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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

19 year old daughter not speaking to me because of boyfriend situation

465 replies

StewPots · 08/09/2021 05:14

My daughter is 19 and still living at home - not an issue - but has stopped speaking to me. Basically it’s because of her 20 yr old boyfriend, and my partner.

For context - my daughter has been with her bf for a year and a half, he lived with his mum and stepdad ( very tense relationship there ) but stayed here with her 3/4 nights a week. So far so good.

But then around two months ago, she split from him - he’d been in live porn sites, dating sites etc but my daughter says he never spoke to anyone, just had a pic up in the dating site. Anyway - big drama where my daughter and I packed all the bf stuff and my partner drove my daughter to bf parents house to drop it off etc. We were both very supportive towards her and helped her through it. However, 3 weeks later, she got back with him. Ok… I wasn’t keen on having him in the house as the dynamic changed for me, but I relented and he came back here and there.

Then he had a huge falling out with his stepdad - it got physical and from what I gathered the stepdad is a controlling abusive idiot - but we let the bf stay on the condition it being short term as in a week or two. 6 weeks later, he’s still here, has contributed £200 in that time, despite earning fair money in a full time job. My partner at this point has got fed up and asked could the bf go stay at his dads or something 2/3 times a week. To be clear, I agree as I don’t want another adult in the house, but at the same time I can’t see someone on the streets.

So yesterday I said to DD that it was time bf went elsewhere for a few nights a week - that he was still welcome here 3/4 nights like before, but my partner in particular was tired of this short term arrangement. It’s been a major source of tension the last few weeks especially, where patience has ran out. DD and bf do nothing to help in the house - I have a long term health condition which forced me to give up work late last year, and I’m still raising a 7 yr old DS. I’ve had awful relationships in the past but current partner is a decent man who has no issues with either of my kids, even taking DD out for driving lessons.

But now it’s escalated where my DD has threatened to move out, thinks my partner is playing “man of the house’ making rules ( he pays all our rent btw and supports me financially whereas daughter has only been paying £100 pcm ) and basically won’t speak to me because I’ve “taken his side not hers”. The bf apparently can’t go to his dads because there’s no room he’d have to stay on sofa and it’s two towns across from work. Yet my partner travels to work 4 towns away everyday and bf drives so…

I’ve been stuck between my partner and my daughter for weeks now, negotiating and allowing the time to be extended regarding bf, but they have both just moved in downstairs full time with no consultation and no reasonable rent offering. My partner says it’s not money per se that’s the issue here but it’s the fact of having another adult forced into the house when actually that’s not what we want. The stress is making me ill and I lost my dad a month ago yet haven’t had time to process any of it because of all this drama between DD and her bf. Help please!

OP posts:
StewPots · 23/09/2021 11:09

Thanks everyone. It’s just a shit situation and I know rationally it’s not my fault - she said she feels overwhelmed. I’ve just tried my best to raise her and done a good job with that - she’s been a model teen in many respects, works hard, nice manners etc etc. But I can’t help think where have o gone wrong? And will DD be ok too? It’s fucking hard playing both mum and dad, and we don’t always get it right but I’ve always tried my best and put my kids first. But now I feel I haven’t because I won’t let bf move in… the fact he was happy to live at ours but not his own place speaks volumes though!

OP posts:
StewPots · 23/09/2021 11:09

@ThanksIGotItInMorrisons that’s ok lovely

OP posts:
Smashingspinster · 23/09/2021 11:24

She has anxiety so I worry she will get worse if I don’t let her get her own way on this. But if I do, then my partner will feel I don’t value him or his opinion and will move out, meaning we will split up. So either way I lose out!

Bullshit is this anxiety - she is behaving like a spoiled entitled brat and blaming your partner who has been very very supportive and understanding. A lot of people use anxiety as an excuse when what they mean is that they dont like it when they dont get their own way. This does not mean that people dont have anxiety disorders, they are not awful and that they dont make you feel like crap - just that a lot of people (and increasingly a lot of young people) seem to mistake normal feelings of disappointment, upset or discomfort when things dont go as they want for a diagnosable anxiety condition.. Why should you give up part of your house? Or your relationship? Let her move out. She needs a massive reality check.

Etonmessisyum · 23/09/2021 11:25

I have a 20 year old son. I’d not allow a girlfriend/boyfriend to move in either. There are enough people in this house!. It’s my home not a lodging. He pays fair ‘board’ but there’s no room for someone else and it changes the family dynamic. I think you’re right and short term was fine but if they want to ‘live’ together they get their own place. My son is planning on that with his girlfriend. They must earn 2500/3k between them so hopefully it’ll be soon as I hardly see him anyway. Can’t be doing with these teens acting entitled over your house. Yes it’s their home but it’s still your home too so you get to choose who lives there and the rules etc

StewPots · 23/09/2021 12:26

We’ve just left the hospital. They are requesting a GP medication review for DD and advised talking therapy… so the usual basically. I’m going home for medication and sleep as it’s been yet another traumatic morning here. Not far off breaking point myself.

