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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to think blended family life is draining us all?

1000 replies

PithyBeaker · 06/04/2026 15:23

DP and I have been together five years. I have one DC from previous marriage and he has three DC from his previous marriage that are with us every other week. No kids together. The kids mostly get on and play well. There is some unhealthy competition with my DC which I don’t like and his kids are allowed much more screen time and watch age inappropriate things at their mother’s. His kids also have more care needs (ADHD, neuro-diverse, etc) than mine. DP and I try to split the cooking but he is easily overwhelmed by his kids (he is also ADHD and ASD) and things run to chaos under his control (laundry piles everywhere, mess, wrappers discarded, etc). I’m not a neat freak at all but the mess drives even me crazy (things like touching handles with filthy hands and not cleaning toilet bowl after a poo). I am often the one laying down rules, enforcing boundaries because DP much more relaxed. The house gets wrecked when they come over (it is my house). We both work full-time. DP and I used to enjoy time together but increasingly in evenings he just games and I go to sleep early. Basically: I am tired and feel like life would be easier if it was just me and my DC. AIBU to think that no matter what happens blending families never really works and I will ultimately be the one sucked dry and drained by this situation, with more net harm than good in the end? I sometimes miss the days when it was just me and my DC and it was peaceful, but also I think I would really miss my DP and my DC would miss DP’s DC. I don’t know whether it would now be more harmful to my DC (who is about to start secondary) to lose DP and DP’s DC - or better for him (and me) in the long run. Help.

OP posts:
Lotsofsnacks · 10/04/2026 01:55

PithyBeaker · 06/04/2026 21:40

Yep. Sure did.

I bet OP would not have been so attractive to this man if she lived in a tiny 2 bed flat! Gobsmacked after reading these posts at what a CF the ‘D’P is!! Please don’t let him talk you into him staying OP, get him out. Be interesting to see if he still wants to continue the relationship if living separately, my guess is not

Meteorite87 · 10/04/2026 07:01

Wishing you every strength for today @PithyBeaker .

Melarus · 10/04/2026 07:58

Only just found this thread and it has been so moving. The posts by @GreenhampsterAndEggs and @MrsMcGarry brought tears to my eyes.

Wishing you all the very best to you OP - and to all the amazing women going through this process of healing ❤

LoveWine123 · 10/04/2026 09:24

Good luck, OP, look out for yourself and your child.

NettleTea · 10/04/2026 09:55

good luck today
You have an army of women behind you

Tomatoblush · 10/04/2026 10:44

Wishing you good luck today and just know there are so many of us wishing you well.

NoelFieldingsLeftSock · 10/04/2026 10:51

So much good advice on this thread - stay strong today and also in the weeks to come... It will feel very strange without them but that doesn't mean you made a bad decision. This will be the time to find your new normal with your son...

RoyalPenguin · 10/04/2026 11:20

Another one thinking of you OP.

moderate · 10/04/2026 12:20

Thinking of you today @PithyBeaker. Stay strong for your DS and yourself.

trumpisruin · 10/04/2026 12:24

Be interesting to see if he still wants to continue the relationship if living separately, my guess is not
I agree @Lotsofsnacks
Cohabiting makes it much easier for the stronger personality / stronger person (usually, but not always, the man) to dominate / control / exploit the other one. Or at least make sure that most things are on their terms and they are the one who benefits to the detriment of the other.
If cohabiting is off the table there's no incentive to carry on with the relationship.

PithyBeaker · 10/04/2026 13:29

trumpisruin · 10/04/2026 12:24

Be interesting to see if he still wants to continue the relationship if living separately, my guess is not
I agree @Lotsofsnacks
Cohabiting makes it much easier for the stronger personality / stronger person (usually, but not always, the man) to dominate / control / exploit the other one. Or at least make sure that most things are on their terms and they are the one who benefits to the detriment of the other.
If cohabiting is off the table there's no incentive to carry on with the relationship.

He has taken it well, not angry, just sad. Says he’ll have to think about whether we continue to be together.

OP posts:
keepincool · 10/04/2026 13:38

Coming out of the shadows to say well done @PithyBeaker I hope the moving out goes without incident.

