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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Do not read if you're a stepmum hater, you'll hate me even more ....

503 replies

betteroffwithouthim · 21/07/2017 15:52

We usually have OH's children EOW and two days in the week. This is a long term arrangement that works relatively well.

Their mother works approx. 12 hours per week and is essentially a bone idle, entitled moaning old witch who will find any excuse to feel the victim. She is “exhausted” and has asked us to have the kids extra in the school holidays so she can have a rest! WTAF, both me and OH work long full time hours. Both children are teenagers and more than capable of looking after themselves for a few hours whilst she works. They will be bored stupid at ours but we’ve had far too many rows for me to argue anymore. OH has argued that its his parental responsibility to look after them extra in the holidays and that’s the end of that.

Anyway, we have them for 7 nights out of the next 8, with them supposed to be going back to their mother for one evening. She has “misunderstood” and has made plans for that night, meaning we have them for 8 nights. We hadn’t made plans, we were just going to enjoy not having the children around for one night.

OH is a spineless wanker at times and won’t go back to her and argue the point. I want to shout and scream but instead I’ll post on here.

I know i'll get flamed to death but need to air this here rather than in real life when it'll end up in a horrible row.

OP posts:
betteroffwithouthim · 21/07/2017 16:56

@DailyMailReadersarethick I am not a twat! But thanks. I'm aware they are his kids, I got that! But they're not mine are they and their mother has a lot more time than I do to look after her own kids.

Thanks for the link to the dad who got slated yesterday, it shows this forum at it's most biased best. To some (not all) step mums, dads and anyone other than the hard done biological mother are the devil.

OP posts:
TheDevilMadeMeDoIt · 21/07/2017 16:57

Was going to post exactly the same as granny. Some of the maths on here is very harsh. He has them six times a fortnight (43%), she has them for eight (57%). The only way to make it a dead even split is for him to have them three nights a week instead of two on alternate weeks, and that's disruptive for everyone, but especially the children. A regular pattern is much more stable.

The problem for the kids is that it doesn't sound like their mum wants them around any more than their stepmum does.

OP I remember your last thread but didn't post on it. You definitely have issues around this, but unfortunately it is what it is. You really should think about leaving him if you can't cope. You may be right, their mum might like playing the victim, she might be lazy and entitled, but she's not going to go away as part of your life because she's the mother of your OH's kids.

Decision time, I'm afraid.

Whosthemummynow · 21/07/2017 16:57

How long have you been with your DP? I'm guessing this is quite a new relationship?

PatMullins · 21/07/2017 16:58

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

gingergenius · 21/07/2017 16:59

@betteroffwithouthim let's turn this conversation on its head. What is YOUR solution to the problem?

SerfTerf · 21/07/2017 16:59

OP I mean this sincerely and helpfully; Only incredibly mature, immensely evolved and self aware grown ups can be successful step parents.

If you try it before you attain that level of personal development, you only hurt yourself and everyone else involved.

A lot of people aren't ready for something so emotionally complicated until their 40s or 50s. Some people are never ready.

The best thing you can do is muster enough emotional honesty to clear headedly assess the situation and whether you are suited to it.

kali110 · 21/07/2017 16:59

Op, just read some of ypur other posts.
You clearly are not happy in this relationship.
Your dp is not going to stop his kids visiting (as he shouldn't) but you are not happy.
You got with a man who had kids, so knew he was always going to put them first, but i think you may have to accept that this relationship is no longer for you.
You do not want the same things.
Your dp is never going to stop putting his kids first.
You are going to get more miserable.

grannytomine · 21/07/2017 17:00

their father doing something close to his share of bringing up HIS children. If he has them 6 nights out of 14 and presumably pays maintenance, I'm sure his ex can't live on 12 hrs work a week, then I think he is doing his share.

MyheartbelongstoG · 21/07/2017 17:00

I'm raising my stepson as my own. He lives with me full time, mother has not been in his life since he was 3, he's 12 now.

I'm a lovely step mum. Actually hate the step bit in that title.

Your oh should absolutely see his kids as much as possible and you should support that.

NotYoda · 21/07/2017 17:00

You have a choice here (I mean a choice to leave, not the choice you currently seem to ben taking; to moan about it on MN and assume people hate stepparents - I don't).

