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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

16yr old refusing to come home

54 replies

L3cy · 04/12/2020 01:19

Hi I’m new to mumsnet and just looking for advice recently my 16yr old DD got into her first serious relationship since she got with him a few months ago she has stopped taking care of herself,stopped wearing makeup doing her hair or wearing her nice clothes she has cut off all her friends and has started falling behind with her college work most of her classes are online due to the pandemic and whenever she has a class he constantly spams her phone with calls then she gets frustrated because she can’t concentrate.she spends all of her time down at his where they just lay in bed all day when she’s not with him ( which is rarely) he has to be on FaceTime to her she even has to sleep on FaceTime to him because he says he can’t get to sleep otherwise she has to prove she isn’t talking to other boys she has to screenshot her Snapchat and messenger to him and he even has the the password to her phone and checks it when he wants she’s come home from his twice sobbing her heart out but won’t tell me what’s happened I’m really worried that he’s controlling her or even worse hurting her. A couple of people now have pulled me up and told me that they’ve seen him shouting at her in the street also a mutual friend of his and my sons told my son that he had been putting her hands down his pants in front of everyone and trying to make her “do stuff “ to him .I don’t want to be that overprotective mum because I don’t want to push her away i’ve tried to be supportive I invite him round to our house for tea and movie nights etc but he refuses he just wants her down at his where there’s no one to keep an eye on them as his mums always out and when she is there she just lets him do what he wants. It all came to a head two weeks ago when I tried to set some boundaries i told her she’s not allowed on the phone to him while she has her online classes or when she’s doing her assignments and she can go down to his a couple of times a week and the rest of the week he can come round here so I know she’s ok and can keep an eye on her she’s down right refused and phoned her grandad to pick her up she has now been staying at her grandparents for two weeks who live 20 miles away.When she first went although I was upset and missed her I thought well at least she’s safe and it might do her good to have a little breathing space from him only for me to find out that he’s been getting one of his relatives to give him a lift over to her grandparents house nearly every day and her grandparents have been letting him stay at their house during the day while their at work and bringing her over here to his and letting her sleep over at his house without even telling me and after I’ve discussed my concerns with them . I keep trying to speak to her but she’s been so cold and standoffish almost disconnected it’s just not like her at all we’ve always been so close and she’s always been such a happy lovely girl I feel like she’s been brainwashed she keeps saying she’s happy with him and she loves him but she’s gone so far downhill in just a few months i don’t feel like her grandparents are encouraging her to come home and her boyfriend definitely isn’t she says she’s not coming home because she thinks I’m trying to “split” her and her boyfriend up but I’m not and haven’t even asked her to split up with him I’m just worried about her and want to make sure she’s ok.she says she wants to come home but only if I back off and let her make her own decisions? So would should I do ?

OP posts:
L3cy · 05/12/2020 08:16

Hi yes I split up up with her and her brothers dad 6 years ago and have raised them alone ever since her dad doesn’t have any contact apart from sending her the odd msg on Facebook that’s exactly what I think he thinks there’s no one to stick up for her I’m very tempted to get in touch with my ex as I know he would beat her boyfriend but worried he would go too far and put him in hospital or worse not only that would it solve anything my DD might push me away even more .

OP posts:
MsTSwift · 05/12/2020 08:27

Think you’ve had some good advice here can’t add to it but sending sympathy a friends dd heading same way it’s incredibly hard to deal with.

Charleyhorses · 05/12/2020 08:47

I read 2/3rds of your post. I have had 3 teen daughters and was ready to say watch and wait.
But, I tell you in these circumstances I would go and bring her home in a heartbeat. She is 16 and needs parenting.

