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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Is she spoilt or am I shit mum?

637 replies

ojss21 · 21/08/2021 09:37

I've NC for this but I'm a regular poster.

My teen dd(15) has started to be quite challenging recently, and I we usually have quite a good relationship, but I've been a single mum to her for most of her life and up until 5 months ago she was an only child, so I tend to be lenient with her at times and struggle to determine whether her behaviour is spoilt or if I'm a shit mum (if that makes sense).

Here's some examples of her recent gripes / reasons for being annoyed with me :

  1. I "only" gave her £100 cash for her 15th birthday plus a few cheaper things to open like chocolates. The main present was the cash and I've always done this for the past few years given her age as it's easier for her to choose her own stuff, I find. She complained for two reasons- firstly, it's not as much as I spent on her 5 month old sister's new car seat which cost £250 (clearly the baby needed that and it's not really comparable), and secondly because she wanted more things to open on the day (despite £100 cash being her main present and also a stretch for me anyway at the moment with being on maternity leave).
  1. We are going away for a few nights this weekend (in the U.K.) and we were originally due to come back on Tuesday. We have extended to Wednesday as we plan to make a detour on the drive back to stay overnight with my sister who is going through a really shitty and scary time at the moment (don't want to go into details but it's health related and potentially very serious). My DD's response at this unexpected detour to her aunty's was "great, that ruins my plans to see my friends on that day as I thought we were coming back the night before. Wish I'd never agreed to come with you now". And off she stropped to her bedroom. This is an aunty who she is very close to, by the way, and is aware of her health complications currently. Dd has also had several days out and sleepovers with her friends this summer hols and I admit it slipped my mind she had planned this outing with them when I arranged to stay away from home an extra night with my sister.

So.... is my DD spoilt, or am I a bad mum for "only" giving her £100 for her birthday and for inadvertently ruining her day out with her mates? This is a genuine question, by the way. I struggle to gain perspective with her sometimes and she makes me feel guilty for my decisions. It's been harder since the baby was born as I feel I'm ploughing so much time and energy into the little one that I'm almost neglecting the eldest, so I do need some outside perspectives!

Thank you.

OP posts:
ButteringMyArse · 21/08/2021 14:13

@ojss21

Yes, frankly DPs got a bit of a fucking cheek. The less he has to say about this the better.

Well given he's now the reason she will get back on time for her outing with her mates, I don't think I'll be passing this lovely message on to him.

I didn't type it with any expectation that you would. But like it or not, his attitude to her feelings is completely in the wrong, and unlike her (and you) he's an adult who had agency in this situation. His decision to participate in bringing another baby into her family imposes an obligation on him to, at the very least, have some insight into her feelings rather than simply problematising them. The lift is good, sure, but this is also going to be an ongoing process.
Cyberattack · 21/08/2021 14:14

I still don't understand why your partner did not contribute to her birthday present.

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 21/08/2021 14:15

We had a similar age gap in my family, with me as the eldest. My mother always expected me to be the grown up and not need any mothering, because the younger ones were more needy. It was shit

Friends say similar. From my own and their experiences, the eldest seems to end up as the default sitter, has lots of chores and very little quiet time to study in.

DGFB · 21/08/2021 14:18

I think you’re over analysing it to be honest. She’s a teenager, they say foul things.
£100 is a good amount. She will get over not seeing her friends and coming to see her aunt instead.
I’d ignore the bad behaviour but tell her if she’s worried or upset about anything, you’re always there for her.
And yes deep down she knows the car seat is needed.. she won’t admit it though!

ojss21 · 21/08/2021 14:22

@Cyberattack

I still don't understand why your partner did not contribute to her birthday present.

It's not something I ask or expect of him, so it's never come up in conversation. I assumed the amount I had been able to comfortably set aside for her birthday would be acceptable to her. If I'd felt like I was really short and struggling, I'd have of course asked for his help and he'd have given it in a heartbeat. But I like to manage my finances when it comes to my eldest myself because she's not my DP's responsibility and I don't feel that expectation is fair as she has me and her dad for that. So I didn't feel I needed to even ask him to contribute.

The only things I expect equal contributions from him for are the household bills, food, and our baby.

OP posts:
pommepommefrites · 21/08/2021 14:23

Did he get her a present though?

