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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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To cut DD off?

530 replies

BrokenToy · 30/05/2022 07:27

DD is 18 (just). She’s been living pretty much at her boyfriend’s house for months now.

She informed me the other week that she doesn’t live at home anymore and so we’d have to pay her to babysit/dog sit for our weekend away. Weekend away had been booked for over a year. We were left with no choice but to stump up cash (we were already paying for a takeaway for her and the BF) or lose hundreds of pounds of concert tickets/hotel.

She sent me a text on Saturday about needing new jeans. I didn’t respond. She then phoned me yesterday screaming down the phone that I’m abusive and neglectful and leaving her without clothes. Two weeks ago I gave her £50 to buy summer clothes for the holiday we are taking her on in July. She is constantly asking for small bits of cash here and there (tampons, printer credit for college, things like that that she knows we won’t say no to) and DH and I have just realised this adds up to £155 so far this month…

I’m done. I’m about ready to say fine, you’ve moved out, no more monthly bus pass, pocket money, clothes, takeaways. She works five hours a week and could work more. She smokes and drinks. She’s using us purely as a bank and only contacts us when she needs a top up. I also really really don’t want to take her on holiday but that’s a sunk cost and at least it’s AI so she won’t be asking for cash.

OP posts:
shmivorytower · 30/05/2022 08:54

You sound very hurt by her rejection, OP. It must be so hard. But - you are her mother. It’s your job to be the adult here. She is still extremely young. Try and see past the hurt, reach out to her and try as hard as you can to fix the relationship. Perhaps with the help of a therapist.

Teanext · 30/05/2022 08:54

@BrokenToy

she is still young and you may yet repair the relationship…

If you put some structure/rules around bring civil, it may take the heat out of the situation.

It seems like you might be devastated she’s acting like this and so to hurt her in turn - you’re saying you want to cut her off. (Fair enough if I’m wrong, just surmising).

You need to play the long game. The relationship is the important thing, not who ‘wins’ the battle of hurt.

She is either extremely angry about some aspect of her life she’s holding you accountable for - or she’s been allowed to get away with behaving badly? Which is it? Or is it both?

What does her Dad think? What part does he play in this?

Fleur405 · 30/05/2022 08:54

BrokenToy · 30/05/2022 08:44

I don’t know how to fix a relationship with someone who isn’t interested.

She is not just “someone who isn’t interested”. She is your child. Technically an adult but still a teenager and obviously quite emotionally immature. Surely her behaviour stems from the breakdown in the relationship - these things happen and it’s not necessarily anyone’s fault but one of you has to take responsibility for it and since you’re the adult, shouldn’t it be you?

Swayingpalmtrees · 30/05/2022 08:54

She text me yesterday to tell me the reason she’s moved out is because I treat her like shit

What happened to make her feel like this?
What happened to make her move out at sixteen years old and still a child?

You sound incredibly materialistic, and somewhat short of actual l love for your child. Has she simply learnt to trade with you this way because that is the only currency in your 'beautiful' house?

MintJulia · 30/05/2022 08:57

It sounds like she needs to grow up. Make it clear to her that she will always be welcome at home but if she is old enough to decide to live on her own, then she needs to learn to a)work, b)budget, c)prioritise her spending.

A month or two being skint won't harm her. She'll either get a better job, work with her partner to make a budget work and stop drinking/smoking, or the boyfriend will get fed up of her freeloading and the relationship will break down, at which point she'll come home. And she'll learn that life doesn't run on handouts.

Keep the door open but make it clear she needs to take some responsibility.

Mellowyellow222 · 30/05/2022 08:57

what I like it cost you extra in groceries and power etc to have her at home full time? £100 a month?

give that to the other parents? they are feeding your child - and your argument is you can’t afford to compensate them because you have a huge mortgage?

meet up with the other parents - they no doubt think you are heartless and believe your daughters narrative because of your actions.

incite them round to your beautiful house for dinner - have the daughter and her boyfriend there too.

say you are very grateful for their support of your daughter while she is still in full time education but you need to resolve it and step up. All out on the table. Then have a separate conversation with daughter on behaviours and boundaries.

