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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To have got rid of stepsons room?

261 replies

Berfudia · 13/08/2025 16:28

Prepared to get flamed here but anyway..
My DP (not married, we've been together 9 years) dated a woman and she had an 18mo DS, they were together until he was 5/6 and split up. DP was the only dad he knew really, his bio dad was in prison. When they split he carried on seeing him and treated him as his own.

His mum moved away 3.5 hours when he was around 11 so it made it difficult but he still made an effort, he just struggled EOW with the long drive and his ex would never meet halfway. I then found out I was pregnant and we have 4yo twin boys. The bedrooms were. 1. Myself and DP. Smaller room. DSS and the other bigger room our DS’s sharing.

When the twins were born his mum starting filling his head with lies that DP didn't love him or want him now he had his “real” boys, made it out like he was an inconvenience. Stepson would push them over when learning to walk so after this I said he wasn't welcome here, a 14 yo boy pushing a 10mo baby wasn't right. Whenever he came he stayed in a hotel with DP and they did their own thing. After a while, he said he didn't want to see DP, told him to fuck off and blocked him. His mum seemed pleased with this. She was dating a new man and would constantly say that stepson didn't need DP anymore. This was the reason she moved so far away.

Fast forward to now, we haven't seen him in about 2.5 years, our boys are both autistic and can't cope with sharing so we replaced stepsons room. We put his (few) belongings that he had here somewhere safe, like football trophies and a hoodie and posters.

He's 17 in a week, his mum messaged DH as she's done with him. He's totally off the rails, smokes weed and does other hard drugs. Invites both girls and boys over and left a condom wrapper lying around (he says this wasnt him), failed his GCSEs and dropped out of college last year in October, just a month after starting and has just been lazing around since. Stealing and selling the things he stole. He took her partners watch and sold it etc. The final straw was him he smashed up her partners car

DP was near that way for work so popped in to speak to him but his mum made it clear she didn't want him there, had his stuff In black bags etc and stepson didn't really fight it he just seemed quiet. They got back at about 10pm on Monday night, DP told him to sleep on the sofa so he didn't disturb me or our DCs as we were already asleep. Fast forward to yesterday, he told us his mum favoured her partners daughters and her child they had together. his stepdad would above him and he does have bruises on his wrists where someone would've grabbed him. Then he found out we’d not kept his room and flipped. He was shouting and swearing and was being unpleasant. We tried to show him we’d kept his things, DP went into the loft and got them. He got the football trophies and threw them away because according to him they don't matter anymore

He stormed out last night, came back around 1am drunk and shouting at DP when he asked him to be quiet. He stole DP’s card and used contactless to pay. I'm not sure how he got around the ID part.
Today he's been asleep on the sofa and I've taken my DC out so he can sleep off the hangover. DP has been with him and apparently he's just being laying there not speaking to him.

Were we unreasonable? Also in case people ask: we rent, and don't have a seperate dining room.

OP posts:
Goody2ShoesAndTheFilthyBeast · 13/08/2025 16:31

I think its a mistake to bring this boy back into your lives tbh.

nomas · 13/08/2025 16:32

YANBU. Your DH needs to take the boy back to his mum’s, he is not your responsibility and will endanger your sons.

maowmaow · 13/08/2025 16:36

Get him out of your house as soon as possible today. He has to back to his Mum’s. An off the rail 17 year old is not going to work with your young twins .

good luck

GoldenRosebee · 13/08/2025 16:36

You have to contact SS and tell them to take care of him.

mumofoneAloneandwell · 13/08/2025 16:37

I am usually hot on the shitty step parents

I think that you were very wrong to ban him from your home because he was pushing your 1yo. That could've been fixed with time and effort. But thats in the past.

His mum sounds shocking. She sounds as though she puts herself first, no wonder this poor boy is so angry.

I think that your husband sounds like a decent man, a really decent one. I think that, just because they dont share blood, doesn't mean that this boy isnt his responsibility.

And now that youre married to his dad, hes your responsibility too.

I think you should work on an approach to help the poor young man, that doesn't involve him living with your autistic sons. They may not share blood, but they share a dad, no matter how he came to be one.

