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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

WWYD - Daughter left home

319 replies

ABoxersMum · 17/08/2019 03:49

Regular lurker but haven’t posted very often. Small back story. Have been a single parent to my DD since she was a year old. Got together with my DP when she was 9 and we all moved in together when she was 11/12. Current family situation is myself, DP, DD (17) and DSS (24). Myself and DP left DD and DSS for 10 days home alone while we went on holiday. Our only stipulations were that they looked after the animals (2cats, 1 dog) and kept the house tidy. DSS was pretty much working night shifts whilst we were away and DD had a few day shifts but is currently on school/college holidays.
We got home on Sunday and the house was an absolute shit tip. Now while this was disappointing and I was quite upset about it (DP was fuming) I could live with it and it only took a couple of hours to straighten up. What really upset me was that the cats had been left for god knows how long with no food and no litter change and once trays were full had poo’ed on the floor. DD wasn’t at home when we got back but breezes in a few hours later with a cheery “hello” as though nothing was wrong and appears to be amazed at how upset/angry we are and says she tidied up the day before. When we said that it didn’t look like she had she then stormed out to friends who were waiting in a car outside. As she was leaving I then turned into my mother and said “if you walk out that door, don’t bother coming back”. DP went out after her and they started rowing in the street and it almost seemed like she was trying to goad him into hitting her. I told him to come back in and he did.
This was on Sunday. She tried to ring me on Monday but I missed the call (holiday was in the USA and I had jet lag from hell), she then messaged me saying she was coming over for 10 mins to pick up some stuff. She came home, got some things together and gave me her key back. I managed to get her to tell me that she was staying with a friend in a nearby local town but she also said that she was fed up of me always putting my DP over her. She said she was going to approach council over housing and then left.
I haven’t heard from her since. I tried to ring her Tues evening but got no reply. I sent her a text on Thurs asking if she wanted to meet for coffee and a chat and again no reply. My friend who my DD looks upon as an Aunt called her on Monday to check how she was and she did speak to her.
I’m at my wits end. Still disappointed with her but now so worried but don’t know what to do. Sorry for the long post but really don’t want to drip feed but WWYD. I miss my girl.

OP posts:
messolini9 · 17/08/2019 11:37

not sure even a week looking after our pets it's a huge responsibility

How is looking after pets a huge responsibility?
Unless you live on a smallholding with stock to manage - & even so, presumably as members of the household, a 24 & a 17 year old would be well versed in the animal care & routine? At 10, I could manage most daily routines on a stableyard ffs.

OP's smaller problem is that day-to-day, her DSS & DD are not required to participate in household chores. To the extent that DSS has trouble leaving his bedroom or replying to texts from his holidaying DPs.
To go from there to sole responsibility is a big ask - & the responsibility was ALL laid on DD's shoulders, as was the unfair & disproportionate blame.
Apparently DSS gets a free pass because - oh I dunno, he holes up antisocially in his room, or is a boy, or summat.

OP's larger problem is DD' unfair treatment.
DD perceives it - random posters on the net perceive it - but OP, you seem to be only just barely aware of it.
You put all the responsibility on her, you blamed her solely (if DSS was out, your rage should have waited until he returned), you told her not to come back home ... & yet still you are "disappointed" in her, & report that it was SHE goading your DP, instead of realising that DP was wrong to shout at her in the street, & as the adult in the interaction, was the one responsible for controlling his temper.

Interesting that you remarked earlier "I turned into my mother" in screaming at DD not to come home. How was your dynamic with your own mother? Did she give you no responsibility for chores, then suddenly turn the tables by demanding 100% responsibility, then berate you for not getting it right first time? Or perhaps some similar "mixed messages" parenting?

I hope you get reconciliation with DD soon - & that you can then ensure you have plenty of one-on-one time with her, demonstrating that she takes first place in your affections.

RandomMess · 17/08/2019 11:40

If one gets ill or knocked down it is plus you need to come back to the house at least every 6 hours! Plus you cleave to be home to put them to bed by 11pm and get up early to get them up.

Not difficult or impossible (horrific if anything happens to them) but a huge tie.

AmIRightOrAMeringue · 17/08/2019 11:41

She shouted at her daughter for not looking after the cats properly and not cleaning up after herself- both things she agreed to do. And made an ill thought through throwaway comment in anger. Which was stupid. She has admitted she over reacted and needs to think about the family dynamics and favouring the step brother.

I think a disgrace, vile, neglectful and abusive is a bit of a stretch!

