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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Sad step mum

195 replies

Mentalhealthworries · 09/11/2018 19:35

Another night of sitting in my car in the terrible weather while DH and his kids enjoy tea at home.
I can’t bear it. Life as a step mum really sucks! Don’t do it if you have a choice.

OP posts:
Dollymixture22 · 10/11/2018 00:12

Sorry shriek was just joking - clearly didn’t land!!

TheyBuiltThePyramids · 10/11/2018 00:18

You have a massive dh issue if you are driven from your home by ADULT step children. Do they have no manners? Or I suppose it could work the other way and you are the unwelcoming one and they feel it.

Lizzie48 · 10/11/2018 00:20

Either way, it's rather extreme to be hiding in the car! That in itself makes the OP sound precious. Hmm

HerondaleDucks · 10/11/2018 00:37

If she's been at this for 9 years I doubt it's for want of trying! You don't sound so sad and frustrated after nearly 10 years without good reason. If she was hiding in her car after only being with her dh for a few months I would agree it would be extreme and that she was being ridiculous. I don't think some of you understand how much of an outsider other people's children can make you feel in your own home. Ffs the whole you knew he had kids tripe is honestly bollocks and unless you have experienced being with a person with children don't say it.
I think your dh needs to have a serious chat with these kids. I have hid in my car before because I was was so uncomfortable in my own home and my dp was desperate to fix things for all of us. We all have a very good relationship now. Please come over to the step parenting board, there are much more understanding posters there.

flowerpott · 10/11/2018 00:42

I think you really need to set some boundaries, OP. My heart goes out to you driving around, eating sandwiches in the car on a Friday night. Please stand your ground and don't do it again!

Earlier advice re them going out/you relaxing in the bath and ordering takeaway seem like great suggestions to me. Maybe even progress to inviting a friend over?

Otherwise, just tough it out for a few weeks. Be very present at home and make it clear that it is your space to live in and control. Even at 19, they'll adapt and adjust to your boundaries, but if you run off, they'll push even further. From the sounds of it, they may not have had loads of boundaries set from their dad - they may even thank you for them in the long run!

Whatever happens - be firm with your DH, let him know what is at stake here. He can't honestly be there pandering to them, whilst you wish he would leave you. STOP running away. It isn't doing you, your marriage or your stepchildren any good.

PrincessWire · 10/11/2018 00:55

So at 15 they lost the right to call their father's home their home? What a piece of work you are. My friend barely has a relationship with her father because her stepmother made her feel like she was an intrusion whenever she was there. Sadly her father pandered to his wife, I'm glad to hear that your husband lets you go off and sulk.

FWIW I bicker horrendously with my siblings. We're in our 40s and 50s.

Seniorschoolmum · 10/11/2018 00:55

Op, I get it. Teenagers can be unutterably spiteful but as others have said, you do have a dh problem.
My ex’s adult daughters made my life hell and my ex refused to intervene, to the point that in the end I left.

You’re doing well to still be there. You are a better woman than me. Hang on in there.
Cake

Shriek · 10/11/2018 01:00

Gawd thats awful senior

Seniorschoolmum · 10/11/2018 01:07

Long time ago now, but if OP is dealing with anything similar, she needs all the support she can get.

BackInRed · 10/11/2018 01:20

It could get better eventually, my husband and his Mother's partner clashed until he was about 23, now they get on perfectly fine.

Maybe when your step-kids grow up they'll be the same, instead of PITA's.

User02 · 10/11/2018 02:09

DP and I both have adult children each. I did teach my DCs to act with manners but I was never a strict mum. DP is still a bit strict with his DCs.
My step children are all polite and behave decently around me. I do not feel like an intruder. It feels nice to be part of a family.
Unfortunately my DCs are not the same. They shout and swear and act as if they don't know any manners. I feel disgraced. I would not have had them behave like this as children but they are adults and I cant make them act differently.
How does the Bio Mum of your Step Children treat you? Do you think the BioMum has set them against you? Does BioMum know how they treat you?

RainbowsArePretty · 10/11/2018 02:19

That sky DS hard. What happened 4 years ago?

At 19 I'm surprised they are not out with friends, so perhaps overnight visits will stop or decrease.

I think you need to find a way to be more comfortable in your hone when they visit.

thighofrelief · 10/11/2018 02:46

Twirlbites i loved your elaborate rape-murder ploy scenario, proper laughed at the absurdity.

YA DCs are very, very trying. I often take longer at the shops than i need to and regularly get drive through McDonalds coffee and sit in the car park to drink it in peace. And these are my own kids who i love dearly. Who aren't even bickering, it's just the constant talking.

