Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To end relationship because of his 12 year old DD?

229 replies

Geraldine81 · 23/10/2016 09:36

Been seeing a guy for around 8 months and have recently been getting to know his DD who lives with him. He's lovely and we get on great but the dynamics in the house are just crazy and it's really bothering me, to the point where I'm considering just calling it off.

Basically she rules the house. The first time I went we walked in the living room and she was sprawled across the sofa with make up and hair straighteners, laptop etc all over the living room floor. DP popped his head around the door, introduced me and then said "we better go upstairs" and there we were sat in his bedroom all night like a couple of teeneragers! To make matters worse, she has the master bedroom and he's squashed into the tiny back bedroom. I assumed this was a one off but it's happened almost every time we have gone back on an evening. One night we went back and he said to her "can we have the living room tonight?" And she said "no sorry, I'm busy" and he just said "booo!" And started making his way upstairs!!!!

Another example though was one time we were privately discussing ordering a takeaway to watch with a movie later that night. She heard us and came wading in saying "dad .... what did we discuss about takeaways??" And he said "yes ok" in a bored voice. She walked out and I said "what??" And he said "oh we'd better just cook something that's in".

Now at this point I was getting sick of the whole carry on so I said "sorry but I'm an adult and I want to order a takeaway as we planned. I'm not used to being ordered around by a child. If you don't want to join me I'll go home and enjoy it there". So he said "maybe after she's asleep?" 😳😮 so I told him I was going home because I can't get my head around a 12 year old being in charge and I needed time to think. He's text me constantly since but there are so many other examples of it. I'm thinking I should just sack it off now and save us all the drama or am I being too quick to end it?

OP posts:
MissVictoria · 26/10/2016 03:51

It's the father i feel sorry for. His wife left him and he's been left to bring up their daughter by himself. In the beginning he may well have over compensated and given her everything she wanted because he felt guilty her mum had left, regardless of if he played any part in why she left. The kid has come to expect it to be "her way or the highway" and he probably feels he has no choice. She doesn't respect her father, and the poor bloke has probably been so worn down by it he doesn't respect himself, resulting in her controlling him like hes a naughty school kid. I'd bet money the poor guy is majorly embarrassed about her behaviour and the fact he's being told, in front of his girlfriend, what he can and cannot do, like order a take away, have a glass of wine, or socialise in his own livingroom. He sounds like he's scared of her, and her reaction if he says "no" or doesnt let her have her own way. He likely feels completely trapped with no idea what to do to get out of the situation he's in, with no help from anyone else, and now he's lost his girlfriend of 8 months and is unlikely to have any further successful relationships and will be totally isolated because he's overwhelmed and can't cope with her. Of course OP isn't obligated to stay with him, or do anything at all, but have a heart, the poor guy is struggling and you dumped him by text.

MUjunkie · 29/10/2016 05:47

Do yourself a favour and run! It will never get better, only worse!!! My dsd was 14 when I met her dad and it was just like that! Now she's 20 and it's worse than ever! He panders to her constantly, nothing can be said that might upset her, and if I dare criticise...in fact, even comment...on anything, he completely overreacts!

Already your getting a preview of things to come! It won't end well OP...get gone! Wine

laurenandsophie · 29/10/2016 06:18

Geraldine I'm loving the examples, as awful as they are! Please give us an update when you hear back from your now-ex, and while you're at it if you could drop in some more anecdotes about the little dictator that'd be great Grin

HollyBollyBooBoo · 29/10/2016 06:18

I can't see a future in the relationship. Even if you supported him on being a better parent you are now going to be the bad guy so to speak, to the daughter and therefore that relationship with her will be incredibly hard.

Leave I'm afraid and don't go back.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page