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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ban SD from my en suite?!

696 replies

EasterEstherEgg · 02/07/2026 18:48

I’m fuming!!

When I moved in with DH, an en suite was an essential on my list. I have DD12 and he has SS15 and SD17 and I don’t want to share my personal space with teenagers. They’re also not allowed in our bed.

Have come back from a work trip early to find SD getting out of my bath, with my shampoos, body lotions and creams laid out and my bloody dressing gown and slippers on and apparently she often does this when I’m away!

She - and DH and everyone else - are well aware my en suite is off limits. AIBU?

OP posts:
DimwittedSkater · 03/07/2026 02:47

Scorchio84 · 03/07/2026 02:43

Massive eyeroll..there's always nit-pickers!

This would really, really bother me to put it mildly! You've said she's doing it as a "fuck you!" & I really believe she is

Also someone else (sorry can't remember who?) suggesting to bring her shopping for Shiseido products & it's "sweet" she looks up to you? Absolutely not, Jesus Christ I hate that it's all on YOU to make your SD feel validated for using all YOUR nice products, as if how dare you not let her have a free for all in your private, personal space.. I'd be fuming too @EasterEstherEgg

Your H/P would want to cop on too

It was me, and I could never reach the rage levels on here over a few creams and a dressing gown.

Some people are not made for sharing and caring. Family life is all about being communal.

Tourmalines · 03/07/2026 02:53

DimwittedSkater · 03/07/2026 02:47

It was me, and I could never reach the rage levels on here over a few creams and a dressing gown.

Some people are not made for sharing and caring. Family life is all about being communal.

Family life is all about respecting each other first . She knows the one reasonable boundary and she crossed it . Not once . Quite regularly.

Tamtim · 03/07/2026 02:57

One of my teens chooses to shower in our en suite. It’s a bit inconvenient sometimes but I don’t mind. You do however so you need to have strong words with your DH who needs to put a stop to it right now. You made your views clearly known. It’s just bloody rude of DSD.

Francestein · 03/07/2026 02:57

This is totally a husband problem. He doesn’t care that she’s invading your space, stealing your things and violating your very clear boundary. You need to sell the house divorce this lot and move on with your life.

Xnz2022 · 03/07/2026 02:59

This thread is eye opening..

I guess I grew up in a weird family. Parents bedrooms were never off limits, and their ensuite bathroom was just treated like any other bathroom and used by all.

I thought that was the norm, but I guess not.

Scorchio84 · 03/07/2026 03:02

DimwittedSkater · 03/07/2026 02:47

It was me, and I could never reach the rage levels on here over a few creams and a dressing gown.

Some people are not made for sharing and caring. Family life is all about being communal.

Thanks @DimwittedSkater I'm rubbish with names!

It's not really about a few creams and a dressing gown.though, it's about boundaries & respect both of which the SD doesn't give a shit about when it comes to OP, in fact she sounds like a right madam if I'm honest

curious79 · 03/07/2026 03:10

This is both bad and/ inconsiderate and also completely what teenagers do. Only locks can resolve it, but that makes you look a certain way.
my 2 constantly casually nick anything they fancy of mine. They’re not bad kids at all - I overlook quite a lot

NewbieSM · 03/07/2026 03:14

I agree with OP ignore all the posters saying you should feel lucky that SD wants to use your expensive products. She’s a teenager who has been told NOT to use your stuff. She can get a job and buy her own. You sound like you provide the vast majority financially to them and yes they should be grateful for that. Sounds like if you and DH split up, the stepkids will have a significant downgrade in lifestyle, no more Chanel face cream for her!

I too have two step daughters and they are lovely and respectful, they do not use my things without asking and I buy them their own cosmetics and skincare that is better suited to their age.

Mumsnet is crazy sometimes, kids are are entitled to be put first when it comes to necessities but optional extras are a privilege not a right.

