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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Teen may be unhappy with my partner

96 replies

bitofapickler · 14/03/2021 09:55

Wondering who is bu here .
My 16 year old daughter has met my partner many times . We are together a year. I never intended to introduce him to my children before the year mark at the earliest but my daughter decided she didn't want to go to her dads anymore as they were clashing , so I couldn't leave our home eow to spend with him or friends as she needs to be supervised because of her age. We are bubbled as two single adult households .
He comes to me eow mostly and we sometimes meet on the alternate week for a coffee or a walk . We live 25 miles from each other.
My other two kids who are 10 and 12 have met him once and believe that he is my friend . It was brief and they all liked each other . I am only separated two years so I am sensitive to their feelings about me and their dad moving on .
So my partner is going through a bit of a rough time with his health ... not serious but it's getting him down as he is alone all day and misses his children and family and friends and lives 80 miles from them so he is pretty sad too.
I asked him about f he'd like to come to
Ours for supper this evening . He's delighted and looking forward to it.
My teens response when I told her was' why?? He is here enough isn't he ?'
They get on exceptionally well so I was surprised . I know that she pushes to be top dog in my life and I reassure her that she is .she is possessive of me and believed that when she Stopped going to her dads that we would live the high life here on our own . She didn't like me going away to meet friends pre covid or having my down time essentially , unless she had her own plans., I know this is tough on her... separation/ restrictions/ new partner but is she being unreasonable or am I ?
And Happy Mothers Day 🌺

OP posts:
Snog · 14/03/2021 14:09

Can you make plans ahead for your alone time with dd?
Eg we will make homemade pizza together then watch a film/do a craft project/ spa treatments

bitofapickler · 14/03/2021 14:13

That's exactly what I'm
Going to do . Thanks

OP posts:
Tuliplilac · 14/03/2021 14:13

I think you are being unreasonable.

I don’t want to be unkind but my honest view is you should put your DD first. She doesn’t need counselling, she needs her mother to give her security and you do this with your actions not your words. Your love life can wait. And it’s Mother’s Day, not have my new boyfriend around day. Your DD will be an adult with her own life soon enough, give her this time now. I apologise if I have upset you but I feel for your DD. I have one the same age. Just because she is 16 doesn’t mean she doesn’t need her mother, I don’t think she is immature, she just needs you.

user1493494961 · 14/03/2021 14:13

I don't know why people have to move on so quickly.

andweallsingalong · 14/03/2021 14:14

On the whole I agree with you OP, but today's mothers day. A day for you and your kids. I think they should be able to count on that one day with you without him around.

It did stand out too that you said you invited him because of how he was feeling as if you felt like he was your responsibility.

Thisgirlcando · 14/03/2021 14:50

Glad you’ve spoke to her and understand where you both stand. If you have a plan for the time you are home alone together she will appreciate it more rather than retreating to her room.

I know this is off topic but part of it could be the idea of her Mum having a man overnight, she’s at an age where she will know what you are doing and might be grossed out by it.

bitofapickler · 14/03/2021 14:56

I've cancelled him. Thanks

OP posts:
donewithitalltodayandxmas · 14/03/2021 15:36

The op has said the bf lives quite a way away so she goes there to stay as obviously its a way and she isn't going to leave a 16 year old overnight
The oP is spending 2 days a fortnight with her partner , thats not loads and so plenty of time with her dd
She has now changed it that he comes to her and her dd can be involved .
Personally I don't think thats too much to expect and the mum is allowed a life as well

donewithitalltodayandxmas · 14/03/2021 15:42

@IceCreamAndCandyfloss but a boyfriend can stay over night if you want them to , there is nothing wring with that
Should the op no longer have a private life until her children all grow up
And i wonder if when her dd gets a partner she will be happy even at 20 if only getting to spend days with them
The Op has taken the relationship slowly and not introduced straight away and kept it separate for a year, after that I think she is entitled to also have some say over her lifr

donewithitalltodayandxmas · 14/03/2021 15:45

Also Op said not in uk, maybe its not mothers day there

Marty13 · 14/03/2021 15:47

Wow. I'm really surprised by some of the responses on here. All the people saying "you need to put your daughter first"... I think you do, and I think you do it too much. Seriously, all the ridiculous people saying "you must put your daughter's whims above anything and everything you might want or need for yourself" are the reason why you feel guilty about leaving her alone, even though she's quite capable of handling herself.

