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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Leaving step children out

246 replies

Esselra · 11/11/2022 19:11

Can’t tell if I’m being unreasonable or not?

OH and I share 4 girls, 2 mine (child 2 and 3) , 1 his (child 1 lives with her mum) and 1 together (child 4).

Ive numbered them as above 1 being the oldest and 4 being a baby.

He said last week that he wanted to take just his two out on Saturday (tomorrow) as he’s off work this weekend. I said that’s not fair we should be spending the time as a family and that the other two “mine” will wonder why they can’t go. He didn’t respond to that message and just left it there.

Well he said it again earlier today to which I said, I said the other day it isn’t fair, why are you only taking child 1 and child 4 and not the other two. He said because he’s off work and he wants to spend time with just child 1 and child 4 as he’s been at work a lot recently and hasn’t seen them as much (he has seen them) and that there’s nothing wrong with him wanting to spend time with just them.

I sent him a message along the lines of “Don’t ever accuse me of excluding anyone when you have pretty much said that you don’t want to spend time with child 2&3. You can explain to child 2&3 why they can’t come tomorrow and see their faces. I would never dream of saying I only
want to spend time with child 2&3 in front of child 4.”

Have I blown it out of proportion?

Child 2 and 3 are normally at school/nursery most of the week and he often takes child 4 out to pick child 1 up from school and go out for a couple of hours which is perfectly fine as no one is being obviously excluded as they all go to different schools but I just find it odd that he would separate us up at the weekend?

Any other step parents have any advice?

OP posts:
PickleRickBauble · 11/11/2022 21:39

Are you aware that a new sibling is a massive stressor in a child’s life? Even when it’s a full sibling? So imagine having 2 step siblings plus a new half sibling and a new adult.

But sure, the ex is unreasonable.

AliensAteMyHomework · 11/11/2022 21:39

Well i daresay if you pulled apart Liz trusses personal life and preached about how it was wrong and she was this that and the other, repeatedly, then yes it would be bullying.

Are you being deliberately obtuse? I'm not referring to Truss' personal life. 🙄 It was an example of how absurd your assertion is that we should not examine or criticise any action that has already happened and cannot now be changed even if it is having a large effect in the present. This is clearly a bonkers thing to assert and this was just a topical example to demonstrate that.

I wouldn't comment on anybody's personal life unless they did something like, hmmmm... posted a thread online asking people to.

PickleRickBauble · 11/11/2022 21:40

And that’s without getting into the stats on how many step parents are abusive.

ljs22 · 11/11/2022 21:40

Are you aware that separation and divorce are massive stressors in a child's life? And that part came before the step family being formed, so...... 🤷‍♀️

AliensAteMyHomework · 11/11/2022 21:40

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Ineverwannabelikeyou · 11/11/2022 21:40

PickleRickBauble · 11/11/2022 21:39

Are you aware that a new sibling is a massive stressor in a child’s life? Even when it’s a full sibling? So imagine having 2 step siblings plus a new half sibling and a new adult.

But sure, the ex is unreasonable.

I am, how exactly is making her stay at a third home where she won't have a bedroom or things or probably much stability help with that?

It won't, will it. It adds a further stressor. It adds instability to the situation as well as everything else. But okay it's a perfect solution ffs

PickleRickBauble · 11/11/2022 21:42

Ineverwannabelikeyou · 11/11/2022 21:40

I am, how exactly is making her stay at a third home where she won't have a bedroom or things or probably much stability help with that?

It won't, will it. It adds a further stressor. It adds instability to the situation as well as everything else. But okay it's a perfect solution ffs

Wanna bet that the DH was living with his Mum prior to meeting OP and that he and his DD have a bedroom each there?

Ineverwannabelikeyou · 11/11/2022 21:42

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Ineverwannabelikeyou · 11/11/2022 21:43

PickleRickBauble · 11/11/2022 21:42

Wanna bet that the DH was living with his Mum prior to meeting OP and that he and his DD have a bedroom each there?

I mean, it's irrelevant considering that is no longer his home. And even if she has a bedroom there, it'll be a guest room, not her bedroom. I have been the child in this position, I'd be happy to bet you're wrong.

Esselra · 11/11/2022 21:43

Now I have attitude towards my SD too, you really are reaching this evening.

OP posts:
ChorltonCreamery · 11/11/2022 21:44

The OP says that she doesn’t want to say why her ex isn’t allowed to see her children and that is her prerogative however if I were the mother of the stepchild I wouldn’t want my child in that house overnight either.