InterIgnis · 03/07/2026 03:32

Ghht · 03/07/2026 01:25

Maybe don’t have teenage children (or marry someone who has them) if you don’t want to share a space with them…because they will be in that space regardless if you get an en suite.

That said, I would be annoyed with someone else using my face stuff. The dressing gown and slippers is a bit bizarre. Do they not have their own nice things, or are they trying to embody the life of luxury they think you live whilst you’re away (lol- but seriously??)?

YABU for being annoyed they used a bathroom.

YANBU for being annoyed they used your face cream, dressing gown/slippers.

Teenagers are perfectly capable of respecting someone else’s privacy, just as they presumably want their privacy to be respected in return. She’s hardly deprived because she doesn’t have access to OP’s en-suite. It’s hardly all or nothing.

My parents had the same rule, and funnily enough my brother and I managed to respect it. It isn’t ’just what teenagers do’.

geoger · 03/07/2026 03:33

EasterEstherEgg · 02/07/2026 23:33

I work hard and am the main earner by a big margin. I sacrifice a lot in my relationship and I think I have earned my own space with my own products.

And herein lies the problem.
This isnt really about your SD using your products and en suite is it? This act is probably the straw that broke the camels back; you feel disrespected, unappreciated and disappointed that all your hard work, sacrifice and financial contribution goes unnoticed by your husband and his children.
Things are not going to get better (despite years of probably trying), your blended family is not working for you or your dd.
A lock on the bedroom door is not going to solve this, divorce will.

NotTodayPhyllis · 03/07/2026 03:36

You should take her shopping and buy her expensive skincare and give her your bedroom and en suite OP.

Once you have kids you aren’t allowed anything for yourself or to have your own space and as for step kids… well you knew your DH had kids when you married him and that means they can do whatever they want and you can never ever complain.

It doesn’t matter that you work hard and have to make sacrifices and are just trying to put some boundaries in place - kids are entitled to everything they want and if they help themselves to your stuff without asking then the obvious solution is to reward them by taking them out shopping for expensive skincare.

I’m in therapy because I grew up conditioned to always “be kind” and ended up being a complete pushover with everyone and terrified of conflict. It didn’t matter how much someone treated me like shit I’d just take it with a smile.

I realised it’s not a healthy way to be far too late and after years of being taken advantage of and it frustrates me so much on threads where posters go on about “being kind” when someone is being used, having boundaries trampled over or in any situation where they should be standing up for themselves and not appeasing the other party.

I don’t know if it’s just people being contrary for the sake of the thread or if they mean it but I actually think being advised to “be kind” when it sacrifices your self respect, boundaries or your own feelings is harmful advice and I’m always relieved when it’s a minority opinion that’s criticised.

Threads similar to this also show why so many kids grow up to be so entitled when they get given anything they want because of their age and because they are “just kids”.
I agree with the pp who said it would be a different story if OP was the one going into her stepdaughters room and stealing her belongings and ignoring the fact she’d been requested not to go into her space.

I understand your anger OP and I’d be as outraged and pissed off as you are. It’s a shitty move of your stepdaughters likely done to deliberately disrespect your wishes and knowing her dad won’t back you up - it’s a power move.

I hope you put yourself and your DD first and move out into your own house where you aren’t subsidising people who don’t deserve it, I bet you’d be so much happier.
I’ve read lots of threads over the years I’ve been on here from women who are treated like shit by their DH and his kids and are almost always the highest earners who own (or paid the majority for it) the house and are still expected to be a nanny with a fanny and housekeeper.
The ones who had enough and moved out updated saying how happy they were and how much their lives improved, I hope to read an update one day from you saying the same.

DimwittedSkater · 03/07/2026 03:45

Tourmalines · 03/07/2026 02:53

Family life is all about respecting each other first . She knows the one reasonable boundary and she crossed it . Not once . Quite regularly.

Yes, but only to use a bathroom and some creams. It's not like she took her step-parent's Ferrari for a spin.

