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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Dh wants to get dsd here, right now!

135 replies

FishyCustard · 23/06/2017 19:09

Yes, I know. I'm taking my own life in my hands posting this on 'Aibu' but a decision is being forced on me quite quickly and I need to know if Iabu.

Background: DH and I started going out when dsd was six. Dsd's mum had left DH for another man two years previously.

Fast forward to today, dsd is now 14. We now have dd 4 (who is autistic and was diagnosed last year at 3, she is in the more severe side of the spectrum) and ds who has just turned 1.

My relationship with dsd used to be really good, however around two years after me and then do got together we started to have trouble with Dsd's mum.

This first post would be miles long if I went in to all that, it's going to be long enough as it is. Suffice to say there was conflict (police involved at one point after she assaulted Dh) and that it really affected poor dsd.

We went from being very close to her practically ignoring me these last few years. As we didn't get to see her except during school holidays (her mum moved her very far away) Dh was a bit of a Disney dad, which he admits.

As examples:

If I leave any cosmetics on the bathroom she will empty them all out and refill them with water.

She doesn't tend to eat any of the meals I cook and willl sat she is not hungry (then eat from a Bombay of crap, chocolate and crisps, that comes along with her)

She will not come downstairs until 3pm at least, every day she is here, then has tea and goes back up until I and the dc are upstairs. When she will come down.

Over the last year or so I've stayed upstairs after seven, because I hear he happily chatting to her dad and think she needs that alone time.

She won't pick up after herself, she leaves wads of chewing gum stuck under sofas and tables that I have to find before one of the dc chokes on them. She leaves rubbish where it falls.

She spends every moment, literally from the second she opens her eyes to 4am on her phone.

Anytime I've attempted to talk to her about this she starts crying to her dad or just goes silent and blanks me.

I'm not a monster, I hope I'm not. It's just feels so unfair when I'm trying to teach dd to pick up after herself but can't say a word to dsd.

Anyway, to the heart of the matter.

Dsd's mum has just called DH on the phone, the first time she's spoken to him in four years!

Dsd has been hurting herself, truanting from school (the police have been involved numerous times) and is now being helped by cahms. She says she is being screamed at by dsd.

Also apparently this has come about because of Dad's mums partner (the same om she left Dh for) has attempted suicide. And she has gotten in to a bad crowd at school who all do this sort of thing.

Dh's ex wants him to call dsd and talk to her. It's all a bit of a shock as none of us knew this was going on (Dh has regular skypes with dsd but she never mentioned it)

Dh is, this moment, talking to mil on the phone about going over to get her now. And he has also just said that his ex said that dsd cannot be shouted at or upset in any way or she might commit suicide.

Mil and fil are on their way here to talk with us.

My head is spinning. I'm trying to figure out how to voice my concerns without sounding like an evil witch. I undertand how Dh feels, I love her too, but I have to think of ds and dd too.

I just want to say,

'No, Dh hang in a minute. I know your upset but I feel like you aren't considering everyone else in this family.

I agree dsd needs help but I do not want her living here if it's going to be business as usual.

If she comes she follows the rules of the house, including no devices upstairs, learning to clean up after herself and spending some family time with us.'

Aibu?

OP posts:
Urubu · 23/06/2017 20:14

YANBU OP
You should take her in, but your DH and you need to discuss how situations will be handled, in detail:
If she is violent towards your DC or you, what should the consequence be?
If she is rude?
If she comes home later than curfew?
If she damages your property on purpose?

Define the consequence for each and your DH needs to commit to follow through himself, every single time.

littlebird7 · 23/06/2017 20:14

Fishy - that is the best plan!

Send your DH to live with GP with DSD and you can ask your parents to help you with your DD. This means that the situation is away from your dd, who needs to be protected esp given her situation and your DH is there for his child, which is now imperative....clearly she is in crisis and needs one of her parents to get a handle on this quickly.

I think you have resolved this yourself.

Don't give up on your dsd, I was that little lost girl once and I came out the other side, she will too, and as adult she will remember the kindness and compassion you showed her when she was at her lowest.

FishyCustard · 23/06/2017 20:15

I genuinely feel I have tried to be that someone.

Yes, it all came out that she had been telling dsd those things.

I read everything I could about it online, told her she would never have to 'pick a side' between me and her mum, that I loved her and tried to point out that we still did the same things even though dd was with us.

She just clammed up. I read every bloody book on step parenting and tried it all but it still didn't work.

I wasn't expecting her to fall at my feet in worship, or instantly become a perfect child that never messes up. I just wanted her to be able to feel she could be happy here, to continue to behave like family instead of an angry lodger.

She used to dote on dd. Then when all this started she started pinching her, I only found out what the bruises were when I walked in on her doing it. (I'd been letting her 'look after' dd while I was cooking, it was supposed to help apparently)

You are right in that this has opened up a lot of things I've been trying to ignore.

