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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Struggling to cope - be kind

58 replies

MrsWashington · 24/10/2021 10:33

I really need some support with no judgment am I really at rock bottom.

My daughter is 13 years old and she is mine from a previous relationship.

The relationship between DD and DH is strained. DD attitude, mood swings, door slamming not keeping room tidy, answering back are becoming more and more frequent due to age.

My idea of discipline and DH idea are two different things. He shouts a lot. Not just at DD but at me too if we have a disagreement even though I have told him I do not like the way it makes me feel (nervous, anxious etc)

He claims it’s because he was brought up that way and keeps harping on about when we was growing up, if we behaved the way she does, we would have got smacked.

There have been a few incidents between them both and it came to a head were she was being a stroppy teenager after we took her and her friend out resulting in my husband shouting in the middle of a seaside town we are finished me and you to my daughter, you are nothing but a spoiled brat. He then continued onto say to me I think her Christmas spends should be limited and also went so far as stating she might not be able to come on the family holiday next year. It went too far and the end result is me having a conversation with him stating she's my daughter and I do not like the way you discipline her, I have asked him to back off and let me do it if she misbehaves.

This has all come to a head and he is basically saying it's wrong that in his own home he isn't allowed to discipline her. He states its wrong in his own home he isn't allowed to say anything.

My point being though, she had her friends round, her room ended up being messy, instead of addressing this when her friends had gone, he went into her room when her teenage friends were there saying tidy your room its a mess etc etc instead of asking her when her friends had gone, he doesn't ask he shouts. I pulled him up on this, I have been a teenage girl and would have been that embarrassed if my Dad had done that in front of my friends.

He states that if he asks her once she should do it straightaway. My view is that kids are kids and sometimes they don't jump on demand at the first asking. You do sometimes have to ask a couple of times.

Furthermore, the finance situation we have. We used to split the bills 50/50 which resulted in me being significantly worse off each month as I worked part time and had my daughter to pay for. His response was well its not my fault I earn more than you.

When I did end up getting some maintenance off my DD's dad (few and far between) he used to ask for half. He stated because he also pays to put a roof over her head and food in the fridge. So not only did he have more left each month than me, when I did get some maintenance he used to ask for half the amount.

We ended up getting a joint account were both incomes went in and bills came out.
I have become very conscious of what I spend on me and DD as he goes on the app asking me whats this you've spent (it was cleaning products for the house) he states he is like this because he had nothing growing up. But he never used to be like this.

He bought me an expensive winter jacket this It isn't enjoyable wearing it as it was expensive he has told me to look after it and not hang it on the coat hooks downstairs and to put it on a coat hanger in the wardrobe.

He bought my DD some Nike leggings she wanted and when she misbehaved he was stating look I've bought her them leggings and took her friend out and this is how she behaves.

Sorry for the long post I am just really struggling to see whats normal and whats not anymore. I struggle with anxiety disorder anyway (having treatment for a few years) and seem to have hit an all time low.

OP posts:
violetbunny · 24/10/2021 10:35

I'm not surprised you're struggling with anxiety in this situation.
This isn't a healthy situation for you or your daughter. You need to leave, for both her sake and yours.

FionnulaTheCooler · 24/10/2021 10:39

He's a controlling arse. I can't believe he demanded you hand over your daughter's maintenance money to him. Do you actually get anything positive from this relationship because it sounds awful.

Crunchingleaf · 24/10/2021 10:43

My DP doesn’t treat my son like that. I don’t know what age he became a part of you daughters life but unless it’s from a very very young age then you are the one in charge of discipline. Obviously for small things it should be fine for him to say something.
This relationship doesn’t sound good for your daughter or for you. He doesn’t respect your parenting, sounds controlling financially. He sounds toxic for your daughter. Shouting at her in front of her friends is humiliating her.
Have you considered that she will be better off if you split from him?

Lanaa · 24/10/2021 10:44

He sounds like an abusive, controlling dick. For yours and your daughter's sake please leave.

snoopyfloops · 24/10/2021 10:44

I think he's abusive OP. I'm sorry. My dad was like this and our relationship is distant and strained as a result.

Wilkolampshade · 24/10/2021 10:45

He sounds awful tbh. A normal partner would not behave like this. Ask yourself would you be happy if your daughter was married to someone like this. Where has the joy and fun in your life gone? He is gaslighting you, controlling, verbally and emotionally abusive.
Leave him.

Puppermam · 24/10/2021 10:46

He's abusing both of you. He has no right whatsoever to the maintenance. That's for your daughter.

pumpkinpie01 · 24/10/2021 10:47

This is not healthy nor is it normal , it's controlling and abusive. For context my dh has never shouted at my dc , he is their stepdad and has been there through the challenging teenage years . He has backed me up when necessary and we have been on the same page when it comes to rules , he would never have told my dd to tidy her room ! He has spent money on my dc as if they were his own. His behaviour will damage your dd you need to end this relationship

JesusInTheCabbageVan · 24/10/2021 10:48

I am just really struggling to see whats normal and whats not anymore.