InterIgnis · 03/07/2026 03:50

DimwittedSkater · 03/07/2026 03:45

Yes, but only to use a bathroom and some creams. It's not like she took her step-parent's Ferrari for a spin.

Something she knows full well she isn’t permitted to do, yet she clearly felt entitled to do it anyway.

It doesn’t matter what it’s ‘just..’ when it isn’t hers. This is something important to OP, even if it wouldn’t be to you, and her stepdaughter knowing ignored a very simple rule.

NotTodayPhyllis · 03/07/2026 04:19

DimwittedSkater · 03/07/2026 03:45

Yes, but only to use a bathroom and some creams. It's not like she took her step-parent's Ferrari for a spin.

But she has her own bathroom and creams.

If the stepdaughter had her own car but repeatedly used OP’s without asking would you say the same? Because it’s very similar in principle.

Decent skincare is expensive and it’s not nice to think of someone sticking their hands in something you use on your face and body.
It feels very personal going into someone’s space knowing they don’t want you there and then using a bathrobe that you wear naked and slippers.
They are intimate items and it would make me so uncomfortable to put on my robe I’ve been wearing naked knowing that it’s been worn by someone who was wearing it more than likely out of spite.

My friend buys her shampoo, conditioner and skincare from Asda and just gets cheap generic brands and couldn’t understand why I was so angry that my DP used half a bottle of my purple shampoo for my blonde hair. It costs me £45 and he has dark brown hair so I was frustrated at the waste of money and I also buy him his own shampoo for his hair type.

The difference is my DP apologised and hasn’t touched it since I told him I was pissed off he’d used it and he’d just picked it up because it was in front of him and not as a “fuck you” towards me.

My friend insisted I’d overreacted and said everyone helps themselves to any product in her bathroom and I wonder if it’s the price and not caring about the brand and quality that’s the difference in people’s attitudes?

It doesn’t matter anyway, the main thing is that OP works hard to support her family and they clearly have a good lifestyle due to this.
She says her stepkids and DH don’t treat the rest of the house with respect so if she wants her own private space in a house she mostly pays for then I don’t think that’s unreasonable at all.

It’s not like it’s a tiny house with one bathroom and the kids don’t have their own bathroom and skin and hair care products, OP works away from home so they have their own spaces and products themselves and it’s highly possible if she wasn’t on the scene her DH wouldn’t be able to offer that to his kids.

Tourmalines · 03/07/2026 04:34

DimwittedSkater · 03/07/2026 03:45

Yes, but only to use a bathroom and some creams. It's not like she took her step-parent's Ferrari for a spin.

Deflecting it with a Ferrari doesn’t work,respect isn’t about price . It’s about clear rules and consent in a shared household. Skincare and bath robes are personal items. You don’t take what is not yours when you know full well you’ve been asked not too .

thepariscrimefiles · 03/07/2026 05:40

TheMrsCampbellBlack · 03/07/2026 01:10

I'd take it as an opportunity to maybe take the girl shopping for some nice things of her own? A new shower bag with some products you have that she would like or some others she might have on her wish list as well as a new robe and slippers if hers are a bit old. Could be a nice day out together. Then she can use her own toiletries and perhaps she could just ask if she can use the bath in the ensuite for her everything shower/bath day? Why all the vitriol. She's just a kid. Be a bit kind.

OP has already said that she buys toiletries for all the children:

I buy her her own products (purple stuff for her blonde hair, I buy curly stuff for our child and generic boy stuff he wants for SS).

Her step-daughter was using OP's £70 face cream to moisturise her legs. Are you seriously suggesting that OP buys her some of her own?

None of the children are allowed to use OP's en-suite but they have their own bathroom with a bath and shower and there is another shower as well.

PJ98 · 03/07/2026 05:54

ICantChoose · 03/07/2026 00:02

Wow this thread is weird 🙈 I can't believe people get bothered by these things....

I would be bothered by this, yes.

