Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Step daughter is ruining mine and my children's life. Help

100 replies

Samiam92 · 24/03/2025 20:17

This is a long post.

My bf and I have been together 3 years. I've been taking care of his daughter since we first started dating her bio mother has seen her maybe 6 months out of my whole relationship with the dad. We are a blended family, I bring in 3 kids of my own from a previous relationship and he brings in kids from two previous relationships and we share a child we had a yr ago. My bfs daughter is 5. The same as my twins. But she has a lot of, what I think stem from behavior problems or adhd, I'm not sure. I realize she's only 5 but it's been hell with her. My twins and her older brother who's only 3 years older have never done the things she does.

She is very manipulative, devious, sneaky, mean, jealous, malicious. Her behaviors have now affected all of my children even my oldest whos 13. Her, half brother from her father does not like being around her and neither do my twins. I'm scared to leave her alone with my one yr old. But I'm her main caretaker, it's finally come to the point where her dad is sending her to her mom but idk for how long but I cannot care for her anymore.

She's accused my kids of touching her, she's the one who's been inappropriate with the boys, she's now even trying to accuse my 1 yr old of being inappropriate with her. I've seen here trying to kiss and be inappropriate with all my kids and ive had to explain this to her father, my kids even explained how uncomfortable they feel with her , so shes not allowed around then alone. She constantly lies even if it's not necessary, she's got kicked out of TK, Daycare, and family doesn't want to even watch her. She's hit my 1 yr old in his soft spot multiple times when he was months old because of her jealousy, she's called my twins racist names, will ask strangers to take her because we don't feed her and we beat her (we do not do that). When I try explaining things to her she just laughs or seems bored and uninterested in listening to me. She constantly gets into everyone's things, if she doesn't like the food I give her, she throws in under the table, on the wall, or hides it behind cabinets or anything really. When I confront her she tells me to clean it up. She has told me numerous times I'm only here to cook, clean, and do what her dad says. She is aggressive towards the other children. Her dad does put her in time out and take toys and stuff away, we don't know what else to do because honestly she scares us. She acts worse when her dad is not here. She will have a few good days but she always reverts back to these behaviors. Her dad will tell me I shouldn't let a child get to me like that but he doesn't understand how this effects me mentally. I have stopped trying to help with doctors appointment and everything because I feel her bio parents need to figure out what's going on with her mentally and emotionally. I have to take a step back and worry for my own kids mental health as well as mine. We are all in therapy now cus of this. Idk it's so much more but I'm just curious has anyone else gone through something like this? Idk if my relationship can survive this. I know he needs to be there for his daughter but I'm not putting my kids through this anymore or taking care of her anymore. I feel horrible for even saying that but I can't do it.

OP posts:
DenholmElliot11 · 24/03/2025 20:20

No, I wouldn't put my kids though that either.

I don't blame you for not doing it any more.

Tiswa · 24/03/2025 20:22

So she was 2 when you met 3 when you got pregnant and 4 when born and you wonder why?
that said there are huge red flags in her behaviour for where she is living - possibly sexual abuse and where on earth do the racist comments come from.

the whole thing needs social services involvement for her sake - she is 5 it is not normal

FakingItEasy · 24/03/2025 20:23

No, I don't blame you either. Just out of curiosity, why does her mum barely see her?

Is there anyway she and her dad could move out for a bit on their own? I wonder if what she really needs is some one on one attention/intervention? It must be hard (for all, bit especially her as her own mum doesn't seem to be around much) to have so many other kids around.

But no judgement at all for saying you can't do it any more.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

MummyJ36 · 24/03/2025 20:25

She sounds very troubled, are you sure that there has been no abuse of any sort in her life? It would explain a lot of this. Perhaps also being abandoned by her biological mother has also played a huge part in this too.

Ultimately, you can walk away from this and it is your call if you choose do so. But her dad should not walk away from her. She is incredibly young to be displaying this behaviour and she needs additional help, likely professional help, to see her through the next key years.

Namechange285 · 24/03/2025 20:29

Tiswa · 24/03/2025 20:22

So she was 2 when you met 3 when you got pregnant and 4 when born and you wonder why?
that said there are huge red flags in her behaviour for where she is living - possibly sexual abuse and where on earth do the racist comments come from.

the whole thing needs social services involvement for her sake - she is 5 it is not normal

I agree with this. Very concerning to hear about the sexualised behaviour/accusations - this is a red flag for abuse and needs to be taken seriously. I can understand where you’re coming from in terms of the toll this is taking on your family. Hope you manage to figure things out

converseandjeans · 24/03/2025 20:30

It sounds like her Mum can’t be bothered & her Dad just leaves you to deal with 5 or 6 kids of varying ages on your own. I can’t fathom having a baby with someone who isn’t exactly hands on with his 2 existing children.

