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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:
MrsWashington · 24/10/2021 11:26

@pumpkinpie01

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
This is my argument with him and to be honest with her at the moment I am picking my battles.

If she wants her room a mess fine she has to live in it not me! Ive told him just not to go in and he said well I can see all the mess from the landing! I said well shut the door! His response is no its my house and if I ask her to tidy her room then she should be doing it and I should only have to ask once!

OP posts:
HundredMilesAnHour · 24/10/2021 11:28

He's horrendous. How he treats your daughter is appalling and completely unacceptable. Then as your post goes on, it gets worse and worse. No wonder you have anxiety. Nothing is normal here. He is controlling and abusive. You need to get you and your daughter away from him as fast as you can.

backtolifebacktoreality · 24/10/2021 11:33

I have been with my husband since my daughter was five. She's now an adult. There are times when he's had to put rules it place and of course has asked her to tidy her bedroom etc. However, there is a way of doing this. Shouting is not the answer. Humiliating her in front of her friends is not right either. It's about teaching mutual respect too.

IsThePopeCatholic · 24/10/2021 11:33

He sounds horrible. He has no idea about children and how to behave with them. I would leave with your daughter.

mrsunicorn1807 · 24/10/2021 11:37

Do you have family or friends nearby that can help you out? I have to agree with others that have stated he is abusive, I would worry that your relationship with your DD will be strained in the future if you don't act on this now, you are not in the wrong at all in this situation

CrumpetStrumpet · 24/10/2021 11:37

He's a horrible, controlling arsehole.

What do you even get out of being with this man? He is emotionally and financially abusive. Please leave for your daughters sake if not your own. He will only get worseFlowers

AnneElliott · 24/10/2021 11:44

He sounds awful op. He shouldn't shout at your DD and should leave discipline to you.

I don't see any way back from this - I think you need to put your DD first.

Smashingspinster · 24/10/2021 11:52

My mother left me with my dad when she left him. Some years later at age 13 my dad remarried and I was turfed out by my new step mother and sent to live with my mum and her new partner. He was explosive, shouting all over the place and treating me like I was awful. He expected everyone to bow down to him and do whatever he wanted. And although we were never allowed to contradict him or stand up for ourselves without him acting like we had committed a crime, he could say and do whatever he wanted and expected no consequences from it. Sounding familiar? Let me tell you what happened next.

One day he was gloating at the table about one sport season ending and another beginning (we had one tv, he would completely hog it and we had to all tiptoe around quietly if he was watching anything. In an open plan house). My mother was complaining, I said something like 'not more sports' and he picked me up out of my chair by the choker I was wearing, pushed me around, chased me around the downstairs and ended up pushing me to the floor in the kitchen. He then ran upstairs. And guess what - my mother went after him. So I was assaulted and left downstairs for hours. She made her choice clearly that day, but it had been building for some time. I despised my mother for not protecting me. I was not a bad kid at all, but it was open season on me in that house. I grew up with a massive chip on my shoulder that no one liked me or thought I was important. And that made me vulnerable to mistreatment by anyone who showed me any kindness. It has taken me years and a lot of hard work to get over that. I never really forgave my mother for that.

If you care about your daughters welfare you will get out. He has already clearly told you he will take no responsibility for the way he acts even through it upsets you, and is quite happy to behave like a massive bully to a child. Teenagers are supposed to push boundaries, and be annoying at times - adults are supposed to be able to handle that. His asking for money, feeling he should be able to do whatever he wants, they are all signs of entitlement and massive warning signs. My mother told me years later she wished she had left him but felt unable to. It did not help me feel better about how she had not protected me. I know you have tried by talking to him, and I am sorry you are in this situation. But you need to get out.

myheartskippedabeat · 24/10/2021 11:55

He sounds horrible and controlling

Please do the right thing for you and your daughter and leave

Smashingspinster · 24/10/2021 11:57

Oh, and the other fun thing about all of this - in order to justify herself my mothers story to the rest of the family was I was so awful he just could not help himself. So the extended family all thought I was a total brat. A straight A student, who worked, did chores, helped my grandmother daily (who totally saw how fucked up things were and was the one spot of sanity in this). So the atmosphere in the house was not only poison, I was treated like shit by the wider family too. I am not saying you are likely to do this, but there are a lot of people who think there is no smoke without fire, and who will wonder if your daughter is really so horrible that he cant cope. Please protect her. And yourself.