Robin2323 · 17/08/2019 11:42

Um
The dd has the run of the house for 10 days.
She has not respected it.
Op has every right to be upset.
Op is not a door mat or chief pot and bottle washer.
When op is not on holiday op cleans the house so her family, including dd has a nice home ti relax in.

The daughter stormed off instead of explaining why the house was a tip and there was cat shit on the floor ......

Cannot believe 'anyone 'would be ok with that ?????

MyCatHatesEverybody · 17/08/2019 11:42

So DSS is allocated care of a dog who sleeps most of the time and doesn't need walking. Meanwhile DD is allocated the literally shit job of doing the cats' litter trays and feeding them. Also as DSS works nights I'm assuming he was fast asleep for most of the daytime hours - who would have been letting your dog out then - I assume your DD?

messolini9 · 17/08/2019 11:43

Except the DSS was not home, so she would have had no way of knowing that he didn’t get a similar amount of blame.

But she did have a way of knowing that she was taking 100% of the blame right then - because that's what happened.
And in her perception, DDS is favoured, so her gut feeling was likely that he would (as confirmed by OP in later post) "get off scot free".

TanMateix · 17/08/2019 11:49

I really cannot see how DSS is the golden child from the posts of the OP, I cannot see either how the SD is a bad person or why the OP should be grateful for the free time and that the “kids” are ok. They are no toddlers you need respite from, one is an adult who has no authority to monitor DD or responsbility to cover for what DD doesn’t do.

I really don’t understand the flak you are getting OP. I may understand the flak you are getting if I was still parenting kids, teenagers are different and whether your DP is her dad or not, he could have easily get the same mouthful he got from his SD. Respect goes both ways.

Personally, I wouldn’t be grovelling at all, that would only make her most entrenched and she also needs to understand that she has also some responsibility for this mess, tell her that she is welcome to come back when she is ready but if she prefers for this to be the start of her independent adult life, that you will support her as much as you can.

GreenTulips · 17/08/2019 11:56

Op is not a door mat or chief pot and bottle washer

Actually she is, by choice

I can name a few parents that clean their house above and beyond bleaching every surface in sight with little or no interaction with the kids. Then there’s some parents who ‘hang the housework’ and play all day.

We have no idea of OPs expectations.

HaileySherman · 17/08/2019 12:02

Keep trying with her. You wouldn't be wrong to apologize for overreacting to the situation. Always worrisome when when our teenagers take off in anger. Hopefully you've taught her how to forgive and let things go. If so, she'll be back. And you make sure nothing (especially something so trivial) derails your relationship. She's almost grown. Now is the time that can make or break your relationship as adults. Everyone makes mistakes, her not keeping things to your standards and you overreacting. Keep trying to reestablish contact.

Mummyoflittledragon · 17/08/2019 12:06

It is true your dd should have done better. But she didn’t. I was actually left for a week at 14 with my violent bully brother, who is a couple of years older. Parents decided to go away as a couple so this was not my choice.

Brother decided to have a house party, which got very much out of hand and I talked a boy out of raping me. The place was a bomb at the end of the party and I put it back together again and cleaned. Brother didn’t help. I also managed to go to school.

We had animals to look after and they were looked after. The parents were abroad so no chance of coming home quickly if there were any issues.

I do think you were lucky that nothing happened to your house. However, I still don’t understand why your dss copped no blame. It doesn’t matter that he was responsible for the dog, not the cats, he should have stepped up.

MerryShitmas · 17/08/2019 12:09

At 16 my mum and I had an argument in which she told me similar words (Don’t darken my door again). I didnt for 2 years and never moved back in. We still don’t have a great relationship, but there were other issues as well.
Sounds like she behaved like a 17yr old and you were out of order.
I’m not going to bash you but the best thing you can do now is leave her to cool off. She may come back she may not

Margay · 17/08/2019 12:11

Your daughter didn’t leave, you chucked her out.

It sounds like this has been simmering for a long time.

You blamed her without asking her or SS what went on.

My cats once got two dinners in less than an hour because they pretended they hadn’t been fed.

You need n+1 litter trays, it’s not your daughter’s fault you don’t.

DontDribbleOnTheCarpet · 17/08/2019 12:13

Except the DSS was not home, so she would have had no way of knowing that he didn’t get a similar amount of blame.

I suspect she did know, based on her experience to date.