You definitely should talk to her about her feelings, and make special plans one on one with her, as it seems it my help her and your relationship.

But you shouldn't let her dictate what you do and with whom, or pander to unreasonable demands. If she wants pasta she can make it herself, and she can clean up the pan afterward.

It may be a cry for help but what would really help her are structure and boundaries, not giving in to her. I think you need to leave her alone and go out. Have some time for yourself - with your boyfriend or anyone else, doesn't matter. If she pouts when you come home, let her get on with it. It won't harm her to realize you're a three-dimensional person with needs like anyone else. Would you consider counselling for your guilt ? With respect feeling such guilt that you can't leave your child on their own doesn't sound normal.

Can't believe the martyrs on here. I doubt they actually would take this kind of crap from their own kids. Yes, she's had a hard time, but so has everyone else. It's not a "get out of jail free" card for her to do whatever she wants and treat her mother like this.

And as for mother's day, who cares ? Some people celebrate it, some don't. You can do whatever you want on that day, it's not an important celebration like Christmas, and not observing it is not a court-martial offense.

Good luck OP. Hope you can sort it out. I'd also encourage your daughter to look for a job or give her more responsibility around the house.

IdblowJonSnow · 14/03/2021 16:36

Putting a child's needs first, yes.
Putting a child's wants first, no.
Two very different things. I'm surprised at many of the responses on here. All the OP had was 2 nights out of 14. Now her DD no longer wants to go to her dads, her 'me' time has completely gone. That's not ok. She is perfectly entitled to have a life of her own. Not only is this acceptable it's actually a healthy thing to model to all her kids.

nothingcanhurtmewithmyeyesshut · 14/03/2021 19:36

16 year olds can legally become parents themselves! Of course she can be left unsupervised. Unless she has some severe learning disabilities or delays that you haven't mentioned, I would be very very concerned about a 16 year old who couldn't be left alone for a few hour during the day.

bitofapickler · 14/03/2021 19:55

Thanks. Originally she was upset that he was coming over for an hour so having spent her day in her room until 5pm, she has gone out for a walk for the evening so I guess the Mother's Day reason for not
Wanting him to come to see us was just another excuse. How disappointing . Zero
Card/ minimal effort today. Feeling a bit glum right now .

OP posts:
sunflowersandbuttercups · 14/03/2021 19:57

Why did you let her spend all day in her room? She wanted one on one time with you but you didn't do anything to make it happen.

BugsAndBeesAndBirdsAndButterfl · 14/03/2021 19:59

What did you suggest to do with her? You don't like her do you.

bitofapickler · 14/03/2021 20:03

I cooked a big meal for the family and she said she wasn't hungry so didn't join us even when I asked her to join for dessert . Asked her to come for a walk with us but refused . Have an evening planned for us next weekend so she says she is looking forward to that so I'm
Reallly hoping that will be start of
More one on one time. I struggle
With one on one time with each child ad my two other kids have sn .
We are so close but I understand that she feels unsettled and her life has turned upside down .

OP posts:
bitofapickler · 14/03/2021 20:04

@BugsAndBeesAndBirdsAndButterfl ... what a despicable thing
To say .

OP posts:
bitofapickler · 14/03/2021 20:05

@sunflowersandbuttercups we have plans for this week .
Being Mother's Day, I was not going to leave the younger two kids . They have delighted in the day and there is no way I can leave them
On their own .

OP posts:
Emeraldshamrock · 15/03/2021 08:25

Her world is blown apart, she is angry with her dad for breaking up the marriage and now she is angry with you moving in.
Her world as it was is over forever.
I'd have hated it as a teenager too.

Emeraldshamrock · 15/03/2021 08:25

*Moving on

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