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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

My 16yo DS and his girlfriend (Part 2)

1000 replies

workworkworkugh · 19/04/2021 13:22

Just opening a new thread as I believe the other one is getting full.
Will try and link the old one

OP posts:
Mix56 · 14/05/2021 09:02

I agree dont leave his stuff out. He will turn it around & say you threw him out.
The GF & her wretched mother will have said, "get them to leave it out, cut contact to a minimum, you know there's going to be a scene "

applesandpears33 · 14/05/2021 09:58

I wouldn't put his stuff outside either. If he wants it, he can fetch it. I would give him a cheap PAYG mobile with credit in it and tell him about the code word. In the documentary lots of people have mentioned the girl slowly isolated her partner from his friends and family and then cut off all forms of communication. The young man tried to stay in contact via the messenger facility on his games console but she found out about that and took it away from him. Your DS may be able to keep a small PAYG phone hidden incase he ever wants to use it.

RandomMess · 14/05/2021 10:17

I would send a message about collecting his stuff and make it as bright and breezy as possible!

"Of course you would like to collect more of your stuff which is completely understandable. You are welcome to come in and pick up what you would like of yours. There is no drama from us that should make you think you are not welcome in our home and that we are going to continue with discussions/arguments. We have all made our positions clear and we just need to move forward"

Something like that.

Geriatric1234 · 14/05/2021 10:42

Marking a place here as this is terrifying. I truly hope your DS sees the light soon.

Mulhollandmagoo · 14/05/2021 10:44

Yeah, agree with others about not leaving his stuff on the doorstep as his GF and her mum will twist that (he probably will too to be honest) into you kicking him out and not wanting him there. When he comes to collect his things just be polite and breezy with him, no scene whatsoever as that will cut them off at the source. Tell him you love him, miss him and hope to see him soon as he leaves.

workworkworkugh · 14/05/2021 11:02

We had already put it out the front.
The messages went back and forth for a little while and it was obvious he refused to see us (we are sure it's because he's embarrassed at his behaviour) and he needed some of it for school.
Right thing to do? Probably not but it's done now.

OP posts:
Dashel · 14/05/2021 11:10

I’m so sorry OP, it is horrendous what is going on and I hope you and your family are getting as much support as possible from your wider family and friends.

It doesn’t sound like there is much you can do apart from heal yourself and the rest of the family. Maybe take a few days away or plan something that the younger DC would enjoy, not to make him envious but for yourselves.

Daria10 · 14/05/2021 11:15

@workworkworkugh Have you at least considered cutting some of his pocket money and other expensive benefits?

workworkworkugh · 14/05/2021 11:19

@Daria10 he doesn't get money from us, he gets it from his casual work.

We're waiting to see how it pans out when he is 'supposed' to be home and will make decisions on the phone and private schooling then.

OP posts:
Sssloou · 14/05/2021 11:26

Contact with the outside world - ie his phone as well as attending school are crucial lifelines / escape routes for him. Please don’t punish him by taking away his education or connections. That would accelerate the isolation that they are trying to achieve.

Peridot1 · 14/05/2021 11:41

See how he is at his game at the weekend.

I think understanding that he is embarrassed and putting his things outside was fine. Not what you want but you are meeting him half way. I think that’s an important message. I wouldn’t threaten to stop paying for his phone or school or anything else. He will feel victimised and backed into a corner. At this stage I would be playing it light and breezy and loving as normal.

If he says anything about staying longer with them I would just really calmly say “we’d like you to come home please. We miss you. This is always your home. We won’t interfere in your relationship or make any demands of you but we are always here for you. You are our son and we love you as always. Nothing changes that.”

I think he needs to know there is a calm welcoming space for him without drama.

He’s 16. Confused. Torn. Under huge pressure from the girlfriend. Putting him under any more pressure is likely to push him more towards her as you’ve found.

People much older and experienced and supposedly wiser than him get embroiled in abusive relationships and struggle to see it and get out.

His meltdown last weekend after your meal out worried me a lot. He’s obviously under huge pressure from her.

FollowYourOwnNorthStar · 14/05/2021 11:47

Hey @workworkworkugh I was going to suggest making his favourite slice or biscuits and adding them to his stuff for when he comes to collect it, but I see that has already happened. Keep it in mind if there is a next time.

I agree with the excellent advice @Sssloou and others have written. I know you have dismissed (for now) the idea of fun activities, but I agree they are key. Your family home needs to stop being the tense one, and return to be the homey, friendly, fun, family place in his heart. Can you do a movie night tomorrow night with your other boys? Favourite meal or takeaway and a movie night all under the same doona in the living room. Do your sons go to watch him play sport too? Depending on the time (and sport) could you take a picnic lunch for the family? Have a good time supporting him. If he comes over at the end tell him you are proud of him and love him, and then wave him off back to them, if necessary. (It might take a few games to build up to this). You could slip him the package of his favourite biscuits as you do.