OP posts:
PeaFaceMcgee · 23/06/2017 20:18

You've done nothing wrong at all x

PeaFaceMcgee · 23/06/2017 20:21

You said at the beginning "a decision has been forced on me"... It's not fair that "business as usual" means your poor girl ends up bruised. He can't bring DSD to your home.

Sophiealice95 · 23/06/2017 20:22

I don't know OP . I think this is very awkward for you but tbh I think your life is gonna be hell . I don't know what you can do about it sorry my dear . I hope it works out for you all

littlebird7 · 23/06/2017 20:22

It is good that it is opening up....because now it can be properly dealt with by all of you. Everyone is now involved and everyone can help.

It is unacceptable for her to hurt your dd, but if she is self harming her view of pain is already different from everyone else. It is a release to hurt and be hurt.

And this child is hurt and angry beyond measure, she can not see reason and can not see beyond the pain she has inside. Everything indicates to a child who can not cope.

But there is hope. Keep holding out your hand, keep showing her love, keep telling her she is loved and she is beautiful, she is valued and you all care for her, keep going and don't stop..because no one can afford to give up on her.

Moving her to your SIL is a good idea, and with your dh they need to work on how to move her forward. It won't always be this way, things will get better with time, but for now they are crap and I am sending you big hugs.

RubyRoseRing · 23/06/2017 20:22

Initially it looked like mil's partner was the suicidal one. But I see it's the step father.

Has anyone actually asked the girl what she wants, where she wants to live? Would spending the summer with her GP help, with her father spending lots of time there too? But moving her due to the people she's mixing with won't stop just because of geographical separation, as there will be online contact and that's very hard to 'fix' in the circumstances. What is needed is clear boundaries but I agree it's not all about tidiness. For one she cannot be allowed to physically hurt the younger children. They have rights too, and one is to feel safe in their own home.

FishyCustard · 23/06/2017 20:24

Dh is going to call her back and just repeat that he really wanted her over here, in case she is 'testing' his love for her by saying no. (Thanks for someone mentioning that)

It's very upsetting. Especially when I've sat here and remembered exactly how things were. It seems so long ago now.

I did used to be able to say things like 'dsd, please pick up this crisp packet.' with lots and praise when she was younger.

It was when all the stuff with her mum blew up that I found I couldn't do that anymore. When we didn't see her often dh was worried about upsetting her and dsd would get upset.

Though she never did before, she'd just smile and have a go.

Sorry if this is rambling, my bloody amazing mother is looking after dd and ds. I'm cracking open the merlot that been in the cupboard for about a year!

OP posts:
littlebird7 · 23/06/2017 20:27

Apologies for mixing up who was suicidal, but either way suicidal influences on a self harming child is a toxic combination.

HappyFlappy · 23/06/2017 20:29

this child is hurt and angry beyond measure, she can not see reason and can not see beyond the pain she has inside. Everything indicates to a child who can not cope

Exactly this Littlebird7.

Only people who are in pain try to hurt others.

ILostItInTheEarlyNineties · 23/06/2017 20:34

You need to shelve the guilt and be brutally honest about your feelings with dh. It would be disastrous having her to live with you if you pretended you were fine about it. The whole situation would implode.

You haven't managed to change dsd's behaviour/enforce boundaries during her current visits so that won't suddenly change now.

I hope you can access the help she needs. Mental health services are woefully lacking unfortunately.
It does sound as though her stepfather's suicide attempt has affected her profoundly. Does her school offer any sort of support or pupil counselling?

Writerwannabe83 · 23/06/2017 20:35

YANBU OP.

You need to put the safety and we'll being of your young children first. I understand that DSD is struggling but the situation sounds unmanageable.

Support your DH as best as you can in terms of doing what's right for his daughter but I can understand why you don't want DSD living with you and would understand if you did want DH to live elsewhere with DSD whilst a better plan is put in place Flowers

littlebird7 · 23/06/2017 20:35

Fishy - you need the merlot. Who can think of a better moment for it to be cracked open??

Of course it was easier when she was younger, the same can be said for all children, it is hard work raising a teenager and yours is doubly difficult at the moment.

If you can bothered go on to teen page on MN and then you get the idea pretty quickly that many many people find it bloody impossible and hellish.

I hope your dh works out the plan with gp, and you can ask your parents to care for your dd and go and see her. I am sure you have done all of this already, but her GP, school etc all need to be informed and if the school has a counselling service maybe they can offer some help. Everyone needs to get on board to help, Best of luck Fishy and enjoy a lovely glass of wine.