OP posts:
disco123 · 23/09/2021 12:35

Stewpots, so sorry this has happened. You did the right thing with the boyfriend - don't second guess yourself. Sounds like he's a chancer.

Sending you strength x

Billybagpuss · 23/09/2021 12:45

@StewPots

Thank you everyone.

I’m here at A & E now, DD has gone in for her assessment, said she’d rather do it alone in end. BF bring me over but he said he feels he may have triggered it as said he wasn’t ready to move in with her!!! DD hasn’t said anything about that to me and I haven’t pushed it but… yeah there’s a lot going on. He feels he can’t say how he feels because she reacts badly - he doesn’t have MH issues himself or anyone in his family so I explained it’s very difficult and requires a lot of support and patience. That’s my perspective, as someone who suffers from extreme anxiety disorder and has been where DD is now… I just don’t know how to feel, I’m in shock and I genuinely don’t know how much more I can take myself to be honest. I’m flaring badly this morning as well, want to cry but also be strong for DD. And I wish my dad was here more than anything as he would’ve been able to kee me calm and rationalise the situation

This does speak volumes. Bf was happy to live with you for next to nothing, but he’s not happy to formalise it and move in together in their own place.

What she needs is some space and time to discover herself and learn who she is, but she’s so desperate for a relationship, even one that isn’t perfect, she is completely overwhelmed by it all.

I haven’t reread the thread, but think I may recall you have a counsellor, you could do with booking a session and taking care of you, as a broken you can not help dd

Stay strong 💐

Calmdown14 · 23/09/2021 13:04

I'm sure someone in the original updates suggested she might be so resistant to him moving out because having him there allowed her to keep an eye on him because ultimately she doesn't trust him.
Suspect the real crux of this is that he isn't as deeply into her as she is to him and is torturing herself trying to make the relationship something it isn't.
Rebuilding relationships after infidelity is extremely hard even for those without your daughter's difficulties.
This is certainly not your fault but she needs to explore these issues with a professional if she is to have healthy relationships in the future.
You shouldn't necessarily verbalise this to her. Might be best to avoid speaking about the bf specifically but talk to her if she'll let you about relationships and the need for healthy boundaries/ self understanding

Calmdown14 · 23/09/2021 13:07

PS while these lessons are really shit for her to learn and she's not managing, if she can address them now through counselling she'll be much less likely to pick badly in the long term. Better to go through it now with you to help her than as a mother with kids tied to someone unsuitable

LAMPS1 · 23/09/2021 13:23

I feel that you have had excellent advice on here and that you were absolutely right to kindly and gently lay down the law about your dd’s bf taking advantage of you - and now it’s obvious that he was also taking advantage of her. She will feel humiliated about that poor girl. Thank goodness you found that strength, when she was punishing you by not speaking to you and by blaming your DP, to hold firm on your boundaries with him.
They are young and may be termed adults officially, but for some young people it’s really really hard to actually move into the sphere of independence with that same feeling of security as your Dd had at home. She thought her bf was offering that same security and she was desperately clutching at that.
She didn’t really want to be not talking to you but the alternative of him not being able to stay there was terrifying to her…she probably felt she would lose him and she just didn’t know how to handle it except by aligning herself with him very firmly and showing her allegiance to him.

The crisis has peaked now and without wishing to sound as though I’m minimising it all, I think that with talking therapy/counselling and support from your DP, and with time in your normal calm household, you can slowly move forward and get stronger. And importantly, have space and time to grieve for your DF.
I really wish you all the very best.

QueenBee52 · 23/09/2021 14:15

OP ... Im sorry this is happening.. I am glad her BF was honest with you but more importantly with your DD.. and he isn't ready for living together .. takes a lot to admit to this..

So perhaps the dynamic in your home may have been misinterpreted too.., He really wasn't for moving in to yours either..

Im glad she is getting support 🌸

QueenBee52 · 01/10/2021 22:10

@StewPots

how are you OP.. I hope your DD is improving 🌸

nosyupnorth · 01/10/2021 22:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Gatekeeper · 16/10/2021 19:32

@StewPots how are things at home Stew?

GettingItOutThere · 16/10/2021 20:21

I hope you are okay OP and your daughter is too

for what its worth you did the right thing, you are a good parent but she is just at that stage! We have all been there

sending strength, keep going and quite frankly keep the boyfriend at arms length after this

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