BrokenToy · 30/05/2022 08:59

Look, I’m not materialistic and it isn’t really about the money.

I can scroll back through text exchanges over the past two years and it is entirely her asking for money. That’s the only time she ever wants to talk to me. She’s made it about money, not me. There have been several occasions where we’ve been out for dinner as a family, she eats and then leaves. Literally using us for a free meal. No conversation or anything, other than ordering the most expensive thing on the menu.

OP posts:
jamapop · 30/05/2022 08:59

Was she babysitting the 10 year old on your weekend away? Because honestly I don’t think I’d feel even vaguely comfortable leaving a 10 year old with a teenager that smokes / drinks, doesn’t want to babysit in the first place, screams/ shouts at you and you have no meaningful relationship with etc etc. Perhaps I’ve read this wrongly though and she was just looking after the dog.

Anyway, this sounds a miserable situation to be in OP. I think perhaps I’d stop funding her directly but speak again to the boyfriend’s mother - say again you’re not sure how the relationship has broken down like this and you don’t want your only contact to be about money. At the same time, she’s your dependent child. She’s only in sixth form. I understand she’s repeating a year but she’d otherwise still only be in year 13? I think perhaps keep finding the bus pass for the duration of college (another year and a bit) and start paying the boyfriend’s mother to subsidise her bills rather than your daughter directly. Reiterate to the mother and to your daughter if you can that you don’t know why the relationship has broken down so badly and you’re not sure what she thinks you’ve done but you’re her mother and your door is always open.

Swayingpalmtrees · 30/05/2022 08:59

It does sound like tit for tat, and as the adult in the relationship - and the parent - the onus is on you to rise above it. She is still very young, and has a long way to go to be fully matured. My teens are difficult at times, most are, I don't sink to their level, I remain their parent throughout and understand that becoming an independent fledging is a very difficult task, and working how to cope and manage is very daunting at such a young age. It sounds like she is lashing out at you because you seem so ready and willing to full scale abandon her at the first opportunity, and she isn't wrong is she.

Does the relationship even matter to you?
Because we are hearing a lot about the money it is costing, and not so much about the loss of your relationship with your daughter.

Whatever00 · 30/05/2022 09:00

I would continue pay the phone and bus pass. I would be very clear that it will only continue while she is in education. I would give the boyfriends parents £200 a month (also only while she is in education). She had £150 plus £50 pocket money I would pay that directly for her upkeep. I wouldn't give her any more cash. If they want to give it to her instead of for housekeeping that's their business but at least you have taken care of your responsibilities. It seems silly to have her room empty if she doesn't live there. How do you feel about getting a lodger? It would help you fund the big mortgage. Alternatively, if its a bigger room than 10 year olds then I would let them have the room. If you do family things like film night or takeaway invite her then she can't say she is being excluded. I wouldn't put up with abuse over the phone. I would say.. you are being rude. I'm not prepared to talk to you when you are shouting / swearing/ mud slinging and hang up.

Mummyoflittledragon · 30/05/2022 09:01

The comparison of your children is unfair and will only breed contempt in the one being compared less favourably.

Your dcs are opposite sex and your ds and dd are at completely different life stages. Despite being 18, your dd is studying with people, who are 16 and 17. She will possibly be benchmarking herself against them. Perhaps she is also a lot less mature than your ds was at this age, but pushing against her isn’t going to make her grow up.

How much did you give to your ds when he was at home? Along with paying for his phone and bus pass, there will have been additional costs you paid. For starters, you will have fed him, perhaps paid for takeaways, took him out for meals etc. So in that regard, your dd is getting far less from you. Are you still getting child allowance for her?

