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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Step Daughter every weekend

239 replies

DaisyBooToo · 10/06/2021 18:07

Hi, I really need objective opinions as I really don’t know if I am being out of line or not.
I have 2 dsd and 2 kids with DH. DSD are 18 and 15. dSD2 has decided to come to stay at ours every weekend and I am feeling a bit put out by this, I know in an ideal world I shouldn’t but should she not be starting to have her own social circle of friends rather than want to hang out with younger siblings 8 & 10? She has her own room here and sleeps till about 2pm with DH running up and down with breakfast in bed (12pm). DH has his friends round for beers in garden and I feel I am kind off stuck catering to the 3 kids when I would normally (pre this/covid) just take my 2 out for dinner or to friends, park, soft play etc all thing age appropriate but not for DSD2 that has a bit of a negative nelly attitude to most things (I am guessing typical teen behaviour). I also am concerned as to why she doesn’t want to spend time with her mum. I also feel like I can’t really arrange anything as I need to run it past DH so he can check it’s ok to not get DSD one night.
I have tried saying this to DH and he has gone mental at me saying I am being out of line it’s her house etc. Also that his 4 kids come first and are more welcome than me right now.
Am I being unreasonable to ask for 1 weekend in 4 to just be me and my 2?

OP posts:
BillieSpain · 11/06/2021 12:05

Well

  1. I understood DSD is completelt happt to lounge around all Saturday morning (like every teenager I know.
  1. That is has not been confirmed that DH is 'getting pissed' or merely having a few friends round for a couple of beers.

It really does depend on the way you chose to interpret it.

As I said, my (just turned 13 DD) would not want to go to soft play at 10am on Saturday morning.

BillieSpain · 11/06/2021 12:07

Sorry for typos!

I also do not in any way feel OP is being left to look after DSD. You simply don't, at that age.

InnaBun · 11/06/2021 12:07

2. That is has not been confirmed that DH is 'getting pissed' or merely having a few friends round for a couple of beers.

I don't think it matters either way. He can't dump his daughter on OP every weekend just becuase he wants to see his mates.

DudeIsADude · 11/06/2021 12:07

@Iceybirb

If she's 15 she's capable of staying home alone if she doesn't want to join your activities.

Can't you say to her on a Friday night that you're doing X Y Z on Saturday, leaving the house at 10:30, would she like to come?

Then she can come if she wants, but can stay in bed if she wants. It's up to her, she's not being excluded.

The problem with this, and I know people will think how awful it makes me sound but... What if she says yes every time?

Perhaps OP just wants to take her DC somewhere on their own, perhaps she just wants to go and see her friends and doesn't want to have another older child tagging along.

Why is it okay for the father to have time out by himself, with his mates in the garden, but not OP?

If it's expected that OP invite DSD every where every time, then her Dad can invite her out with him and his mates or take her somewhere too.

OP should be allowed to go and do things every now and then at the weekend with her children by themselves and her children deserve that too.

InnaBun · 11/06/2021 12:08

@BillieSpain

Sorry for typos!

I also do not in any way feel OP is being left to look after DSD. You simply don't, at that age.

Good point, maybe OP is feeling she should rather than she has to. She could always leave 15 year old at home around dad and his mates and go out and do what she wants.
BillieSpain · 11/06/2021 12:10

@InnaBun

2. That is has not been confirmed that DH is 'getting pissed' or merely having a few friends round for a couple of beers.

I don't think it matters either way. He can't dump his daughter on OP every weekend just becuase he wants to see his mates.

But he is at home, in the garden!!
Justanticipating · 11/06/2021 12:10

"Also that his 4 kids come first and are more welcome than me right now."

This is a really awful thing to say.
I don't think yabu at all. Youve offered to get her involved which she turns her nose up at, and your DH is choosing to spend time with his friends instead and leaving you to be restricted every weekend, it sounds suffocating. I think cutting down one of the weekends is a good compromise.

I'd start to make plans some weekends either way and don't restrict yourself.

DudeIsADude · 11/06/2021 12:10

Billie, it's been implied several times by the OP that she feels she can't go out because DSD is there to see her siblings.

It is said she comes to spend time with the younger ones therefore I am still the bad guy if I take them out or let them go out to play

Is just one example from the OPs post, there are more.

BillieSpain · 11/06/2021 12:11

Inna, yes, that is my feeling. Wehn they are 8 and 10, 15 seems a long way off!

I'm loving 13 Grin

DudeIsADude · 11/06/2021 12:12

So it sounds like the problem is OP feels like she can't just get on with her own weekend with her DC (like her husband does) without still being made out to be the bad guy.

So what's her options? Stay home when she doesn't want to? Go out and leave DSD and be made out to be the bad guy? Or go out and have to take DSD with her every time?

BillieSpain · 11/06/2021 12:13

@DudeIsADude

Billie, it's been implied several times by the OP that she feels she can't go out because DSD is there to see her siblings.

It is said she comes to spend time with the younger ones therefore I am still the bad guy if I take them out or let them go out to play

Is just one example from the OPs post, there are more.

Yes, but I think this might not be 100% true or realistic! Sorry.

DSD could easily have used this as an excuse or OP could be projecting, massively.

InnaBun · 11/06/2021 12:14

So what's her options? Stay home when she doesn't want to? Go out and leave DSD and be made out to be the bad guy? Or go out and have to take DSD with her every time?

I think this is it and I think OP should go out and leave DSD in the company of dad and his mates having a beer. She isn't the bad guy, he is for not wanting to spend time with her. Or maybe he is fine for her to hang around with the ladz.

BillieSpain · 11/06/2021 12:15

She shouldn't feel like the bad guy! Why?

