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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Oven Food Drama

5 replies

Ovenfood666 · 23/06/2025 13:59

This is ridiculous and I have no idea what to do.

We have full custody of my step son. He's in his teens.

He sees his mother every weekend. We drop him off on a Friday night and pick him up Sunday night.

I eat/cook quite healthy meals for my family. Nothing unusual just make sure its got a bit of everything- well balanced. My step son had quite bad acne and joint pain when he came to live with us. His mum only cooks oven food, everyday (frozen pizza, chicken nuggets, chips). I got him into trying fruit and vegetables and drinking water etc and his acne and joint pain cleared up quite a lot.

Anyway, recently he has been asking for us to collect him on a Saturday lunchtime. We have been asking if he is ok and what's happening and he has just said he misses being at home.

We were cooking last night and he turned round and said the reason he has been asking to come back early is because his mum won't allow him to have anything else other than pizza, nuggets, chips and cakes that are already in the house and his skin has started breaking out after two days of eating it.

He's asked her to get stuff in for him and she's said no. I offered to make him food in a bag to take with him while he goes, he asked her if this was ok and she said no they don't eat that tat in their house....

We are driving to and from her house an hour each way for him to see her and she won't let him eat vegetables there? She apparently doesn't let him go to the shop while he's there as he should be spending time with her.

What am I supposed to do with this 😂

OP posts:
Away2000 · 23/06/2025 14:20

Stepson (depending on age) or husband need to just tell her that he doesn’t want to eat that food and if he’s not able to bring his own then he doesn’t want to visit for long. If she’s not able to accommodate that then she’s sacrificing her relationship with child over something that should be a non issue.

LadyDanburysHat · 23/06/2025 14:32

As a teenager his views on time with a parent would be taken into account. Does he want to have less time with her. Every other weekend perhaps

grumpygrape · 23/06/2025 14:38

OP, although you can offer support, this is your husband/partner's issue

Endofyear · 23/06/2025 19:29

Poor kid 😢 his mother is being ridiculous and frankly negligent, presumably as some sort of petty revenge at you feeding her child a balanced diet! I would pick him up when he wants on the Saturday - he's old enough to make that decision to cut his time there short.

Ferro · 23/06/2025 19:33

Acne is normal but a teenager shouldn't have joint pain. It's good that fruit & veg helps a bit but has he seen a doctor?

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