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 21/08/2021 14:23

@Cyberattack

I still don't understand why your partner did not contribute to her birthday present.
I know, seems really strange an adult that has been part of her daily life for six years wouldn’t buy or contribute to a gift for her. I’d be very hurt at that. She will notice even more when he buys his own child things.
ojss21 · 21/08/2021 14:24

@pommepommefrites

Did he get her a present though?
We got her a few smaller bits for her to open as I've already said, which came from the family pot of shared finances. So yes he did.
OP posts:
ButteringMyArse · 21/08/2021 14:25

Yes, she very likely will.

ojss21 · 21/08/2021 14:26

@IceCreamAndCandyfloss

I don't hand her £100 cash and go "now that's from my account, ok, not DP's. Happy birthday". If I did, yes, I'd see your point. She has no concept or understanding of how DP and I manage our finances or who funds what. As far as she's concerned, that's her gift from "us". So no, she won't be scarred by this.

OP posts:
ojss21 · 21/08/2021 14:28

And yes, before anyone asks, his name is on her birthday card etc. Fully expecting this to be the next question.

OP posts:
AmyDudley · 21/08/2021 14:29

I think some children/teens have a very heightened idea of 'fair' - my DS was similar for a few years always trying to work out if his sister had had more spent on her than him. (In fact the opposite was true, because his sister wasn't remotely concerned with money and amount spent).
He grew out of it and is now an extremely kind and generous adult, not at all bothered about who spends what on whom, and is very close to and fond of his sister (again there was a bit of an age gap - though not as big as your 2).

She's a teen and they often are self absorbed and a bit blinkered (as loads have said - its brain development) and she's had a very bog change in her life. And to be honest babies aren't that interesting - the consume huge amounts of time and to a teen give very little in return. When the baby start pottering about and talking and playing more, and probably idolising her big sister, then your DD's attitude may very well change.

So on the surface yes, the quibble over money was silly, there's an obvious difference to adults between a car seat and £100. And likely you won;t be spending £100 on the baby's birthday - baby's don't generally have very expensive presents. Maybe your DD could help choose baby's birthday and Christmas presents and have an input so she can see that in terms of presents for occasions teens generally do better than babies and she can also have the pleasure of seeing baby enjoy gifts she has helped choose.

I think your DP sounds lovely and it great he has stepped in to sort the transport issue. As well as missing out with her friends, it may be that she is uncomfortable with her aunt being unwell and as it is serious she may be fearful, worry about what to say etc, but can't put that into words.

I think we all question whether we have done a good job during the teenage years as that is when selfish behaviour tends to manifest itself. In a way it is good she feels she can openly voice her gripes rather than silently seethe. You know that deep down she is a good caring girl - and those qualities haven't disappeared, just got a bit hidden. They will come back and I think over the next few years you will see changes for the good as she grows up.

Make a point of asking about her plans before you make plans that affect her - her social life will be very important to her at the moment. And try if you can to get some time where the tow of you can go off and do stuff together, so she knows she has her time with you. And even start a daily 'together' time when the baby is in bed - bonding over a TV series, or having a hot chocolate and a chat together.

Good luck Flowers You aren't a shit Mum and your DD isn't spoilt. Emotions are complex and they sometimes emerge in the guise of selfishness or rudeness

ojss21 · 21/08/2021 14:31

@IceCreamAndCandyfloss

And hopefully she will have a balanced memory of my DP and everything positive he has done for her in the past 6 years. Like I've already said - last year I was bedridden with awful pregnancy sickness and devastated that I couldn't take her out for her birthday with her friends. DP (not her Dad, you'll note, but DP) stepped in and took them all out and paid for it all so she didn't miss out, whilst I vomited into a bucket at home. I hope she remembers this, too, when she reflects on how "unfairly" he treats her.

OP posts:
lazyarse123 · 21/08/2021 14:33

@madroid

Be nice but tell her when she's out of order eg the car seat vs £100 birthday gift. I'd take it back with a response like that.

There's only one response that's appropriate to a gift: thank you.

And the detour to see aunt is unbelievable. How selfish can you get?

