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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Husband won’t go to sister’s wedding without my stepchild

1000 replies

TheOriginalGilmoregirl · 19/08/2023 14:04

Just in a mess over something that should be joyful.

Happily married for 8 years. Child going into Reception. Stepchild early secondary.

Husband and ex have excellent Co parenting relationship. It was never 50:50 as husband worked away and now works away a lot less but stepchild obviously has a life with shows and dance classes etc. so comes regularly but not as often as they did say pre-covid.

My parents were always pleasant but rarely saw them to form a relationship. Husband asked if stepchild could be included in holiday and offered to pay, my parents insisted on paying and had a reasonable time. Stepchild and our child have birthdays a couple of weeks apart and when my child was two requested that my parents not be invited for a joint meal as they don’t bring a present for stepchild. Both children would have had parties with friends and stepchild with their mother.

So my actual AIBU. My sister is getting married, usual wedding, parents on each side paying third, they’re paying third. I am chief bridesmaid, daughter flower girl. Massively excited, involved in everything. Looking forward to seeing cousins and staying in hotel and then going away with cousins and our kids.
My stepchild is not invited. I was not shocked, my sister barely knows them and BiL has never met them. They will be spending the week before solely with their Dad and week before that with all of us. The weekend of the wedding back with mum.
My husband has declined his invitation because stepchild is not invited. I said they wouldn’t be around that weekend. He said ex would happily give them the time as has happened in the past.

My sister just won’t invite them when I asked as they could be with mother. Both she and BiL feel that husband is being weird about it and won’t budge.

OP posts:
RedDedRedemption · 19/08/2023 14:33

Also I'd say your family is being U and cruel if, say the stepchild lived you most of the time.
Sounds like she doesn't though. She's a passenger, and weddings have limited spaces. It's not the 'cost per head' it's who should be not invited so your SC can have a place

sadaboutmycat · 19/08/2023 14:33

How horrible. That poor child.

Loafbeginsat60 · 19/08/2023 14:33

That's terrible. You are one family

You don't leave a child out

VictoriaPlummm · 19/08/2023 14:33

The husband had to ask for the child to be included and offer to foot the bill before they were included. Just because her parents agreed to cover it doesnt mean they did not originally intend to leave the kid out. They planned a whole holiday without even factoring in the stepchild. And if they can afford to cover a holiday, whats with the being mean with gifts? clearly not a money issue.

Clymene · 19/08/2023 14:34

What does this mean?

They will be spending the week before solely with their Dad and week before that with all of us.

Do you mean that two weeks before the wedding, your stepdaughter will be spending a week with your family and then the week before the wedding your husband is taking them away on their own without you and his other child?

Confused
notlucreziaborgia · 19/08/2023 14:35

Aprilx · 19/08/2023 14:31

I don’t see why your sister should invite a random child

Well she shouldn’t have to. But this is not a random child. It is her BIL’s child and her sister’s stepchild.

A child they don’t know, that for all intents and purposes is random. Having a particular familial title doesn’t determine closeness in a relationship.

I don’t know my brother’s stepson, beyond meeting him a couple of times. Neither do my parents 🤷🏻‍♀️ we have never been expected to take on an aunt/grandparent role, and wouldn’t want to.

VictoriaPlummm · 19/08/2023 14:35

RedDedRedemption · 19/08/2023 14:27

Paying for an entire holiday is 'treating like an outsider'?
OK then.
I don't know which way the AIBU goes OP but if your sister 'barely knows' the stepchild I'm not surprised. She doesn't even live with you full time.

The husband had to ask for the child to be included and offer to foot the bill before they were included. Just because her parents agreed to cover it doesnt mean they did not originally intend to leave the kid out. They planned a whole holiday without even factoring in the stepchild. And if they can afford to cover a holiday, whats with the being mean with gifts? clearly not a money issue.

WetBandits · 19/08/2023 14:35

This reply has been withdrawn

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

Timeless01 · 19/08/2023 14:35

Your family sound really mean.

Did your sister reconsider after your husband said he wouldn’t go?

JenWillsiam · 19/08/2023 14:36

You lost me at birthday present. Your husband is right.

RedDedRedemption · 19/08/2023 14:36

Also OP it's interesting that you say SC 'obviously has a life' and so doesn't come.
So her 'life' isn't even with you from your POV. Her dance classes, shows etc don't involve your DH.
She just pops in from time to time.
I'm not surprised.

@VictoriaPlummm if you read other threads on here it's accepted that SC go with their parents. They don't have to be included in joint holidays if they're not there most of the time.