None of what you have described is normal or acceptable. I think you will feel a lot better and clearer headed if you end this, and you may well notice an improvement in your DD's behaviour too.

DariaMorgendorffer · 24/10/2021 10:49

How dare he take some of your daughters maintenance money. He's an abusive, controlling prick. I would be leaving immediately.

Don't let this overshadow any more of your dd's childhood. You'll be so much happier without him. He is the cause of your fear and anxiety!

SilverTotoro · 24/10/2021 10:50

He takes half your daughters maintenance money, threatened to exclude her from a family holiday, yells at you both in public and private - interrogates you on spending and controls how you hang up your own coat... this is really not normal behaviour. Please look after yourself and your daughter - even if you aren’t thinking of leaving him now try and put a little money aside as an emergency fund and start thinking about having a plan as to how you would leave if you ever needed to.

dreamingbohemian · 24/10/2021 10:52

He's abusive and you need to leave

Your poor daughter

Dobbyismyabsolutefav · 24/10/2021 10:53

My very first LTB. Seriously time to exit this relationship firstly for you and also for your DD.

icelollycraving · 24/10/2021 10:54

He sounds like an absolute shit stepdad and husband. Start getting your ducks in a row to get away from this abusive wanker. Your dd must be humiliated by him, this will affect your relationship long term if you don’t really stop this. It won’t stop whilst you’re together. If you don’t, she will leave the moment she can.
Have you met his parents? Does this behaviour se likely to be learned? Not that it really makes a difference.

Bagelsandbrie · 24/10/2021 10:55

Why are you putting up with this? He’s abusive and nasty. Your dd shouldn’t have to put up with this and you need to show her you don’t agree with the way he’s behaving.

Bagelsandbrie · 24/10/2021 10:56

I would also put money on your anxiety disorder disappearing if you get rid of him.

LadyLuLou · 24/10/2021 10:56

You need to get you and your daughter out of this situation. This man is not a positive addition to either of your lives. Show your daughter that a strong woman values herself enough to walk away from a bad situation Flowers

Monsterpumpkins · 24/10/2021 10:59

You need to end it op. My dh isn't my dc's df... He sometimes moans about lights left on etc but never to the degree you describe.. Your luge and dd's need to get better. Without him around you will be quids in too.

GiantCheeseMonster · 24/10/2021 11:00

I’m sorry you’re living with this OP. You might find this link helpful.
www.womensaid.org.uk/the-survivors-handbook/am-i-in-an-abusive-relationship/

bravelittlepenguin · 24/10/2021 11:02

Not normal at all he sounds abusive and toxic. You should leave immediately for the sake of your daughter. I had a step dad who was much better than your partner but still caused a lot of issues for me. He used to basically ignore me then blow up at me randomly if me and my mum were arguing for example. He used to call me names in the same way yours calls your daughter names. He ultimately blamed me at least in part for the demise of his relationship with my mum. I grew up feeling unloved and unlovable and as though I was horrible and a bad person. As an adult now I feel so angry that an adult behaved the way he behaved towards a child.

HermioneKipper · 24/10/2021 11:06

I’m so sorry. This seems like such a hard situation but your husband is clearly abusive and is treating your daughter terribly. He has absolutely no right to her maintenance. He is financially abusing you too.

You must leave, particularly for her sake but also your own

MrsWashington · 24/10/2021 11:12

Have I been wrong asking him not to discipline her as I dont like the way he handles things?

He shouts and demands. He thinks I am way too soft and don't discipline her enough and that's why shes cheeky or a cheeky get he called her the other day which I had a big issue with.

He states in his own home he should be allowed to tell her to do things but as her Mum I don't like the way he asks her or doesn't asks her raises his voice.

I am so fed up.

OP posts:
JesusInTheCabbageVan · 24/10/2021 11:17

@MrsWashington so what are you going to do?

MrsWashington · 24/10/2021 11:18

[quote JesusInTheCabbageVan]@MrsWashington so what are you going to do?[/quote]
I'm going to sort my finances today and my account. What do I do if everything is in his account?

OP posts:
Chamomileteaplease · 24/10/2021 11:20

This man is damaging you and he is damaging your daughter - a 13 year old girl Sad.

Sometimes my teenagers are messy, noisy, whatever and I think thank god there isn't a stepfather around because it must be hard to live with someone else's children in some situations.

BUT your husband sounds horrific! He really does. Way over the line of what is acceptable. You feel anxious and you are the adult, imagine how your daughter feels. Get out asap. Stay on here for support if you need it.