A teenager using my hard earned, expensive bathroom products while I was away, using my bath robe and slippers, in my bedroom.

Don't be such martyr PP

OP, I would be furious. I'd have a lock on ny bedroom room immediately and I would be having strong words with ny DH about his daughter. He needs to sort this, not you.

Jumpingthesharkinfestedwaters · 03/07/2026 05:54

As I suspected. Cocklodger who can’t house and pay for his own kids, and hardworking, professional woman inexplicably taking him and his disrespectful baggage on to her huge financial and emotional cost. It’s like an epidemic on MN.

Sortingmyself · 03/07/2026 05:56

DimwittedSkater · 03/07/2026 02:47

It was me, and I could never reach the rage levels on here over a few creams and a dressing gown.

Some people are not made for sharing and caring. Family life is all about being communal.

But i think it's gone beyond 'just some creams'. The OP is clearly at breaking point and this latest episode is likely to be the culmination of lots of other disrespectful things that the DSD (and DSS/DH?) has done (possibly).

We don't know but from the latest updates, the OP appears to have reached the end of her tether so i would hazard a guess its the straw thats broken the camels back. 🤷‍♀️

I don't think it's too much to ask a 17 year old to keep out of 1 room in, what sounds like a large house? It's about respecting peoples boundaries which seems to fall on deaf ears when we're talking about other people's as opposed to ones own...🙄

Veronyk · 03/07/2026 06:27

It wouldn't have bothered me because I loved my kids even when they were teenagers and they were always welcome to use my stuff.

AgonyAuntsortof · 03/07/2026 06:34

EasterEstherEgg · 02/07/2026 23:59

To be honest this is the last straw. Both SC and DH treat our house like a dosshouse and I’m tired of coming home late after working hard to find a mess.

I think I’m done.

DD and I will be much happier living separately.

Well, I saw this coming. Good to see you know what you want. Good luck!

Thehop · 03/07/2026 06:35

Working my arse off to fund a house where I was so disrespected would piss me off enough to leave. You and dd will probably be happier on your own.

pragmatismuniversalsentimentalist · 03/07/2026 07:10

I find these threads really odd. I dont care at all if my kids use the ensuite as long as they dont leave a mess.
I maybe im odd but it wouldnt bother mde if they used my bubble bath either. But then i dont really buy 'special' stuff for myself, i occasionally have something I've been given as a christmas pressie i suppose.

I don't really get it when people say teens are nicking their stuff all the time - do these teens have nothing nice of their own?? And surely they have different taste to their mum who's presumably in their 40's or even 50's.... My daughter wouldnt ever want to wear any of my clothes 😂

Newtt · 03/07/2026 07:34

EasterEstherEgg · 02/07/2026 23:59

To be honest this is the last straw. Both SC and DH treat our house like a dosshouse and I’m tired of coming home late after working hard to find a mess.

I think I’m done.

DD and I will be much happier living separately.

OP, if you are considering splitting up already - I would focus on what you want with a little more determination.

in a years time you may well be packing DSD up ready to set if to university - that you will then also presumably be paying for if you’re still married to her father… (that’s assuming he will have a responsibility in the ‘grant’ process).

But, like so many other threads, we can all just sit back and think ‘it’s not soooo bad’ and take the path of least resistance….

Clarify your thinking and either talk to your DH about the behaviour you feel is appropriate and expect him to enforce this with his children or move forward in splitting up.

Blondeshavemorefun · 03/07/2026 07:37

EasterEstherEgg · 02/07/2026 23:59

To be honest this is the last straw. Both SC and DH treat our house like a dosshouse and I’m tired of coming home late after working hard to find a mess.

I think I’m done.

DD and I will be much happier living separately.

Sounds like they don’t appreciate you or what you work /pay /give them

qns maybe a serious conversation is needed with dh. Which you say you have had

so what’s the options ?

split and sell the house

put up with the disrespect

sounds like there are bigger issues and this is the don’t on the cake @EasterEstherEgg

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