Honestly, a 15 year old won't be offended at being left be Saturday morning. They just want breakfast in bed (is lucky enough!) and to watch TikTok/chat with friends online!

InnaBun · 11/06/2021 12:15

And the younger ones aren't there to be entertainment for her every weekend. They have needs of their own.

BillieSpain · 11/06/2021 12:17

@InnaBun

And the younger ones aren't there to be entertainment for her every weekend. They have needs of their own.
Yes, the age gap is pretty big
DudeIsADude · 11/06/2021 12:17

Yes, but I think this might not be 100% true or realistic! Sorry

Well as with all MN threads we can only go off the information provided, the dad isn't posting here, nor is the DSD, only the OP is. Is it just step mother's you don't believe I wonder or are you always sceptical about threads on here?

I think this is it and I think OP should go out and leave DSD in the company of dad and his mates having a beer

Yes she should and no she isn't the bad guy you're right. But I don't think it's difficult to understand why you might start resenting the situation and just find it easier if she didn't stay at all if you were constantly being made to feel like one.

DudeIsADude · 11/06/2021 12:19

@BillieSpain

She shouldn't feel like the bad guy! Why?

Honestly, a 15 year old won't be offended at being left be Saturday morning. They just want breakfast in bed (is lucky enough!) and to watch TikTok/chat with friends online!

You're assuming she won't be offended. OP has said that she is made to feel like the bad guy if she goes out without her. It's not yet clear whether that's by her DH or the DSD but it has been implied several times that the DSD likes 'hanging out with' her younger siblings so it's not so much of a stretch to think she'd not like to be left behind whilst OP goes out.
DudeIsADude · 11/06/2021 12:19

Sorry InnaBun, I thought I was replying to Billie for some reason on the second part of my first post!

MissMaple82 · 11/06/2021 12:24

I think your out of line too. Who are you to say what she should or shouldn't be doing. She's entitled to be there as much as she wants really. And the sleeping in till 2pm amd catering to them is actually pretty normal for teenagers. Let's be honest you just don't want her there by the sounds of it

eatitgood · 11/06/2021 12:27

As is always the case with these problems, if you got rid of the dead weight beer drinking husband all your problems would disappear.

BillieSpain · 11/06/2021 12:33

@DudeIsADude

Yes, but I think this might not be 100% true or realistic! Sorry

Well as with all MN threads we can only go off the information provided, the dad isn't posting here, nor is the DSD, only the OP is. Is it just step mother's you don't believe I wonder or are you always sceptical about threads on here?

I think this is it and I think OP should go out and leave DSD in the company of dad and his mates having a beer

Yes she should and no she isn't the bad guy you're right. But I don't think it's difficult to understand why you might start resenting the situation and just find it easier if she didn't stay at all if you were constantly being made to feel like one.

I am a step mother. This is AIBU and am giving my experience.
DudeIsADude · 11/06/2021 12:36

I thought the point was to say if you think someone is unreasonable or not based on what they've said, not what you think they are lying about based on your experience (which doesn't have anything to do with OP).

Twinsmum2003 · 11/06/2021 12:37

Why do some women seem to have really low expectations of their partners? You think it’s okay for your husband to drink beer with his mates like a single bloke while you entertain not only your joint kids but a stepchild too. My husband has loads of time to himself but if I said I was doing something with friends then he would naturally look after the kids and food etc, he isn’t doing me a favour, they’re his kids too. Do you have no self esteem?

Diverseopinions · 11/06/2021 12:43

The younger kids are her siblings too. She feels they are family. They are going to be important to one another when you and your husband are older and not able to do so much, and not on the same wavelength. They will be of the same generation. Five years will be nothing as an age gap when they are 35 and having kids at around the same time - probably. Probably, the younger two would like her around, and the elder sibling too; your DH wants her around; it's just you who wishes that you could have a family which isn't really blended.

The thing is, that if the family relationship isn't fostered, then this child may find she belongs properly nowhere. People will just be waiting for her to move on, get a job, get a life. This is harsh. But we live in quite harsh times, I accept. When things are tough, families do perhaps want the teenagers to grow up fast, think about work, get independent. This is a bit, though not exactly, obviously, like living in 1920s Britain, when girls probably felt they ought to stand on their own feet.

Maybe DSD mum is having a hard time with money or something, and life for DSD at home is real and gritty, and as it is, but a bit bleak. Maybe her mum is a bit down and always going on about the harsh practicalities of life, and dreading how she is going to find more stimulation and development for her daughter. Perhaps her dad's home - and yours of course - seems more fun and secure.

Anyway, she is with her mum all week so why shouldn't your DH host her every weekend? Why shouldn't he do 50/50, actually?

Do you, unconsciously, not want to take DSD out with your two, as it will mean spending more money on cold drinks, ice cream, pizza? Why wouldn't it be more fun for the younger two to have their sister with them on outings?

Yes, DH should interact a lot with her, and his friends could too, when they are round. They could easily happen - the different generations hanging out together.

I suppose, the optimum is it just being her home, and her not having to feel like a visitor.

BillieSpain · 11/06/2021 12:43

@DudeIsADude

I thought the point was to say if you think someone is unreasonable or not based on what they've said, not what you think they are lying about based on your experience (which doesn't have anything to do with OP).
I was trying to kindly say that I think yes, OP is basing her parenting experience maybe, on younger DC's and more likely that DSD says to her DF 'I want to see my siblings' to manipulate.

I actually don't think the OP wants her DSD there every weekend as she has said so.

I just think it is probably a combination of many things.

I was trying to be fair and measured. Something doesn't add up in the story to me as a mother to a very young teen (and a step mother to boot)

I'll back off now.