You can't change her or your DPs commitment to his children

If you can't change how you perceive that then it's not the right relationship for you

NotYoda · 21/07/2017 17:02

SerfTerf

I agree

I think that good step-parents must have the most awesome maturity and lack of ego. I'm not sure I could do it.

stitchglitched · 21/07/2017 17:04

OP did it ever occur to you that just because you view his children as something to be endured as little as possible your partner doesn't feel the same way? Maybe he isn't bothered about the percentage of time he has them compared to their mother, maybe he isn't only going along with it because he's spineless, but because he loves his kids and wants to spend time with them as often as he can?

Going by your last thread the only thing he has done wrong has been to continue to pursue a relationship with you when you told him that his children living with you would be a deal breaker. He should have left you there and then.

PelvicFloorClenchReminder · 21/07/2017 17:04

I am not a twat

The evidence here would suggest otherwise.

AnnieAnoniMouse · 21/07/2017 17:05

I wish I'd read this yesterday before wasting my time relying to your other thread.

You've been together 5 minutes. Walk away. he doesn't need another child

DailyMailReadersAreThick · 21/07/2017 17:05

betteroffwithouthim You really are.

UserThenLotsOfNumbers · 21/07/2017 17:05

If this is how you feel, I can't see your relationship working out in the long run.
What if (God forbid) something happened to their mum and they came to live with you and your partner?

2old2beamum · 21/07/2017 17:06

Well OP you have really reminded me how awful my step mother was, the fucking bitch. Sorry lovely stepmums because there are some, I like OPs stepchildren drew a short straw!

OnionKnight · 21/07/2017 17:07

Grow the fuck up.

ParentingEnnuie · 21/07/2017 17:07

Please don't get pregnant OP...

Rainybo · 21/07/2017 17:11

I'm one of your previously identified 'stepmum haters', so I'm sure you're going to love my opinion. However you seem to enjoy putting up these posts to have an argument with anyone who disagrees so I'll play.

Your DH has just as much responsibility for his children as his ex-wife. You wish that he would duck that responsibility and make you the centre of his world. Quite rightly he won't.

You don't have to take responsibility for these children. However, you do have to take responsibility for yourself and your choices. If you're so unhappy with the whole situation, you have many choices open to you.

You need to stop operating in how you wish things were and start dealing with the reality. Your chosen partner has children. That is reality.

IrritatedUser1960 · 21/07/2017 17:12

I'd be fed up to but then I've made a point of not dating anyone with kids.
He is between a rock and a hard place really, he can't say no to looking after his own kids and there isn't really anything you can do about it.
it's a typical step family problem.
I could not deal with that at all.
It would be worse if he didn't give a damn about his children, that would say a lot about him as a person.

Surfingwhippet · 21/07/2017 17:16

I suppose it depends how much "care" the father actually does. I mean if the op is expected to cook all the meals, washing, taxiing etc while her OH is out enjoying himself i can understand why she's upset but then her issue is with her OH rather than the mother or the children

BlurryFace · 21/07/2017 17:16

If you can't handle the possibility of contact /custody changing, you shouldn't be a step parent. I've known of several cases where the child's residential parent has changed, even more than once because of various circumstances. The mum could have a mental breakdown, get a serious illness, fall out with one of the DCs and throw them out...

abilockhart · 21/07/2017 17:17

betteroffwithouthim Fri 21-Jul-17 15:52:57
entitled moaning old witch who will find any excuse to feel the victim

According to your post last week, this is a woman you have never spoken to..... Hmm

betteroffwithouthim Fri 14-Jul-17 10:44:50
Would AIBU to contact her mother (who I've never spoken to)

betteroffwithouthim Fri 21-Jul-17 15:52:57
OH has argued that its his parental responsibility to look after them extra in the holidays and that’s the end of that.

betteroffwithouthim, there should not even be an argument.

Your DP and kids come as a package. You clearly aren't interested in the package. Do the decent thing and end it now.

Willyoujustbequiet · 21/07/2017 17:20

suck it up. you got with a man with kids. you knew what you were getting into.

It's this attitude that gives stepmums a bad name.