L3cy · 05/12/2020 09:09

Thanks guys, I spoke to child services yesterday they are phoning me back Monday to let me know the next steps they are taking and spoke to her college tutor she says DD did not attend her online class on Wednesday and instead asked for the work to be sent to her so clearly he was there or she was at his. Her tutor has since got in touch with her and asked her to come into college Monday and Wednesday so DD would have to come home I’ve told her of course she’s welcome to come home but the compromises I have put to her still stand . Child services have told me she shouldn’t have unsupervised contact with him until they have investigated and had a meeting with DD and that her grandparents and his mum should not be letting them sleep over together as they could also get in trouble with the police I’ve told her grandparents parents this but guess what ? He slept there last night and is there with her now while her grandparents are at work!

OP posts:
Brunt0n · 05/12/2020 09:12

I’m confused why none of the adults in your 16 year olds life are stepping up to put a stop to this?! This is a controlling abusive relationship and none of you have nipped this in the bud?!

jelly79 · 05/12/2020 09:42

Can the policeman the police pay a visit to the grandparents who are consenting to this?

jelly79 · 05/12/2020 09:42

Typo:

Can the police pay a visit to the grandparents who are allowing them to share a bed? Why are they not working with you OP??

pessimistiquerealistique · 05/12/2020 09:48

You need to save your DD as he is an abuser. He is just destroying her. I don't know if police could help but I would involve them as well. Her boyfriend sounds as a psychopath.

LouiseTrees · 05/12/2020 09:57

@L3cy

Hi everyone just an update I’ve phoned child services this morning and told them everything they said I’m absolutely right to have contacted them and that they will do everything they can to help and to make sure DD is safe I’m am just waiting for a call this afternoon from them I’ve also phoned college and requested a callback from her tutor and children’s services said it might be the case that police get involved. Forgot to mention her boyfriend has already been kicked out of school and already has a criminal record. Also going to keep in touch with her instead of having a go at her ( which is so tempting at the moment ) I’m just going to keep telling her I love her which I do anyway but also that I’m here for her if she needs me . I think that’s good advice to contact his mum and just let her know what’s going on with child services and college but without blaming it all on her son because I’m 99% sure it will just make things worse I’ll just use the approach of I think they are too young to be so involved and shouldn’t be spending time alone in bed especially when he’s only 15 etc I’m so sorry to hear that some of you have been through similar situations at such a young age but I’m so glad to hear that you’ve come through the other end of it and are happy now it gives so much hope for my DD hopefully this is just a little blip and she has a beautiful happy future ahead of her she’s such a beautiful kind caring girl and deserves nothing less . Thanks again for everyone who’s shared their own experiences and kind words of advice it means more than you know ❤️
I think you need to say child services and the college contacted you after an anonymous report rather than you contacted them. You have no idea what his mum is like and you don’t want to lose your daughter.
AgentJohnson · 05/12/2020 09:58

I’m confused why none of the adults in your 16 year olds life are stepping up to put a stop to this?! This is a controlling abusive relationship and none of you have nipped this in the bud?!

Abuse like the OP described is insidious and the ‘nipping it in the bud’ window is often fleeting. If the OP simply went and got her DD, then what? Lock her up, have her chaperoned or tracked. The OP needs her DD’s cooperation and trust in order for her to successfully break free of this boy.

I understand how disappointed you must be in her grandparents but unfortunately they will need winning over to the dangers of the relationship too. Op, I don’t know your history them but your DD is living in their house, which affords them more power and influence they have had before, so tread lightly.

It is very hard to fight the centuries old subservient messaging that women have been fed about men and relationships. ‘Why does he do that’ should be be on prescription for any girl over 12.

You’re doing the right thing OP, the long game is never easy.

pessimistiquerealistique · 05/12/2020 10:09

Involve police and save her before it's too late. Bring her home.

L3cy · 05/12/2020 12:20

I’ve phoned police directly this morning child services said they would probably be involving the police but I didn’t want to wait since I told her grandad that I have involved child services and college she hasn’t replied to any of my msgs I’m pretty sure she has been told to ignore me I’m not sure what my rights are yet until police come out but I’ve told her grandparents I want her home and have comprised more than enough I guess I have to wait and see what the police say if they could go to the grandparents house and tell her she has to come that would be great but I doubt it

OP posts:
FAQs · 05/12/2020 12:52

I’d actually tell your Ex.