The choice to be a dad isnt one that you drop because things get rough.

Could you work out renting a small place close by, with strict conditions re drugs and loud noise. The rest would fall on his dad's shoulders as to counselling him to be a good man, getting him back into school or work etc

And slowly, and very slowly, he could try to form a bond with his brothers.

Best of luck x

Edit, it will not be easy by any means. But its the right thing to do.

His mum doesn't want him. He knows it and I think that you know it. He needs somewhere else to stay and to have a break from her and her toxic ways.

Gymmum82 · 13/08/2025 16:37

Get him packed back to his mum. He’s not your problem. Nor your partners problem. I can’t believe he’d bring this thing back to his 2 tiny autistic children. Get him gone immediately

Gymmum82 · 13/08/2025 16:38

mumofoneAloneandwell · 13/08/2025 16:37

I am usually hot on the shitty step parents

I think that you were very wrong to ban him from your home because he was pushing your 1yo. That could've been fixed with time and effort. But thats in the past.

His mum sounds shocking. She sounds as though she puts herself first, no wonder this poor boy is so angry.

I think that your husband sounds like a decent man, a really decent one. I think that, just because they dont share blood, doesn't mean that this boy isnt his responsibility.

And now that youre married to his dad, hes your responsibility too.

I think you should work on an approach to help the poor young man, that doesn't involve him living with your autistic sons. They may not share blood, but they share a dad, no matter how he came to be one.

The choice to be a dad isnt one that you drop because things get rough.

Could you work out renting a small place close by, with strict conditions re drugs and loud noise. The rest would fall on his dad's shoulders as to counselling him to be a good man, getting him back into school or work etc

And slowly, and very slowly, he could try to form a bond with his brothers.

Best of luck x

Edit, it will not be easy by any means. But its the right thing to do.

His mum doesn't want him. He knows it and I think that you know it. He needs somewhere else to stay and to have a break from her and her toxic ways.

Edited

Newsflash. He’s not his dad

MNpenisadvisor · 13/08/2025 16:39

Yeah it's harsh AF on the 17 year old lad but you need to fuck him off back

mumofoneAloneandwell · 13/08/2025 16:39

Gymmum82 · 13/08/2025 16:38

Newsflash. He’s not his dad

Yes he is. Hes been his dad since he was young. Just because they dont share dna doesn't mean that that bond and commitment ceases.

OpenThatWindow · 13/08/2025 16:42

Oh, yikes.

I really, really feel for the boy. He needs a stable, safe home before he makes some really bad choices and potential fucks up his life forevermore.

But. You have a responsibility to keep your boys happy, healthy and in a safe environment - your priority has to be to them I'm afraid.

Call Social Services. 😞

OpenThatWindow · 13/08/2025 16:43

Gymmum82 · 13/08/2025 16:37

Get him packed back to his mum. He’s not your problem. Nor your partners problem. I can’t believe he’d bring this thing back to his 2 tiny autistic children. Get him gone immediately

"This thing"

I really hope you're not referring to the clearly abused boy?

Snoopysimaginaryfriend · 13/08/2025 16:43

Has your DP ever obtained legal parental responsibility for this boy?

He’s in a terrible situation and he needs support but your partner needs to step back and involve social services.

isthesolution · 13/08/2025 16:49

Oh poor kid. But the damage is done and you need to prioritise your younger children.

I’d Contact the mother and say that unfortunately you aren’t in a situation to house the son. You don’t even have a bed for him. Should you bring him back or call social services. Then do as she instructs.

AnneLovesGilbert · 13/08/2025 16:50

mumofoneAloneandwell · 13/08/2025 16:39

Yes he is. Hes been his dad since he was young. Just because they dont share dna doesn't mean that that bond and commitment ceases.

Complete and utter bollocks. He wasn’t his dad when she moved away frustrating contact, or when the boy chose not to see OP’s DH for years. You’re just trying to show everyone how kind and moral you are but your perspective is beyond ridiculous.

