency. When they see that you have really changed - in your expectations and self-respect - they will change too.

Most of all, realise that all this will change - you are just at the nadir at the moment. If ever there was a time for the MN mantra "This too will pass", this is it. Young brains develop, personalities mature and obnoxious teenagers often become charming young men in their twenties. As a previous poster said, your sons will realise, as adults, all that you have done for them and love you for it. They will see and appreciate the difference between how you have treated them, and their father. Parenting is a long game - don't give up, OP!

KinkyAfro · 29/12/2015 14:37

Planter, you really do come across as a cold hearted, callous cow. Do you feel better now, you've probably made op feel even more like shit

midsummabreak · 29/12/2015 21:31

Agree with others, no need to push your 3 teens away. don't get angry-get even!! As owllady says Turn off the internet- For example, say "Hey PS4 addicts, at x o'clock, internet is OFF & everyone in this house is gettin' off their buts to do the housework together. You live in it-you clean it"

If they answer you back, don't take it personally- it is them who needs to get real & start taking responsibly for their mess

Take heart, it is annoying that children will often dig their heals in & not want to do their fair share, but never give up, As plantar says, When your child has bad behaviour, hate the behaviour, not the child

My 11 year old didn't want to get off the Wii' Mario Maker' when I put the music on for an hour of cleaning just this last weekend- he said "Mum, you are obsessed about keeping the house clean, & no-one really cares if the floor isn't mopped or the floors have toys around" I thought to myself Arrgghh -you ###^!!! I said; No, buddy, you are obsessed with your game! Time to be in the real world where you do your fair share.... He ended up mopping the floor as i had the mop & bucket ready & others chose a different job.

Every family is different,you might do a cleaning roster & get them to put it on calendar It does't matter which job they choose, just that you all get cleaning together You do have on your side that you have three, and they will get more done than one :) It doesn't always get done well, but keep trying , keep showing them how to put a load of washing on, showing them how to cook their favourite meal, etc

Good luck budging them off their PS4 for a cleaning date soon!!!

crepeyneck · 29/12/2015 21:53

Thx for the good advice but I am quite shocked by some of the unpleasant comments.

I have been over the ex going for years. It was a shock him leaving but he was a really nasty man and I am glad he has gone.

Depressed? No just fed up with being ganged up on and having rubbish Christmases. I will continue to love and look after them but not at Christmas. Parents should share parenting at Christmas and their father can have a turn.

I usually don't have trouble with them individually but when the 3 are together they become like a pack. One is usually at university but when he comes back the younger ones show off as they adore him.

OP posts:
Lynnm63 · 30/12/2015 01:02

You need to speak to the one at Uni, he is a guest in your home, technically, and if he can't be civil then he can stay in digs over the holidays. You need to set some ground rules before he comes back next holiday. If he can't be part of the solution he's part of the problem and should therefore be unwelcome in your home. Divide and conquer, either he helps or he's not in your home and the younger two won't have someone to show off for and your dc's will see you're less of an easy target.

midsummabreak · 30/12/2015 02:39

It is great the younger ones adore & look up to your older son. who is studying at uni. No doubt they will continue to do so, so if u an get him on your side, u have it made:) :) Use it to yr advantage! Wink
Strike while the iron's hot, get him aside, insist on taking him for coffee so u r alone together. Don't let a 19 yr old outsmart u & take over your own home Be sneaky :)

When at coffee shop 1. tell him you do love him 2. Praise his achievements at uni/living independently 3. Get him to open up -how is he r-e-a-l-l-y gong 3. Over to your expectations at home that he must never treat u with disrespect again & start acting the adult he is

E.g.

Tell him u love him dearly & praise praise, praise him for all his achievements (only u know his best qualities & achievements as a young man)- e.g. Say u r so happy with how far he has come with his uni course, and how he is doing well as a young man living independently outside of home.

Then, see if u can get him to open up... Ask him how it's going, e.g. What's it like at unit/living situation-is all going good? (r there issues with friends/lack of support from uni tutors so studying is very difficult, is he scratching for money for meals/whatever..

Then on to your needs & your expectations of him if he wants to come home to warm meals, & generous gifts at Christmas....
Tell him "i felt hurt/(state your feelings in your own words) that u spoke so horribly after the sheer hard work I went to to make great food, great gifts,etc for him & his brothers."

Do not give up. Be insistent when/if he acts smug/plays dumb... Say "I know you get it that no-one deserves abusive remarks,so it has to stop"

As others say-it can be better-now .Insist that he treats you the way he wants to be treated- with respect

IamtheDevilsAvocado · 30/12/2015 04:18

I think what midsumma suggests is good.

You've got to use what you can to cjange tje the environment, so the behaviour changes.

You clearly love your sons, BUT this also means you are doing things which make it worse...they know you carry on looking after them whatever,.... Well, because that's what is happening.

Currently there are no real consequences for them when they've treated you like shit.!!

These consequences have to be meaningful. Theu can also be positive for good behaviour! (lots of praise of they manage to do something, even if only making you a cuppa!)

I would tell them from now on:

-any insults-they lose a several hours /day's/ wifi access AND CARRY IT OUT!

--in fact if you are paying for mobiles etc.. Wjy not make this contingent on them doing household tasks?

Moonriver1 · 30/12/2015 08:16

Ok OP. I don't think you have had very many unpleasant responses at all. You've had many very thoughtful, long and considered responses however, supporting the way you feel and encouraging you to see things differently and/or make positive changes.

So yes do your own thing next year and suggest they are with their dad but please don't guilt trip them or sulk or make it seem like they have ruined every Christmas in the last three years (can you really not see the irony that they they've acted up every year since he left 4 years ago?)

And it really is up to you to deal with the way they treat you and the house. I have teenagers. They are sooo lazy and can be rude and shouty and would stay in bed/on screeens forever. But you are the boss, you can (as others have said endlessly) turn of Wi-fi, take money away, take belongings away, get tough, speak tough and get them to join in with household chores and household meals. You can't just throw your hands up and give up.

DragonRojo · 30/12/2015 11:13

it is good that you are planning to celebrate next Christmas differently, but also I think you need to start NOW to make them respect you. Create house rules and start planning for your future out of that house. Two of them will be adults by next Christmas, so what is stopping you from putting the house on the market during 2016 and moving somewhere smaller sooner than planned? If the 3 of them have to crammed up in one room during holidays, then be it. You have to think of your future and your finances, and I am sure they can understand that, if you explain it to them. They will not be there much longer and when it is time for them to leave, they will do, whether you have a house to go to or not. They have to live their own life and in a way, it will be a credit to you when they do that. It will show that you have brought up men who know how to be independent.

As for the insults, let them know that this is unacceptable. Make yourself be respected!

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