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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Sitting in the front of the car

259 replies

zebraprint12 · 19/09/2022 08:59

Right, I need to be told if I'm AIBU.

DP's DD is 10. There is a tension between me and her. She is so conflicted. From one side she is cute and lovely, would want to play with me all the time, would talk to me about all sorts of stuff, would get me cards for mothers day, would say I love you, I miss you and would scream happy when I come over.

From the other hand she is jelaous about her dad. That goes to extreme sometimes, DP always reacts to what she does, talks to her, explains why we don't do this or that, except of one situation which is coming back all the time. Sitting in the front of the car.

She always used to sit in the front. For me, kids sit in the back where there is another adult in the car. It is a respect thing. When I have started coming over, I let her do it, then I have gradually started to change it. I didn't want her to be upset and felt like she was pushed out. But now, after two years of this she decided and told me that that my permanent place is in the back and I've to sit in the back even if she is not in the car. Her place is next to daddy in the front.

I have stood my ground a few months and said okay, if she wants to sit in the front, I don't need to be coming with them. I won't be sitting back for a child and play power trips with his DD with her thinking she can dictate where my place is. We told her it is safer for children to sit on the back and it worked for a while but she is challenging it more and more. DP doesn't do anything about it. He is upset with me because I have upset her and says it is a thing between me and her to sort but then he keeps telling her to try and negotiate with me when I say no.

Last night we dropped her off to her mum and she run downstairs like crazy just to be in the car first and to sit in the front and refuse to move.

AIBU? Am I being difficult?

OP posts:
ClaryFairchild · 20/09/2022 00:44

At the end of the day, his priority should be his DD and she's not happy with his relationship with you. You can't become a blended family if she's this unhappy.

Either see him only when she is not with him, or end it.

AryaStarkWolf · 20/09/2022 09:52

ClaryFairchild · 20/09/2022 00:44

At the end of the day, his priority should be his DD and she's not happy with his relationship with you. You can't become a blended family if she's this unhappy.

Either see him only when she is not with him, or end it.

so the OPs partner needs to have a full stamp of approval from his DD before getting into a relationship with someone? bahaha In this situation I think daddy is going to be single for a very long time.

Sounds to me like this guy just needs to start parenting his daughter properly.

lickenchugget · 20/09/2022 10:46

AryaStarkWolf · 20/09/2022 09:52

so the OPs partner needs to have a full stamp of approval from his DD before getting into a relationship with someone? bahaha In this situation I think daddy is going to be single for a very long time.

Sounds to me like this guy just needs to start parenting his daughter properly.

Honestly, these these threads are eye opening. When you come across ‘difficult’ kids in your DC class, and you wonder how they can behave they way they do; these threads are illuminating. Some people seem to genuinely believe their child is the centre of the earth, and they are just there to facilitate, not actually ‘parent’.

marmaladepop · 20/09/2022 10:59

@Eeksteek a fantastic post showing emotional intelligence. My first thought was about the child possibly struggling with a new relationship.

AryaStarkWolf · 20/09/2022 11:00

marmaladepop · 20/09/2022 10:59

@Eeksteek a fantastic post showing emotional intelligence. My first thought was about the child possibly struggling with a new relationship.

It isn't exactly new though is it, they've been in a relationship for 2 years

AryaStarkWolf · 20/09/2022 11:01

lickenchugget · 20/09/2022 10:46

Honestly, these these threads are eye opening. When you come across ‘difficult’ kids in your DC class, and you wonder how they can behave they way they do; these threads are illuminating. Some people seem to genuinely believe their child is the centre of the earth, and they are just there to facilitate, not actually ‘parent’.

Yep 100% It's very common these days. It's lazy parenting and no one wanting to be "the bad guy"

ClaryFairchild · 20/09/2022 14:42

The partner certainly needs his DD's full stamp of approval before he tries to create a blended family. If he tries to battle this out he will lose his DD when she gets older.

He needs to backdown, give his DD his attention when she is with him and then slowly try to organise some time together as a group of 3 when his DD is less combative.

That of course is assuming he is parenting his DD with firm and loving boundaries and building a strong relationship with her and not just being a Disney dad. If he's not then the OP is seriously better off getting the hell out of there anyway.

LarchDragon · 21/09/2022 16:27

But should a man's partner be made to feel like she is less important than his child
Surely the partner is less important? That's natural

LarchDragon · 21/09/2022 16:36

I think if her dad doesn't see an issue with her in the front, then you need to end it. You think kids belong in the back, maybe he doesn't.

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