CKL987 · 19/08/2023 14:37

Your family don't sound very nice. I became part of a blended family when all four children (2 on each side) were adults and all have always been included in things. It seems weird to me not to. I'm sure many children get invited to weddings when the bride and groom don't know them that well but know the parents.

Also, if I was invited to celebrate a child's birthday and knew that another child would be there celebrating their birthday I'd buy them a present even if I'd never met them and would never meet them again. Your family not buying your step child a present in that situation just seems weird to me.

maddening · 19/08/2023 14:37

What a delightfully inviting bunch your family sound! Poor dsd! 😟

VictoriaPlummm · 19/08/2023 14:37

Crap, posted same thing twice. Soz

aSofaNearYou · 19/08/2023 14:37

I'm on your side and don't think your family sound awful - people who are not step parent to a SC their own family barely knows do not get this.

YANBU, can you just go without him?

crosstheriver · 19/08/2023 14:38

Aprilx · 19/08/2023 14:31

I don’t see why your sister should invite a random child

Well she shouldn’t have to. But this is not a random child. It is her BIL’s child and her sister’s stepchild.

Oh, I'm not saying the stepchild should be seen as a random child. After this long, they should have been integrated into the family.

But they haven't been.

That's on the OP's DH - the child's father. You can't fail to facilitate a relationship and then wonder why no one feels close to your kid. You can't just marry someone and assume their family will accept your child as their blood. You have to do the work.

Floofydawg · 19/08/2023 14:38

aSofaNearYou · 19/08/2023 14:37

I'm on your side and don't think your family sound awful - people who are not step parent to a SC their own family barely knows do not get this.

YANBU, can you just go without him?

Same here. Weddings are bloody expensive - why have someone you hardly know there?

VictoriaPlummm · 19/08/2023 14:39

RedDedRedemption · 19/08/2023 14:36

Also OP it's interesting that you say SC 'obviously has a life' and so doesn't come.
So her 'life' isn't even with you from your POV. Her dance classes, shows etc don't involve your DH.
She just pops in from time to time.
I'm not surprised.

@VictoriaPlummm if you read other threads on here it's accepted that SC go with their parents. They don't have to be included in joint holidays if they're not there most of the time.

I dont care what other threads on MN say 🤣 I care about what happens in real life, and in real life its mean to leave kids out. Step kids, grand kids, foster kids, any kids. Just be nice to kids its not that hard.

Seaswimmingforthesoul · 19/08/2023 14:39

If your SIL or BIL was getting married and they invited you and your DH but not your child... how would you feel?
I think it all sounds a bit unkind.

Aprilx · 19/08/2023 14:39

notlucreziaborgia · 19/08/2023 14:35

A child they don’t know, that for all intents and purposes is random. Having a particular familial title doesn’t determine closeness in a relationship.

I don’t know my brother’s stepson, beyond meeting him a couple of times. Neither do my parents 🤷🏻‍♀️ we have never been expected to take on an aunt/grandparent role, and wouldn’t want to.

I don’t particularly know my husband’s brother’s step daughter, I don’t even know his wife that well. But I know they both exist and if there is a family event, then of course they are invited. And no, I wouldn’t be so downright rude so as to refer to them as randoms.

aSofaNearYou · 19/08/2023 14:39

This thread should have been on the step parenting forum, lots of eye roll inducing comments from people who have not lived and do not get this dynamic here.

AgathaMiss · 19/08/2023 14:40

What a message to give to your younger DC. Their sibling doesn't matter and can be excluded from 'family' events that don't include a key member of her immediate family.

I'd take the same stance as your DH.

RedDedRedemption · 19/08/2023 14:40

crosstheriver · 19/08/2023 14:38

Oh, I'm not saying the stepchild should be seen as a random child. After this long, they should have been integrated into the family.

But they haven't been.

That's on the OP's DH - the child's father. You can't fail to facilitate a relationship and then wonder why no one feels close to your kid. You can't just marry someone and assume their family will accept your child as their blood. You have to do the work.

Exactly,
I find the birthday present strange. Given that the parents paid for the holiday I doubt that they'd bring even a token gift.
How did the DH know that they'd not give anything? Did that happen before?
Or did he think a token present wouldn't be acceptable for SC when bio grandkid got something nice?

Not getting a token would be cruel but I don't see why grandparents should give p[resents of equal value for a kid that they don't really have a relationship with. Presumably they see more of bio GC as well? That's just logic and common sense.

Didntmeanto6 · 19/08/2023 14:40

Wow your family are horrible arent they?

I was a "step child" and I'm si glad I was treated as just a "child"

SpongeBob2022 · 19/08/2023 14:41

I think yabu.

The attitude towards stepkids on Mumsnet threads in general is a sad and depressing read.

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