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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not let adult daughter in back in the house?

251 replies

CantPutUpWithItAnymore · 17/03/2024 20:32

Age 28. Just lost the 4th job in a row, owes us £000s despite living at home rarely paying rent and having well paid jobs when she’s working, constantly angry and abusive, tells me she’s going to knock me out and wants me dead, won’t do a thing around the house or even take her own washing out of the machine, leaves mess everywhere, wastes dinners that have been cooked for her, has constant screaming rows with her boyfriend on phone in house that whole street can hear even at 2-3am. She can be fine one minute then flips like a switch into a foul mouthed, screaming banshee

She’s been on drugs (denies still being on them but that’s a lie), will bugger off for days at a time to stay at bfs but refuses to move out, heavy drinker socially, sleeps all day when she’s at home which is why she keeps losing jobs as always late and when working from home, logs on then goes back to bed!

We have put up with this for bloody years hoping desperately she’ll sort herself out. She’s obviously got serious mental health issues but wont seek help or take advice. She’s got physical medical issues which we believe are from stress as she’s constantly angry and stressed out. She also constantly threatens to kill herself. We’ve done everything we possibly can to support her - sat in A&E with her all night, paid for therapy, paid off her debts, helped her find jobs.

She’s in a really toxic relationship, keeps breaking up with him then going back, he’s done awful things to her but she won’t cut him off. It is so distressing. Constantly crying about how he treats her and we’ve told her again to again to end it. She’s a beautiful girl and could have anyone but keeps going back as we think he’s supplying her with drugs.

Came back crying about him on Friday (after spending the week at his in bed all day while he was at work, not applying for jobs). DH said if she’s goes back to him again, we wash our hands of her. She said she’s finally done.

She was in bed from Friday night at 8pm to Saturday 6pm. Hadn’t eaten anything (regular occurrence). Then she thunders about getting ready saying she’s going to a booked event with him as already paid for. She also ordered clothes to wear that she didn’t get up to answer door for delivery then started swearing that no one answered the door. She was fired 4 weeks ago. No money. I’d cleared her debts (£3k) in Jan as she said she was stressed about them, insisted her job was safe (it wasn’t as she was having disciplinary meetings), she was sorting herself out, split with bf (for a week) and she would be giving me most of her wage to pay me back. She paid a small amount then got sacked!

So she spent more money on clothes to go out (and drinking and probably drugs)! We said she shouldn’t be spending money when she doesn’t have a job.

She could have saved thousands by now to move out and put a deposit on her own place but has nothing. Even her clothes are all cheap stuff, her room’s a tip full of rubbish and dirty crockery. She drives one of our cars(needed for work), but wouldn’t contribute to insurance. We’ve taken it back now. I just cannot believe it. She could have had a lovely life but she’s pissing it all way.

DH said if she goes out, she’s not coming back. MassIve argument. She goes. We tell her to move with bf and we’re done. Boyfriend says she can’t live with him (he has his own property but doesn’t want her to). We say she needs to go to council then and her stuff is in garage.

Despite all this I’m so worried about her. Even worried today that’s she’s safe at bfs or did they have a row and he’s dumped her somewhere which has happened before. They were going to a city nearby and don’t know if she had money for a cab or was out of it on drugs/drink. She’s not answering phone.

DH is furious and says she’s not his daughter anymore and he wants nothing more to do with her. I want her out too as the effect she has in the household is horrendous. Even fighting with younger siblings and swearing at them. They have been massively affected by her behaviour.

I know she is in a really bad state though and am terrified as to how she’ll end up.

AIBU to say enough is enough?

Msy delete this if DM pick it up!