Ineverwannabelikeyou · 11/11/2022 21:45

ChorltonCreamery · 11/11/2022 21:44

The OP says that she doesn’t want to say why her ex isn’t allowed to see her children and that is her prerogative however if I were the mother of the stepchild I wouldn’t want my child in that house overnight either.

Why? Considering her ex is not at all involved he is not a risk to the step child. What a weird basis to make that decision on. Presumably you judge everyone who's been abused by their ex, then? Every woman who's children don't see their dad?

That's nice.

Esselra · 11/11/2022 21:46

No they don’t actually, they sleep on bunks beds in the spare room

OP posts:
ljs22 · 11/11/2022 21:47

ChorltonCreamery · 11/11/2022 21:44

The OP says that she doesn’t want to say why her ex isn’t allowed to see her children and that is her prerogative however if I were the mother of the stepchild I wouldn’t want my child in that house overnight either.

What specific extra risk would the child be at overnight compared with visiting during the day, which the mother does "permit"? Especially when the father of OP's kids is not in contact anyway?

ljs22 · 11/11/2022 21:48

Esselra · 11/11/2022 21:43

Now I have attitude towards my SD too, you really are reaching this evening.

Literally nothing you've written suggests this! It's pure projection.

Ineverwannabelikeyou · 11/11/2022 21:49

ljs22 · 11/11/2022 21:48

Literally nothing you've written suggests this! It's pure projection.

Ime what op has written suggests the opposite, that she very much does love and involve her.

Esselra · 11/11/2022 21:49

Esselra · 11/11/2022 21:46

No they don’t actually, they sleep on bunks beds in the spare room

@ChorltonCreamery

OP posts:
ChorltonCreamery · 11/11/2022 21:50

Absolutely would never judge a victim. We don’t know the circumstances but I still wouldn’t want my child in this situation.

PickleRickBauble · 11/11/2022 21:50

I also think a man who insists that two toddlers - which is what they would have been, given the most generous time line - call him Daddy, when their own father was presumably abusive/a criminal being as he’s not allowed near them, when they wouldn’t have been together long, is a fucking huge red flag.

Ineverwannabelikeyou · 11/11/2022 21:52

PickleRickBauble · 11/11/2022 21:50

I also think a man who insists that two toddlers - which is what they would have been, given the most generous time line - call him Daddy, when their own father was presumably abusive/a criminal being as he’s not allowed near them, when they wouldn’t have been together long, is a fucking huge red flag.

Right, and that's got what to do with not letting his daughter stay?

Because you're saying the problem is him, now, not op, but then saying you can see why she can't stay over at their house? But she can stay with her dad, who is the problem in your opinion?

Ineverwannabelikeyou · 11/11/2022 21:54

ChorltonCreamery · 11/11/2022 21:50

Absolutely would never judge a victim. We don’t know the circumstances but I still wouldn’t want my child in this situation.

That's exactly what you're doing. You don't even know what the situation is, there is no apparent risk at all but you'd not want your child in it? If you're not judging victims what is it you're doing then?

1POTUS · 11/11/2022 21:55

Letthekidsplay · 11/11/2022 19:22

Really sad :( he obviously doesn’t consider your children to be his or think of himself as their dad so they basically have no dad - nice guy….

Oh give over.

I have 2 brothers. My parents are still together and my dad frequently did things one on one with us because he wanted to spend quality time with us alone as he was working lots.

Christ Evert time you go to Tesco do you drag your whole family out in case one thinks you don't love them as much?

People think they're so entitled to peoples time.

OP, YABU. Your partner has taken on your children and they call him dad or whatever, that doesn't mean he's not allowed one on one time with his bio children. You sound more needy than your children.

ChorltonCreamery · 11/11/2022 21:56

I am not judging. I don’t know of a specific risk but my instinct would be not to allow my children in this mix.

Ineverwannabelikeyou · 11/11/2022 21:56

ChorltonCreamery · 11/11/2022 21:56

I am not judging. I don’t know of a specific risk but my instinct would be not to allow my children in this mix.

You wouldn't have a choice. You're making a judgment by saying you wouldn't allow your child in this mix.

ChorltonCreamery · 11/11/2022 21:59

I am not judging the OP and if I were the stepchild’s mother I might possibly have that choice taken from me by a family court.