MrsWashington · 24/10/2021 12:03

@Crunchingleaf

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?
I met him when she was 1.
OP posts:
MrsWashington · 24/10/2021 12:03

@FionnulaTheCooler

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.
If I sit and think do I get anything positive out of this relationship I cannot answer with anything.
OP posts:
Ellie56 · 24/10/2021 12:05

He is a vile horrible man and an abusive twat.

Get rid for your sake and your daughter's.

And how bloody dare he take half of your daughter's maintenance money? Shock

RudestLittleMadam · 24/10/2021 12:15

His behaviour is controlling. Shouting at your daughter in front of her friends, attempting to humiliate her is bang out of order and I wouldn’t put up with that from him.

I get that teenagers can be rude, bratty and unreasonable but ultimately, they’re children, we are adults and there are far more effective, non abusive ways to tackle your daughter’s attitude when she’s misbehaving.

RudestLittleMadam · 24/10/2021 12:18

Just read that he’s taken half of your child maintenance?! Fucking get rid of this loser. Red flags all over the place.

MrsWashington · 24/10/2021 12:34

Ive just said to him you said you were getting help for your anger issues. He stated he admits he needs help but I definitely do he states.

She walks all over you and you need to come down on her harder. Im an adult and she shouldn't speak to me the way she does. He told her off when her friend was there the other day and she shuusshed him which I admit is wrong.

I feel like I'm sinking. He is saying she has no respect but I dont like the way he responds with her.

OP posts:
bluebeck · 24/10/2021 13:04

So sorry OP but I don't think you should have to carry on living like this. It isn't fair on you or your DD.

As you are married you need legal advice. You don't have to act on it immediately but it will make you feel empowered to know where you will stand.

What's your housing situation? Could you increase your income?

Bluntness100 · 24/10/2021 13:12

God. No wonder you have anxiety, your husband is a cruel bully. You need to get out, I’m sorry, you cannot permit your child to be abused by this man anymore, even if you would be willing to let him continue to abuse you

I also can’t believe he takes your maintenance money. What a horrible horrible man he is

VeganCheesePlease · 24/10/2021 13:13

@Dobbyismyabsolutefav

My very first LTB. Seriously time to exit this relationship firstly for you and also for your DD.
I don't much like the phrase and I've never used it but I am in agreement with this. He sounds awful and controlling. The constant walking on eggshells can't be healthy 13 is a tricky age. we have all been there, and this is such an important time for her because you are teaching your daughter what is acceptable from a man in a relationship and what you're getting most definitely isn't xx
Caffeinefirst · 24/10/2021 13:22

I don’t think it matters whether he’s her biological father or step father at this point. He’s horrible. Marching into your daughter’s bedroom and shouting when she had friends there is something my abusive (biological) dad would have done.

Also this “I can do what I like in my own house”. Children don’t have the choice but to live where they are. Maybe your daughter would like to leave if she had somewhere else to go but she’s stuck.

My sister and I both left as soon as we could at 18 and hardly ever went back so this affected our relationship with our mum as well for a number of years.

MrsWashington · 24/10/2021 13:23

@bluebeck

So sorry OP but I don't think you should have to carry on living like this. It isn't fair on you or your DD.

As you are married you need legal advice. You don't have to act on it immediately but it will make you feel empowered to know where you will stand.

What's your housing situation? Could you increase your income?

We rent our house. But he has moved the majority of our money into his sole account Ive managed to get £300 of it but have said I want more cos its not just his.

Ive transferred all the bills into my sole account and have asked him to leave. He said he will look for somewhere this week.

OP posts:
AlexaShutUp · 24/10/2021 13:30

Well done, OP. He is controlling and abusive. You deserve better for yourself, and you owe it to your daughter to get her out of this situation.

MultiStorey · 24/10/2021 13:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

User527294627 · 24/10/2021 13:38

He’s a horrible bully, to you and your daughter.

For her sake at least, I think you should leave him. It must be pretty traumatising for her growing up in an environment with someone who treats her like that, and the long term repercussions it could have for her mental health and self esteem are enormous.

You have to protect her from him, and his behaviour suggests the only safe way to do that is to break up.

SpookyPumpkinPants · 24/10/2021 13:47

Have you got screen shots of the money he's moved into just his name?