OP posts:
Italianita · 18/03/2024 03:51

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Tryingtobeagoodie · 18/03/2024 03:54

Oh gosh, poor all of you. I feel very sorry for you. Please nobody flame me, but I actually feel very sorry for her too. She sounds profoundly miserable. As others have said, probably drugs. I don't have personal experience of drug abuse, but I had a work colleague once, who was a reformed drug addict. She confided in me, and it sounded like she was totally out of control for a while, probably much like your daughter. She actually got worse before she got better (I'll spare you those details) But, she did eventually turn it around, and ended up being a very thoughtful contributing member of society. So there's lots of hope. I really do wish you all well. Take care x

Okeydokedeva · 18/03/2024 04:01

She’s an animal sadly, addicts are. You’ve done all you can and she’s jus fused it to enable herself to carry on being an animal. We had to kick my sibling out at this age because of drugs and addiction and theft. He and I are very close now but it was horrendous and so upsetting and a rift for a few years. He thanks us now. As others have said, tough love. Act like a shit, get treated as such.

Severalwhippets · 18/03/2024 04:20

I couldn’t get past the fact she is abusing you o. Threatening to knock you out. She needs to leave immediately.

Itwasafterallallaboutme · 18/03/2024 04:44

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Nicole1111 · 18/03/2024 05:00

I think it’s right that now is the time you put boundaries in and transfer responsibility for her life in to her own hands. You should explain to her the emotional impact she’s had on you as parents and her siblings and that you need to protect her siblings from her, given that she is the adult. This will help her understand your decision. You can continue to be supportive and loving parents by offering to take her to appointments, making phone calls, writing letters of support, providing emotional support etc, and you should make that clear to her and tell her you’ll always be there for her in that way. This will lessen any feelings of abandonment she might have. Moving forwards though you’re not a hotel or a cash cow anymore and whenever she becomes abusive you need to take time away from her, end phone calls etc, telling her you’ll talk to her again or see her again when she’s cooled down and is behaving appropriately. Will it likely be horrendous seeing her struggle - Yes. But then you’ve been watching her struggle for years and what you’ve tried hasn’t impacted any change so it’s time to try something different. Maybe this time she’ll take some personal responsibility for her life and try and accountable for it.

ForestBather · 18/03/2024 05:04

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I've heard parents say this only to have to eat humble pie when their kids get older. It's not that simple.

geoger · 18/03/2024 05:21

Sending you a big hug op. This is not going to be easy but you’re going to have to be cruel to be kind. Tell her to leave and that she needs to get help. Don’t let her back until she’s clean and stable. Be there for her but help from a distance
Drug addiction completely changes a person, they’ll do anything for the next fix. The lies, manipulation, violence, recklessness etc are all part of it - don’t blame yourself

CurlsnSunshinetime4tea · 18/03/2024 05:24

It use to be called Failure To Launch Syndrome.
As mentioned earlier @CantPutUpWithItAnymore will need help to guide you and the family through this.

HuckleberryBlackcurrant · 18/03/2024 05:26

If you love her, don't have her back.

MaloneMeadow · 18/03/2024 05:29

gemloving · 17/03/2024 21:38

Wow. What an awful human your daughter is. You deserve better. She needs to move out x

You are being very unreasonable to call someone ‘an awful human’.

MariaVT65 · 18/03/2024 05:30

I would kick her out as surely she must be affecting her siblings. And if she doesn’t move out at 28 then when will she?

MaloneMeadow · 18/03/2024 05:32

Okeydokedeva · 18/03/2024 04:01

She’s an animal sadly, addicts are. You’ve done all you can and she’s jus fused it to enable herself to carry on being an animal. We had to kick my sibling out at this age because of drugs and addiction and theft. He and I are very close now but it was horrendous and so upsetting and a rift for a few years. He thanks us now. As others have said, tough love. Act like a shit, get treated as such.

What disgusting language you use. Calling deeply struggling people ‘animals’? You really think that’s acceptable?

decionsdecisions62 · 18/03/2024 06:04

@Itwasafterallallaboutme well said 👏

Gillypie23 · 18/03/2024 06:10

You have choice but to throw her out. You have to think about your marriage and your other kids.