Yes, I'd say a bit spoilt and selfish. Time for some home truths (but said nicely)

I agree with the above. Especially the detour to see the aunt. Yes 15yr olds are self centred but it does them no harm to learn they are not the centre of the universe.
ojss21 · 21/08/2021 14:35

@IceCreamAndCandyfloss

We had a similar age gap in my family, with me as the eldest. My mother always expected me to be the grown up and not need any mothering, because the younger ones were more needy. It was shit

Friends say similar. From my own and their experiences, the eldest seems to end up as the default sitter, has lots of chores and very little quiet time to study in.

And she won't be the default babysitter either. Interestingly, she's already brought this up herself, in the following context -

DD- "Mum when do you think baby will be old enough for you and DP to leave her with me whilst you go for a drink or something?"

Me- "a while yet, why do you ask?"

DD- "Cos I want to earn money babysitting and have my mates over etc".

So in fact she wants to babysit for cash and I'm nowhere near ready to leave my baby anyway, but she's chomping at the bit to do it! 🤷‍♀️

OP posts:
ItsASpot · 21/08/2021 14:39

Haven't RTFT just some of OP's posts. Your dd is a normal teenager and not spoilt. I think it's lazy and unimaginative to just gift a young child cash, doesn't show much thought or like you know her and what would feel special or meaningful to her. She is jealous of younger sibling, very understandably, and you are not handling it well. You come across as mainly focused on yourself and your lovely new DP and baby. That must hurt your dd so much. Sad

ojss21 · 21/08/2021 14:39

@AmyDudley

Thank you for your thoughtful post. It actually brought a bit of a tear.

OP posts:
Flatdisco · 21/08/2021 14:40

@ojss21

imagine having a baby or toddler around whilst doing GCSEs or a levels)

I don't need to imagine - I did. Two of them actually.

And you thought it was a good idea to recreate it for your daughter?
ojss21 · 21/08/2021 14:41

@Flatdisco

My experience of it wasn't at all negative. I loved my little brothers. So yes I thought it might be nice to recreate that for my dd.

OP posts:
ojss21 · 21/08/2021 14:43

And just to add that my DD clearly adores her baby sister. She's so good with her.

OP posts:
ItsASpot · 21/08/2021 14:43

Anyway she's happy today with the plan of two cars and leaving early with DP to meet her friends, so at least we have resolved that part!

See, that is pandering to and spoiling your dd. Not a good idea. Dynamics in your family seem all manners of odd. Sad

DGFB · 21/08/2021 14:45

You are getting a hard time OP. It’s up to you how much you spend on a car seat, it’s none of your dd’s business how you spend the money! £100 is a good gift.
Also aghast at the comments regarding your partner.. as if he’s some evil stepdad who doesn’t like her.
Ignore Mumsnet, people are bonkers. I think you know your daughter.. teens are like this!

ojss21 · 21/08/2021 14:46

😂😂

Honestly I can't win.

I'm apparently inconsiderable if I don't consider her social plans as these are vitally important to a teen. So I've found a way around this with DP's kind offer to bring her home early. And now my family dynamics are "odd" and i'm spoiling her.

Ffs. Good job MN doesn't reflect anything I come across in RL!

OP posts:
Urghhhhh · 21/08/2021 14:47

Op, you say it was just the 2 of you for a long while. Then DP came along and that was an adjustment I'm sure, but she probably continued to feel safe in her bond with you. But now, by throwing a baby into the mix, she not only sees that her needs now come second, but might also feel that you've created a new "nest" with partner and baby and she's effectively the odd one out now. It used to be just you and her as a family and now she feels on the outside looking in at your new shiny family. Not saying she's justified to think that, just saying that it's plausible for her to interpret the situation this way. Being 15 is awful enough even without being pushed down on your parent's list of priorities. I would cut her major slack for now.

Did you ask her how she felt about the possibility of a sibling? Or did you just proceed with no regard to what that would mean for her?

Did

ojss21 · 21/08/2021 14:47

@DGFB

You are getting a hard time OP. It’s up to you how much you spend on a car seat, it’s none of your dd’s business how you spend the money! £100 is a good gift. Also aghast at the comments regarding your partner.. as if he’s some evil stepdad who doesn’t like her. Ignore Mumsnet, people are bonkers. I think you know your daughter.. teens are like this!

Yes I found the focus on my partner a little weird if I'm honest. They get on great most of the time!

OP posts:
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