Maybe in a week or fortnight or when things have de escalated you could invite them both over for a Friday night dinner - say you will make his favourite meal and her favourite dessert, if he tells you what it is. No begging to stay or come back, just an invite to dinner. He might say no. No matter. Ask again in a fortnight - maybe this time it’s a Sunday afternoon BBQ with his favourite cousins over to visit. After that you get tickets to a big sporting match for the same sport he plays (eg rugby - the Watatahs, or soccer or AFL etc) and say your family are going with his best friends (who also plays the sport) family. Does he and girlfriend want to come?

Yes or no, these breezy, fun invites will sound good, and as the drama with the girlfriend ramps up, start to look like pockets of peace to escape too. Always invite the girlfriend, so it’s not a competition. As @Ssslou says, give her the stage at these things. It’s not a competition. She will show herself to be what she is, and eventually, he’ll see it too. He just can’t as he is too emotional and caught up to see clearly now.

Win him back by showing and advertising the wonderful life he had. Make it even better. Thinking of getting a dog - get the dog! Always talked about a surfing trip to the untamed WA beaches? Plan it now. Install the pizza oven in your backyard and have pizza topping competitions with your kids every Sunday nights. Whatever works for your family. It will be nice for your other children to have some spoiling by doing this too, as they must be upset at seeing you so upset, and losing their brother in the house.

PS I know getting a dog is a big commitment. It was an example of possibilities. Obviously only to do if the OP’s circumstances are right.

FollowYourOwnNorthStar · 14/05/2021 11:49

In case it wasn’t obvious - I meant home made slice or biscuits. Some special connection to home in every bite.

DdraigGoch · 14/05/2021 13:47

@Sssloou

Contact with the outside world - ie his phone as well as attending school are crucial lifelines / escape routes for him. Please don’t punish him by taking away his education or connections. That would accelerate the isolation that they are trying to achieve.
I think that the biggest worry is that he might drop out of school altogether.
Sssloou · 14/05/2021 14:05

Can you give a heads up to other people of influence in his life and/or mentors.

You don’t even have to go into any details - just say to look out for him as he is struggling emotionally and you are worried that he is going to ground eg his sports coach might ask why he wasn’t at practice or might involve him in helping out with a younger team etc.

Same with school are there any teachers that you can rely on to support and look out for him. If he can at least keep up with his sporting commitments, school and job he then has balance, contrast and an outlet.

It’s very hard to walk this tightrope and there are many conflicting issues that need addressing in a different way when you are trying to coax someone out of an abusive RS - which evidenced from your very first post it most undoubtedly is.

ShowMeTheSugar · 14/05/2021 16:35

I think if there are any other bits he wants to pick up you could offer to pack them, but leave them in the house/hallway so he does need to come in. My message would be a "we miss you and would love to chat but if you're not open to it you get the items and go, no fuss or drama from us".

Is he communicating with his siblings at all?

I agree with the message above that you need to disengage, make your interactions breezy and essentially let him miss you all a bit - plus let the school know so they can keep an eye. You can't force him to see the light, just be ready when he does.

Hugoslavia · 14/05/2021 16:37

I think that you need to provide him with an excuse to return home without him losing face. It's likely that he'll feel embarrassed if and when he returns. Perhaps provide him with an excuse that it's still OK to come home to see his brothers and that they miss him. That way he can have the excuse that he's not backing down, but being kind to his siblings.

BlueVelvetStars · 14/05/2021 18:12

OP have you considered a new Thread. I think this one is almost full.

Regards his stuff at the door, as you say, he wasn't coming in.. it's done..

I hope you yourself have been able to find a bit of peace in this week 🌸

DartmoorDoughnut · 14/05/2021 20:37

So sorry this has escalated so much Sad

peeweemermaid · 14/05/2021 21:20

I do feel so incredibly sorry for what you are going through. I think you are handling it so well. I would be in my knees by now.

Hoghgyni · 14/05/2021 22:40

Still 5 pages and around 130 posts available on this one, but OP has started this one.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4245195-my-16yo-ds-and-his-girlfriend-part-3

workworkworkugh · 14/05/2021 22:54

@Hoghgyni @BlueVelvetStars mentioned that maybe I should start a new one.

OP posts:
BlueVelvetStars · 14/05/2021 23:02

[quote workworkworkugh]**@Hoghgyni* @BlueVelvetStars* mentioned that maybe I should start a new one.

[/quote]

glad you're still talking OP, you have somewhere to vent rationalise speak freely and safely. 🌺

Hoghgyni · 14/05/2021 23:17

Simply didn't want your story to get split between the two in case anything dramatic happens overnight.

workworkworkugh · 15/05/2021 03:57

Well we went to his game today to watch, the GF/Mum weren't there surprisingly.

At the end we decided to go and see him, we went up to him, said Hello and had a chat about his game. He had a little laugh with us, we asked him if he was umpiring today and he talked to us about that and then we said we had to go.
I gave him a kiss and a hug and told him we loved him and then we left.
We didn't linger and we didn't mention anything about what's been happening.
I'm happy with that.

DH spoke to him too but i actually think he's struggling more than me, he just keeps it inside while I wear my heart on my sleeve.

I'm happy that we did it.

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