You do not become responsible for a near adult because the man you married once dated someone who had a child. Come on.

mbosnz · 13/08/2025 16:50

That poor bloody kid. If he loses the only decent parent he's ever had, he's fucked. (And yes, I know there is no biological or legal link).

At the same time, you've got limited resources, housewise, and two little ones, with their own challenges, too.

There aren't any Hallmark answers here, are there?

Keroppi · 13/08/2025 16:50

Your DP could contact SS or a housing charity for young people in your or his mums area and see if he can get on council housing list or a place at a supported living/ymca or similar
Does he even have parental responsibility
Could literally contact police and say he's a runaway
But dp needs to make it crystal clear he cannot stay at yours unfortunately. Due to lack of space and your twins special needs......
Perhaps give him the sofa for the weekend then DP drives him back to his mums.

DottieMoon · 13/08/2025 16:50

nomas · 13/08/2025 16:32

YANBU. Your DH needs to take the boy back to his mum’s, he is not your responsibility and will endanger your sons.

Completely, I think it was mad and irresponsible for your DP to bring him back to your home.

PuppyMonkey · 13/08/2025 16:53

Tell social services asap. He’s a safeguarding concern for your twins apart from anything else.

mumofoneAloneandwell · 13/08/2025 16:57

AnneLovesGilbert · 13/08/2025 16:50

Complete and utter bollocks. He wasn’t his dad when she moved away frustrating contact, or when the boy chose not to see OP’s DH for years. You’re just trying to show everyone how kind and moral you are but your perspective is beyond ridiculous.

You do not become responsible for a near adult because the man you married once dated someone who had a child. Come on.

What?

I am not trying to appear kind and responsible 😭😭, I am being an adult and I am being myself

If you become the parent of an kid, and raise them as your own, you dont cease doing so because you separate from their mum

This poor boy has been told all sorts by his crappy mum, and no doubt believed that his DAD no longer wanted him. Now hes realised his mum is shit and has gone off the rails

He needs his dad, the man who parented him to fight for him.

Tbh I'd be upset if my husband wasnt making an effort to be in touch during the years the boy claimed he wanted nothing to do with him

Being a parent isnt just blood. Its a choice, and its one you dont abandon when things get tough.

InterIgnis · 13/08/2025 16:59

There’s a difference between being ‘a good man’ and being a fucking idiot, and your DH is the latter. He isn’t the boy’s father, and he’s putting his own children at risk by bringing his chaos into your family home. This is not your problem to solve.

It’s on you to put your foot down.

Gymmum82 · 13/08/2025 16:59

mumofoneAloneandwell · 13/08/2025 16:39

Yes he is. Hes been his dad since he was young. Just because they dont share dna doesn't mean that that bond and commitment ceases.

His mom birthed him and she’s washed her hands of him. Someone with zero biological connection has no duty

BubblingBelly · 13/08/2025 17:00

What an awful story. There are no winners here. This is a very damaged 17 year-old young man.what a life he has had. He is clearly hurting inside and lashing out everywhere.

He needs the right kind of therapy from the right organisation. It’s such a difficult age with the transition to adulthood as well and so many kids fall through the net.

But he cannot live with you and your young kids. Even if you did have the space, it feels destined for disaster.

Gymmum82 · 13/08/2025 17:00

OpenThatWindow · 13/08/2025 16:43

"This thing"

I really hope you're not referring to the clearly abused boy?

Abused LOL just a stroppy badly parented teen that isn’t getting his own way. FFS do you even know what abuse is???? Clearly not

mumofoneAloneandwell · 13/08/2025 17:01

Gymmum82 · 13/08/2025 16:59

His mom birthed him and she’s washed her hands of him. Someone with zero biological connection has no duty

So? Because one person is shit towards the boy, it justifies this man also doing the same?

I'm so shocked at the attitude that because the boy isnt a blood relation, he doesn't matter. Absolutely disgusting attitude.

OpenThatWindow · 13/08/2025 17:02

Gymmum82 · 13/08/2025 17:00

Abused LOL just a stroppy badly parented teen that isn’t getting his own way. FFS do you even know what abuse is???? Clearly not

Try reading the posts, if you can set aside your outrage...

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