Obviously she was wrong about not cleaning the litter tray, but to be fair that is a pretty disgusting job and teenagers can often dodge unpleasant chores. Unsupervised teenager much more so. I don't believe for a moment that the cats weren't fed- mine are sleek, well-fed house cats, but 10 minutes after their usual meal times and they revert to their feral state!

OP, I think your best option is to grovel. And console yourself with having shown your daughter how to apologise after you've been an arse- it's a valuable lesson! I messed up with my son recently and "I'm so sorry, I was completely out of order" was all that was needed for us to be able to sit down and talk about the real issue. Admittedly, he hadn't left his bed, much less his home, but a sincere apology is a very disarming thing. Brace yourself though, it sounds like she has some resentment stored up!

Nextphonewontbesamsung · 17/08/2019 12:16

I have reported minibronc's disgusting post at 11:36. Hopefully it will be deleted.

cavalier · 17/08/2019 12:26

Parenting is the most rewarding but most difficult bliddy job in the world !
Yes olive branch ... life too short ... it’s not worth the aggro ... the animals need to be considered and that needs addressing for sure ...

DishingOutDone · 17/08/2019 12:28

Its neither here nor there who did what housework, the DD was made the scapegoat, the OP told her to go. How the fuck do you think young people end up on the streets in the first place? Makes me so angry how people minimise and trivialise things like this.

I work for a major youth homeless charity. Our beds are filled with young people like the OP's DD who have lived in the situation OP is describing, often because a partner that is not the child's father is involved and the mother is trying to be "fair" to everyone - so basically putting the man (or men in this case) first.

OP your DD can apply to various charities like YMCA for housing citing family breakdown, she will have already been given that information by the local authority. If you are lucky enough to get a second chance with your DD after what you have done, search for family mediation in your area and see if you can book an appointment. Relate do that sort of thing as well. Sounds like you have a lot to unpick. Get some advice, do the right thing. I have friends who have never seen their kids again after the child has walked out, scares me witless - prioritise your relationship with your DD, and her welfare, above all else.

Robin2323 · 17/08/2019 12:33

The dd stormed off in a strop..
I used to this when I was 14

Robin2323 · 17/08/2019 12:35

And also my dd's sd could be wrapped round her finger.
He treated her as his own

Drabarni · 17/08/2019 12:35

I can't believe OP is mothering a step child of 24, what a bloody mug.
Putting her dp before her own daughter is disgusting, and I wouldn't have cleaned cat shit unless it was my own cat, yuk.

watcheait · 17/08/2019 12:37

The op should give the ss the bollocking, not his father and the op should let her dd know she has.

Looking back to my relationship with my then teenage daughter, we used to have dreadful screaming matches but they didn't last long and we always kissed and made up. I think it was more me storming out of the house until I calmed down.

Robin2323 · 17/08/2019 12:37

Well done @Nextphonewontbesamsung
Way ott
It was a teenage tantrum

Robin2323 · 17/08/2019 12:42

*Op is not a door mat or chief pot and bottle washer

Actually she is, by choice

I can name a few parents that clean their house above and beyond bleaching every surface in sight with little or no interaction with the kids. Then there’s some parents who ‘hang the housework’ and play all day.

We have no idea of OPs expectations.*

Um yes we do.

That the house would be looked after and the pets fed.
The kids would clear up after themselves and there wouldn't be cat shit on the floor.

Very clear expectations.

Robin2323 · 17/08/2019 12:45

And to add I kept the house clean and fully interacted with the kids.
Dancing and singing round the kitchen
Foot ball and badminton in the gardens
Snuggles on the sofa watching tv etc ... the lot

Work first / play later and
Work hard : play hard.

What you put in you get put

73Sunglasslover · 17/08/2019 12:48

I've only read page 1 but what I would do is apologise to her - and really mean it. You told her to leave, she is leaving. How would she know she is still welcome unless you fess up to behaving in an infantile fashion and saying things you don't mean? If someone told me to go, I'd go and if they never unsaid what they said I'd never come back as I would not want to be somewhere I wasn't wanted.

I think putting all the blame at a child's door when there is an adult in the house is really unfair and does look like you take your partner's 'side' over hers. The house can't have been that messy if it was tidied up so quickly so the real issue is the cats and your DSS had main responsibility for that being a grown up.

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 17/08/2019 12:51

I think it gets much clearer with age to see your parents in a true light. She’s obviously feeling like she’s the least important person in the household and has had enough. A boyfriend/ girlfriend should never come before children. There needs and happiness should come first.