I had one going this way with my daughter last year, she couldn’t even have a shower without him getting arsey, he would give her 15 seconds to reply to any messages before he’d start with the who was you talking to, you don’t love me anymore bollocks, but with luck she did realise what was going on after her friends also became involved, peer support can be vital, there was a great video about this type of relationship especially for teens which I showed my daughter, I didn’t comment on it or ask for feedback etc but know she watched it, I’ll see if I can find it.

I also spoke with School who did a whole class healthy relationship topic so didn’t single her out.

I did also go to his house much to my daughters horror but I didn’t care and insisted I meet his parents, I can be very passive aggressive and have a cracking bitch face without actually having to say anything.

The grandparents are also facilitating this, I’d been on their backs over this!

FAQs · 05/12/2020 13:03

Trying to find this video argh.

Good advice here and also the love respect website

m.keringfoundation.org/sites/default/files/pdf/controlling-behaviour-in-relationships-talking-to-young-people-about-healthy-relationships.pdf

FAQs · 05/12/2020 13:24

Unfortunately I can’t find the video I’ll look again later.

CatholicKidston · 05/12/2020 13:37

I'd tell her dad too tbh.

Mischance · 05/12/2020 13:54

I just wanted to say that I am so sorry you are in this dreadful situation. I had 3 teenage DDs at one point and I just keep asking myself what the hell I might have done.

Being in love for the first time is very powerful and getting her to see that this relationship is not good for will be an uphill battle.

I did intervene with one of my DDs over a boyfriend - she got pretty arsey at the time, but has since admitted that she wanted out but did not know how to deal with it, and my intervention was one she was grateful for.

I wish you good luck with this challenge.

MoMoxX · 05/12/2020 14:02

So sorry to hear what you’re going through, you need to go and get your daughter.

If I were you, I would call the police and tell them that he is physically and mentally abusing her... anything for them to go to the house!

I hope this situation gets sorted soon and that you are reunited with your daughter!

🤗

Yeahnahmum · 05/12/2020 14:03

Intervene. Break them up. Ground her. Save her! Yes she will hate you for a bit but then later will realise it is for her own good. He is damnright awful and abbusive. Stop trying to be your dd's friend and start acting like her mum. she sure as hell needs one right now

Reindeermayhem · 05/12/2020 14:08

Sounds like having a phone is causing a lot of issues ... so sorry to hear this. So much easier with only a landline. No constant messaging. Can child services advise what to do regarding his constant needing her on her phone etc?

nocoolnamesleft · 05/12/2020 14:10

Couldn't see this being mentioned anywhere: really hoping your daughter is on a contraceptive.

Strangedayindeed · 05/12/2020 14:15

Of she is under 18 is she classed as a runaway? If he’s 15 and they are having sex she could be in trouble for having sex with a minor!

purpleboy · 05/12/2020 14:24

I would also consider talking to your ex, what he does with that information is not on you.
At this point I would be doing everything I could to get her away from him, you sound like your already taking those steps. I really hope things work out for you, this must be so hard for you to watch.

RosePetalss · 05/12/2020 17:02

Grandparents do not sound supportive at all! Are these your parents or your ex?
Without them being on the same page as you it’s going to be hard and you are going to take most of the blame from your daughter.

BUT your daughter definitely needs your help sounds like she is in a very unhealthy relationship. Hopefully the police may be able to push that he is underage and she could be in a lot of trouble for having a relationship with him and needs to keep away. That may scare her and being apart from him she may see the light.
Do you pay for her mobile? I would be taking that away so that he can’t contact her?

Sounds like you are in a horrible position and hope your daughter sees sense. Good luck.

LannieDuck · 05/12/2020 17:23

It's odd how your parents (/your ex's parents?) are behaving. Are they trying to be the 'cool' one and undermine you?

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