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Original poster

5 year age gap nightmare and loosing the plot

6 replies

ilovejumpers · 05/12/2018 19:11

Can I ask advice and experience please? I’ve got a 15 year old and a 10 year old. Out house/family is at breaking point due to the constant bickering, lies, stealing blah blah blah. I know this is PROBABLY completely normal but I’m being pushed to breaking point. My OH works away Monday to Friday and I’ve always been fine I’d a little pushes to look after them both, keep the peace, hold down a couple of jobs and cook and clean. Of late OH is now not backing me from a far and calling me an ‘emotional retard’. Said kids are unable to be in the same room ( they share) I’m having to sleep downstairs to keep the peace and gradually loosing any control. The eldest IS pretty good although a bit scatty, youngest is manipulating and rather naughty. HELP and advice please?? Ps things keep ‘going misting’ make up money etc

OP posts:
Cherries101 · 05/12/2018 19:14

Sounds like your youngest should lose bedroom privileges if they’re stealing from the older sibling. Make them sleep on the couch for a set period of time, explaining why you’re doing this.

Mamabear12 · 06/12/2018 21:09

I would nip this behaviour in the bud. Stealing is not okay. Whoever is stealing will lose privileges. And if they don’t admit who, I would figure it out, stash some cash around and get a hidden camera.

ForAMinuteThere · 08/12/2018 08:03

Why on earth is your oh saying that?

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AJPTaylor · 08/12/2018 08:08

When my dds were that age, they both had a lockable tool box to keep stuff in

Kokeshi123 · 10/12/2018 08:51

You do not have an age gap problem. You have an unsupportive partner and naughty kids problem.

No, stealing and calling people retards is not normal.

blueskiesandforests · 10/12/2018 08:59

It's not the age gap - I've got 5 years from dc1 to dc3 and dc1 tends to "mother" dc3 and overly baby him... Dc3 adores both older siblings but wants to be the same as dc2 whilst seeing dc1 more like a more fun/ cooler adult...

Stealing also isn't normal and needs to be zero tolerance - especially if its always the same child stealing from the sibling, that's intolerable.

Your OH also sounds intolerable for that matter...

Advice?

Serious laying down of boundaries with everyone including OH, setting out and sticking to predefined consequences if boundaries are crossed.

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