HoppingPavlova · 18/03/2024 06:10

constantly angry and abusive, tells me she’s going to knock me out and wants me dead

No idea why she was in your house after this. Chuck her stuff out front, get locks changed and if she stands out front screaming and neighbours call police, just tell them you have been threatened with physical violence and can’t let her in accordingly. Yes, I have adult children living at home, including with SN, and while I deal with some of what you describe (dirty plates/cups in rooms, not always pulling weight with cleaning etc) there is NO way I or DH would put up with any of them saying they are going to knock us out or want us dead.

DrySherry · 18/03/2024 06:14

If you suspect she might be going on cocaine binges that would explain a lot. It does seem to turn people into selfish, abusive monsters who burn through all the money they have.
Don't enable her to carry on. Time to cut off and let her crash. Better sooner than later. You can always be ready to pick up the pieces once she learns some tough lessons.

PurpleSealion · 18/03/2024 06:15

DGD was like this. In the end she was living on the streets. Repeatedly arrested for D&D and drug offences.

Finally she was picked up by homeless charity. She was offered drug counselling and finally took it.

Was housed in the charity's temporary accommodation.

Eighteen months later, is clean and sober and living in her own flat.

We are all so proud of her.

BUT, she had to reach rock bottom for her to want to change, for her to realise none of the family were going to bail her out anymore, before she pulled herself out of the mire.

stayathomer · 18/03/2024 06:19

I’d love to hear her side of it, as in is she just angry and got in with the wrong crowd or does she feel hard done by or what. I’d love to know how she feels, is she sad, can she help it or is it all that she feels the world is out to get her or is she just feeling out of control. Does she ever talk normally to you? Does she ever say ‘shit everything is so out of control?’ or does she just barge on?

This probably won’t help, but when I was in college I knew two people like this who did get their act together, both drank themselves into the ground, both angry- but to everyone including all of us who were nice to them and constantly got them home and out of dangerous situations at night. The turning point for both seemed to be finding jobs they loved (one is a nurse, the other a beautician) but I haven’t seen either in years, just hear from friends who live kind of nearby that they seem happy and neither seem to drink anymore or if they do it’s no more than the rest of us. Best of luck op x

Loubelle70 · 18/03/2024 06:24

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I disagree. Its not always just the parenting. Her taking drugs isnt the parents fault nor her mental illness. The parents have enabled but haven't we all? We don't know we are enabling until the reaction afterwards...then we stop enabling. Its difficult for the parents. I wouldn't have seen my lass out on the streets...however, any by threat of violence, she would be out..and if i had tried everything and others affected she would have to stand on own 2 feet. Ive done all this OP ... financially helping, putting up with strops etc...but she grew up. Still difficult 🤣 but none of that now. OP Daughter needs help but its gone past support when she won't go through or seek help

Direstraightsagain · 18/03/2024 06:33

Can you report boyfriend to police for suspected dealing and hope they investigate and he comes under pressure… ideally you need him to dump her/be off the scene, so she can get away, seems she hasn’t the willpower to do it herself.

Fairyliz · 18/03/2024 06:34

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ittakes2 · 18/03/2024 06:53

Please google inattentive adhd and see if that applies to her she seems to have traits

happinessischocolate · 18/03/2024 06:59

Direstraightsagain · 18/03/2024 06:33

Can you report boyfriend to police for suspected dealing and hope they investigate and he comes under pressure… ideally you need him to dump her/be off the scene, so she can get away, seems she hasn’t the willpower to do it herself.

Tbf he has a house and a job so sounds like he has his shit together

Yea he could also be a drug dealer but he's not the source of the bad behaviour

Lifebeganat50 · 18/03/2024 07:03

BMW6 · 17/03/2024 22:07

Enough OP

She's 28. All grown up. I truly, really believe you MUST close your door to her - it's the only chance she'll get to save herself.

It sounds like a contradiction - but if you love her, make her go.

I'm so sorry you are in this position.

I agree. It must be so hard when it gets to this point, but if you carry on enabling her, it’s not going to get any better or different. So sorry you’re having to deal with this