Gemini69 · 23/06/2017 20:35

FishyCustard... you must be credit yourself with caring enough to come on here and question your fears... you are dealing with a Teenager.. a young lady who is very vulnerable.. you and DH have done the right thing... you have tried intervention with the help of Fil&Mil ... there are many agencies involved in the Care and Protection of this young lady... Credit yourselves with knowing that at the moment you cannot do any more than is already being done...

Social Services may have to consider intervening and providing a secure accommodation where her 'vulnerabilities' can be monitored .. for her own protection... should things continue along these lines... but at the moment...

your doing great.. despite your own concerns fears and challenges with having her around your smaller children....
I hope things take a positive turn soon x

Writerwannabe83 · 23/06/2017 20:35

Just an aside: how does she treat her stepfather?

EC22 · 23/06/2017 20:38

I do think you sound unreasonable, it's his child. Your list of grievances are normal teenage bullshit. The thought that you'd make him choose is honestly unforgivable.
This isn't black and white you need to work together on this for everyone's sake.

Chattymummyhere · 23/06/2017 20:40

It doesn't sound ideal where ever she might live.

If she seriously will kill her self if she's told off she needs to be in a secure mental health unit asap. She cannot live in a house harming other children, SS would be all over the Op for not protecting the younger children. She canning stay where she is her mum is at breaking point with it and she's in with the wrong crowd. Mils could be an option but would she and fil actually be able to stand up to her?

Writerwannabe83 · 23/06/2017 20:41

The thought that you'd make him choose is honestly unforgivable

I didn't get the impression that OP was expecting him to 'choose'. It seems to me that OP knows that his DD comes first and is happy for him to focus on her.

FishyCustard · 23/06/2017 20:43

Writerwannabe83 I have no idea, this was the first wed even heard from Dsd's mum in years (her mum refused to talk to Dh)

Dh has told me that dsd told him they yell at each other a lot over there, and that her stepfather thought her mum 'got off' with someone else at Christmas. I don't know if that's when the suicide attempt was.

In contrast, I'm not saying we are the Waltons and they are the Jeremy Kyles, but we never tear strips off each other in the way dsd has described.

But then we have to be careful as dsd has told some whoppers herself these last two years. I'm not laying in to her, but it's been hard to know exactly what is truthful (she's told Dh some things that weren't true at all)

OP posts:
FishyCustard · 23/06/2017 20:49

I don't expect Dh to choose.

If he wanted dad to move in here with things staying the same, then I would expect him to move in to Mil's temporarily with dsd.

Maybe when the crisis is over we can start rebuilding some trust between us and start again when dsd is ready.

I do love dsd, I really do. Some of the comments have been very hurtful in here but it's aibu and I'm prepared to hear it.

I just can't put dd and ds at risk. It's been so hard to get dd up to this point (we are getting her ready to give mainstream school a try in September - but in all likelihood will be going on to the specialised school a bit further away) If some basic ground rules can be put in place then I would be happy to try and make this work.

Trust me, there is nothing I would love more for us all to live together and all be happy.

It's just that right now I know that is not what would happen if things stay the same.

OP posts:
FishyCustard · 23/06/2017 20:52

Mil is going home in a moment, I'm going to have a big chat with Dh then.

OP posts:
Tonkatol · 23/06/2017 20:56

OP - I don't comment very often, although have been on Mumsnet for some time. I just wanted to say that I feel some people are being incredibly harsh on you in this difficult situation. It sounds to me that you are probably the person who has tried the hardest to make everything with dsd work.

For those who are saying that you shouldn't be worrying about a tidy house when your dsd has such major issues are being unfair. It is not just about not picking up rubbish, but a whole host of defiant behaviour aimed directly or indirectly at you. I think dsd craves the attention you give her - even negative attention is better than none at all. You seem like the only one who is trying to instill boundaries and teens, as well as children need those boundaries. Some posters are saying that you are being unfair as you are putting your own DC before DSD but, again, your DC have boundaries, so it is equally unfair if DSD doesn't have boundaries or consequences.

I cannot advise on the way forward, other than to suggest that you continue to try and communicate with DSD and instill some boundaries. All I would say is that I hope that, with time and the right support, you, DH, DSD, and DC can find a way forward together. Take care of yourself and you deserve the wine x

Sugarformyhoney · 23/06/2017 21:05

Tbh moving the child to her Dads to get used to a whole new living arrangement and living with a sibling with SEN is not ideal given her current emotional needs.
Some support needs to be put into place in the current family home to d sure that her mum is empowered to deal with her behaviour and better understand her issues will be more helpful than upping and moving her. Her Dad should maybe go and stay in s hotel nearby while this is at crisis point and help firm a plan

FishyCustard · 23/06/2017 21:11

Thank you Tonkatol

I'm glad I started this thread, it's helped me to sort out my own thoughts and some people have been kind and helpful Smile

Though I don't mind being told aibu if I am and acknowledge others had a point too.

OP posts:
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