LemonAndLimeJuice · 10/11/2018 04:21

I don’t find 19 year olds, at all adult at the moment. Ours has temper tantrums, it’s more than trying.
You have my full sympathy.
In fact our 19 year old is worse now than as a younger teenager.

flamingofridays · 10/11/2018 07:15

Ah the old "you knew what you were getting yourself into" line.

Bollocks bollocks and bollocks some more.

If i knew what the last 6 years would have been like at the very start i would have dropped dp like a hot stone. Dont get me wrong i loved him, i still do. But i hate the circumstances that surround him and i could never have guessed how they would affect my life.

flamingofridays · 10/11/2018 07:16

I also have very limited sympathy for 19yos who behave like children because i had a job and a house at 19 and relied on nobody but myself. I certainly didn't go round my mums and upset my step dad because im not a self important knob.

LotsToThinkOf · 10/11/2018 07:28

I understand the importance of the twins spending time with their dad, but why are people referring to them as children? They're 19, old enough to behave properly and not make the OP feel uncomfortable in her own home.

You have a DH problem, it's time he pulled them into line and demanded respect for both of you. Of course it's their home too but just because the OP is their step mother it doesn't mean her thought and feelings are second to theirs, especially at their age!

Speak to your DH, you shouldn't have to deal with this.

MrMakersFartyParty · 10/11/2018 08:10

But op says it's not their home, if my step mum said that about me I'd play up and be a dick on purpose too.

Lizzie48 · 10/11/2018 08:24

My DSis has a DSS who is now 21 with a wife and DS of his own and who is in the army in Cyprus. She was his primary carer for some years when his mum and her new partner moved away. He was challenging at times and tried to play her off against his mum, but she got wise to it and she and DSis formed a reasonable working relationship.

He's grown up to be a very polite young man and I could never imagine him behaving like the OP's 19 year old DSC. But then again, my DSis would never in a million years say it wasn't his home.

SilverDoe · 10/11/2018 08:28

@flamingofridays I’m assuming you’re the OP - one problem can be that once we are in an uncomfortable situation like that we can sort of put it on a pedestal and it becomes more and more grating and wearing and difficult to put up with - and it sounds like you’ve got to that point.

You need to let it go. I know that sounds simple but you just need to stop bothering about them coming round - just greet them breezily, ask them how their week was and leave them to it. Have your own relaxing plans and indulge yourself in your own space, preferably with some noise excluding headphones. It’s the only way you are going to get through it with a semblance of happiness and without causing ructions in your household.

They might be annoying you on purpose but from their point of view it is probably quite hurtful to be disliked by an adult and if they sense this then perhaps this will encourage them even further to disregard you and your feelings in your own home. It’s not to say you’re to blame, it’s just how they could be feeling.

Lastly, people really aren’t wrong when they say you have a DH problem - I’m not sure what he can really do towards adult children at this point apart from to point out that the way they bicker is childish, please stop in my home, or at the very least he could tell them that if they are pissing each other off so easily weekend after weekend, they need to go out and do something.

What he could do though is be more emotionally supportive of you. However you also again need to consider his feelings toward the whole situation and have some empathy for why this may be difficult for him as well.

If all that has already been done and discussing their behaviour with him just leads to pointless arguments with no changes then go back to plan A - ignore and look after yourself when they are there, and work on building a closer relationship with DH when they are not to diffuse tensions.

Kickassbitch · 10/11/2018 08:35

I'm a step mum, my step sons lives with his mum and can also call our house home to of he wants, around the age of 19 the staying over reduced as his social life increased, but he still has a key and could stay when and if he wanted. OP I always took a relaxed approach when building a relationship with him, I didnt force it and let him take the lead. However, one thing I will not tolerate is anyone creating an atmosphere in the house, a 19 they should be able to be around each other and be civil. I deal with bickering, but my two are 8 and 11! not 19! I deal with my two and when it starts I nip it in the bud straight away, bickering is toxic. Their father is clearly not going to do anything I say to you, grow a pair, tell them if they can't be civil with each other then leave each other alone and be quiet or go to their rooms, end of. Why are you allowing anyone to behave like that in your house?

OP I have kids and a step child, kids are hard, but you cant bury your head in the sand, you need to deal with it.

BlueThesaurusRex · 10/11/2018 08:36

Some great advice, some absolute nasty pasties! But everything @yorkshireyummymummy said is perfect - I really hope you take it on board and treat yourself!

flamingofridays · 10/11/2018 08:38

Silver wrong. Not the op.

flamingofridays · 10/11/2018 08:39

And when you say "to be disliked by an adult* theyre adults too and they clearly diskike op!

Brazenhussy0 · 10/11/2018 09:05

@SilverDoe
flamingo isn’t the OP. But she does often turn up on stepmum threads to be supportive and offer advice.
She’s great Smile