At your dd’s stage of life, as long as I could afford it, I would expect to pay for all my child’s basic costs with a small allowance. I think £50 a month is a big ask for your dd to comfortably look after herself, especially as she lives elsewhere and undoubtedly has more on costs than she would living at home. Then there is the issues of costs your ds didn’t have. Even if your dd lived at home, £50 does go as for her, for starters, she will need sanitary wear, painkillers and bras. She probably also uses more personal hygiene items cleansers, face creams and makeup, all of which a male is far less likely to use.

Who is paying for her lunches when she’s at college? Is she expected to use the £50 for that?

Idk how much disposable income you have, but I got a similar amount to your dd and I’m early 50s. Clothes back then were about today’s prices, food and alcohol was obviously cheaper but the former not that much. I therefore used some of that money to socialise (ie booze and sometimes cigarettes) and buy clothes. I also worked at weekends and in the holidays to top up.

Tbh if I had an 18 year old feeling she needs to shout at me because she doesn’t have enough money for tampons, I’d be rather more introspective. I’m not saying you should allow yourself to be abused / shouted at. However, I think communication needs to be restored and a sit down talk about how much money she needs and what you need (ie calm communication) from her would be good. As the parent and adult, I’d be trying to get that to happen.

I would really try to dissociate the staying pretty much permanently with her bf from all of this. I know people are telling you leave her to it and she will come back. I’ve read enough posts on here to know that some women do not.

BrokenToy · 30/05/2022 09:01

The relationship is broken and I don’t know how to fix it. As I said, we try to include her in the family but she isn’t interested.

We had the mother round with the boyfriend so we could meet her and explain and she does know that DD is welcome here etc and wouldn’t take any money from us.

OP posts:
Vikinga · 30/05/2022 09:02

I wouldn't cut her off but I would calmly explain that she has a home and will be looked after at her home. If she wants to live elsewhere then you can't afford to fund that.

And you will never respond nicely if something is screamed/demanded off you.

That it would be much better and healthier for her if she moved back in and stayed with her boyfriend a few nights a week. To finish her studies so she can get a job and earn proper money.

That you love and support her etc but you all have to communicate nicely to each other.

Don't compare her to your son, they aren't the same people with the same circumstances.

Swayingpalmtrees · 30/05/2022 09:02

meet up with the other parents - they no doubt think you are heartless and believe your daughters narrative because of your actions.incite them round to your beautiful house for dinner - have the daughter and her boyfriend there too.
say you are very grateful for their support of your daughter while she is still in full time education but you need to resolve it and step up. All out on the table. Then have a separate conversation with daughter on behaviours and boundaries

^ this

Trafficjamlog · 30/05/2022 09:02

Why on earth have you allowed an 18 year old to live with her boyfriend? Why are a boy friends parents allowing her to live with them? This blows my mind.

18 year olds in full time sixth form education live at home. End of. Don’t give her money. Asking her to look after the dogs is perfectly reasonable. Not sure how you ended up in this situation.

Whatever00 · 30/05/2022 09:02

ADD: I moved out of parents at 17. I went NC for 2 years. I'm now in my 40s and talk to my mum daily. Hopefully, your relationship will improve with maturity.

Mellowyellow222 · 30/05/2022 09:02

Mumoblue · 30/05/2022 08:54

I think I had a VERY different upbringing to most on MN because I was surprised you were paying for a 19 year old’s phone in the first place.

I think you should tell your daughter that you want to have a relationship with her and you’re sad that so much of it has become about money, but that she is an adult and needs to be making plans to support herself. I don’t think you should cut her off, but I think you should (reasonably) give her a date which the financial support is going to come to an end. Most 19 year olds I know are paying for their own phones and clothes and also paying keep to their parents if they are still at home.

I think this is where the divide is.

are most 19years old you know working?

most 19 year old I know are in university and surviving off a combination of student loans, part time work and parental support.

I am in my 40s and all my friends went on to college or university. No one was self sufficient until early twenties.

tes if a 19 year old has left education and is employed they shouldn’t still need parental support - but if they are studying full time they couldn’t be expected to support themselves and pay keep?