Stay strong and focus on yourself and your DS x

NoelFieldingsLeftSock · 10/04/2026 13:39

PithyBeaker · 10/04/2026 13:29

He has taken it well, not angry, just sad. Says he’ll have to think about whether we continue to be together.

Not just his decision... Take time to think about what you want too! This is the first step ...

goody2shooz · 10/04/2026 13:43

Ahh, the subtle ‘threat’ to not continue the relationship - as expected. So the relationship is dependant upon you subsidising him and his dc. Now you know for sure. Personally, I hope you finish with him - he’s really not treated you well at all.

TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne · 10/04/2026 13:45

PithyBeaker · 10/04/2026 13:29

He has taken it well, not angry, just sad. Says he’ll have to think about whether we continue to be together.

Oh, will he?

So you might get the prize of him staying in a relationship?

Wow. He's got a nerve.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 10/04/2026 13:45

PithyBeaker · 10/04/2026 13:29

He has taken it well, not angry, just sad. Says he’ll have to think about whether we continue to be together.

Interesting that he is reconsidering the relationship if he’s not getting heavily subsidised…

WinterSunglasses · 10/04/2026 13:47

PithyBeaker · 10/04/2026 13:29

He has taken it well, not angry, just sad. Says he’ll have to think about whether we continue to be together.

You've done well to get to this point OP 💐. Hold your nerve now and don't crack and say it'll all be fine and you'll let him stay. What's been said about when he will move out?

PithyBeaker · 10/04/2026 13:49

WinterSunglasses · 10/04/2026 13:47

You've done well to get to this point OP 💐. Hold your nerve now and don't crack and say it'll all be fine and you'll let him stay. What's been said about when he will move out?

Not tackled that yet…. 😔 he said he wants to think and be alone. He’s gone upstairs. I’m so tired.

OP posts:
PithyBeaker · 10/04/2026 13:50

WinterSunglasses · 10/04/2026 13:47

You've done well to get to this point OP 💐. Hold your nerve now and don't crack and say it'll all be fine and you'll let him stay. What's been said about when he will move out?

He’s not asked to stay. He understands and says we’ve tried.

OP posts:
keepincool · 10/04/2026 13:53

PithyBeaker · 10/04/2026 13:49

Not tackled that yet…. 😔 he said he wants to think and be alone. He’s gone upstairs. I’m so tired.

He can have alone time at his flat - tell him to go there today with a few bits and then he can collect the rest of his stuff later. You need the weekend to yourself too.

trumpisruin · 10/04/2026 13:53

PithyBeaker · 10/04/2026 13:29

He has taken it well, not angry, just sad. Says he’ll have to think about whether we continue to be together.

That sounds good, not too much stress no out burst, but it suggests he believes he's got a chance to get back into your home if he plays his cards right. He's invested a lot of time and effort and he's not willing to walk away from the potential prize.
Once back in he'll work on making you feel guilty and making himself harder to remove this time.
If I was in your shoes (and I saw some benefit in keeping the relationship) I think I would humor him for long enough to get him out. I would then resolve to never let him live with me again.

eatreadsleeprepeat · 10/04/2026 13:54

Good for you. You will be tired because this will have been emotionally exhausting. But the difficult bit is done. When he comes back downstairs or in an hour you need to talk practical things, like when he is going. Stick to your guns, be calm but implacable.

outerspacepotato · 10/04/2026 13:54

PithyBeaker · 10/04/2026 13:50

He’s not asked to stay. He understands and says we’ve tried.

You've tried. He has let his kids run wild in your home and disrespect you and the home you provide.

Gaming isn't trying.

Good job having the talk, now it's time to carry through with getting him out.

Take a minute and visualize your son having a friend sleepover in a clean house and you cook them a nice breakfast. And it's peaceful.

PithyBeaker · 10/04/2026 13:56

eatreadsleeprepeat · 10/04/2026 13:54

Good for you. You will be tired because this will have been emotionally exhausting. But the difficult bit is done. When he comes back downstairs or in an hour you need to talk practical things, like when he is going. Stick to your guns, be calm but implacable.

This

OP posts:
PithyBeaker · 10/04/2026 13:57

keepincool · 10/04/2026 13:53

He can have alone time at his flat - tell him to go there today with a few bits and then he can collect the rest of his stuff later. You need the weekend to yourself too.

No this is OTT. He is not a monster, guys.

OP posts:
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