Mummyoflittledragon · 30/05/2022 09:04

BrokenToy · 30/05/2022 08:59

Look, I’m not materialistic and it isn’t really about the money.

I can scroll back through text exchanges over the past two years and it is entirely her asking for money. That’s the only time she ever wants to talk to me. She’s made it about money, not me. There have been several occasions where we’ve been out for dinner as a family, she eats and then leaves. Literally using us for a free meal. No conversation or anything, other than ordering the most expensive thing on the menu.

You’re just blaming one another here. As long as the blame continues, nothing will change. Your dd isn’t mature enough to make that change. As the parent, it is for you to take control of the relationship. She probably feels you are using money as a means to try to control her.

Mellowyellow222 · 30/05/2022 09:04

BrokenToy · 30/05/2022 09:01

The relationship is broken and I don’t know how to fix it. As I said, we try to include her in the family but she isn’t interested.

We had the mother round with the boyfriend so we could meet her and explain and she does know that DD is welcome here etc and wouldn’t take any money from us.

The story changes again - you said you didn’t have money to give her because if your mortgage????

BrokenToy · 30/05/2022 09:04

Re tampons, that was a bullshit reason to ask for money. There is a fully stocked bathroom at home and she had enough money for a round of drinks that evening. She knows we won’t say no to tampons, stuff for college etc, so she lies about it. She also asks us both separately and doesn’t give a shit that we quickly find out we’ve both given her money. She quite blatant about the fact she’s using us.

OP posts:
SleepingStandingUp · 30/05/2022 09:04

Can you lure her home with take out and then tell her you want to discuss what money you give her?
I wouldn't cut her off, unless you want her to drop out of college. But I'd make it clear that you're covering the basic phone and bus pass, plus X pocket money that is to cover anything else. Given her home is here if she NEEDS anything else she can come HOME and TALK to you. Unless it's an emergency no cash will be transferred without a face to face conversation (so 2 am taxi cos her friends dumped her, fine. Levi's cos they're sick, not fine).

BrokenToy · 30/05/2022 09:05

Look, I’m sure we could find the money to pay keep if we needed to. But why should we? She has a home here.

OP posts:
joliefolle · 30/05/2022 09:05

I'm sorry but not surprised to hear this is still going on. Your last post in the lift home thread sounded so hopeful and just really naive. You love your daughter. You feel guilty. So you enable her but also get really upset and angry about it. You are under enormous strain and this will be impacting your 10 year old.

Decide the fixed amount that you are prepared to pay for bus pass, toiletries, clothes etc., give it to her BF's mum and tell DD you will not be giving her any extra so no point asking. And stick to it. Pay a baby/dog sitter next time. You've said she steals from you - you might want to think about doing something about that if she is still to have a key to your house.

Teaandtoastedbiscuits · 30/05/2022 09:07

I think you are dead right. To me it seems money is the language she speaks. She is an adult,who if she treated people properly would get to enjoy treats from her parents that aren't essentials...ie her levis. It would have been much harder to teach her this lesson when she was under 18 because of the backlash you might receive. She is an adult now with a life lesson she very much needs to learn. I remember reading your last thread about this and concluding she was emotionally bullying you and your husband and playing ye off her bf parents. (if that was your thread) Hold tough and keep your money to yourself. I actually wouldn't care what she says about you to her bf parents she will show them who she is soon enough.

Swayingpalmtrees · 30/05/2022 09:07

There have been several occasions where we’ve been out for dinner as a family, she eats and then leaves. Literally using us for a free meal. No conversation or anything

Many teenagers are like this! Why are you expecting her to be different? Some meals my dds barely squeak a word, it is perfectly normal. What are you expecting of her? It is not a 'free meal' it is called providing for your child op.

I worry some of your views are skewed, you see basic provisions of food and clothing being somehow a favour to your child. It is very basic parenting to provide for our children. Given she has only just turned eighteen, many of these meals would have taken place when she was seventeen and you still have a legal duty to look after her. You have a moral duty for much longer than that if she is in college, but we will put that aside.