I feel really sorry for her - but equally I think you have been totally shafted. You’re being used as childcare for 2 children in addition to your own children. I think she’s playing up because she is really insecure. Neither of her parents are bothering with her & so she is taking it out on you because you’re there.

converseandjeans · 24/03/2025 20:31

I also agree with the accusations being a red flag - where on earth does a 5 year old hear about those sort of things?

Samiam92 · 24/03/2025 20:33

Social worker was called and came to our home from when she was in TK the lady said she feels she has some type of behavioral issue. None of the other kids show these behaviors. Mom doesn't want to deal with her so she always sends her back or just ignores her. Dad and I got in contact with her and the step dad. Step dad has decided he wanted to step in more and help. Step dad said that she had gotten in trouble there cus she was on tik tok and watching things she shouldn't have with her older brother and sister from her mom.

OP posts:
Samiam92 · 24/03/2025 20:35

I have had friends and his family tell me this. We've been doing couples therapy because I did leave for a little bit. He's been better but yes I feel used. He's really great with my kids but yes I feel because she's harder to deal with he doesn't want to do it. Which is definitely the case with her mother, her mother has kids with other men and she takes care of all of them.

OP posts:
Regretsmorethanafew · 24/03/2025 20:35

So her mother abandoned her and her father practically gave her to a stranger (op). There are multiple half and step siblings and probably abuse and neglect.

What a shit show. I hope someone calls social services

Bathnet · 24/03/2025 20:36

I absolutely would not do this either, not to the detriment of my own children. She sounds unmanageable but I’d agree with PP that she’s showing red flag signs of being a victim of sexual or some other abuse. I would ring the HV and raise your concerns. Have any concerns been raised by the school?

ImNoSuperman · 24/03/2025 20:36

Protect your children and leave this useless father. You had your own 2 year old toddlers and took on caring responsibilities for a child that isn't yours at the same time. This child's parents don't want to parent her. You need to leave so they have to.

AnneLovesGilbert · 24/03/2025 20:38

Jesus.

You have to live apart, yesterday. Are you renting? Who moved in with whom? Get your children away from the whole thing.

She’s obviously deeply troubled and being completely failed by both of her parents but you have to prioritise your own kids and keep them apart from his.

Adding a baby to the mix was a bizarre decision, there are plenty of kids involved already and less blended than thrown together too quickly but that ship has sailed so do whatever you can to mitigate further damage and upset.

Samiam92 · 24/03/2025 20:38

When the case worker asked her she said she told her she lied and said that to get attention and because she doesn't want the boys here taking the attention and no one did anything to her, it's just her she likes to lie. Shocked because this is coming from a 5 yr old. The case worker said he whole demeanor and how she was talking was not something she'd expect from a 5 yr old, that's why she says it could be a behavior thing cus she shows no signs of abuse like that and the other children are doing well beside with her. They are scared of her.

OP posts:
VivaVivaa · 24/03/2025 20:40

The poor kid sounds utterly traumatised. Abandoned by her mother and father and fighting for attention amongst multiple other DC. She may be neurodiverse, who knows, but the bigger issue is the severely disordered attachment she is displaying.

You need to protect your DC and get away. I’d raise a merry hell with all agencies before you do though about how disordered this child is. Sounds like you aren’t in the UK?

AliBaliBee1234 · 24/03/2025 20:41

Tiswa · 24/03/2025 20:22

So she was 2 when you met 3 when you got pregnant and 4 when born and you wonder why?
that said there are huge red flags in her behaviour for where she is living - possibly sexual abuse and where on earth do the racist comments come from.

the whole thing needs social services involvement for her sake - she is 5 it is not normal

I'm not quite sure you can blame how fast they had another baby. Many families do .

OP this sounds like a huge stress and fair play to you for trying to do your best by her. I wouldn't be able to carry on either.

The poor thing sounds like she needs help and I think her Dad needs to step in and sort this out with the mother. I do agree with the above in that, 5 year olds don't naturally behave this way.

I wouldn't feel comfortable living with her and you are not being unreasonable at all.

Daisyrainbows · 24/03/2025 20:42

Poor kid she sounds confused, upset, distressed and it’s coming out in some not great ways. I feel for you too OP sounds soooo tough. But she’s a small child who’s clearly struggling lots. I would take all the support from social services and school etc you can get

Soontobe60 · 24/03/2025 20:42

What a sad situation for this clearly disturbed young child. Every adult in her life has let her down badly. You wrote about her as if it’s all her fault - but it’s not. Given her very troubled background imposed on her by her parents, it’s absolutely no surprise she is behaving in such a challenging way.

Ilovelurchers · 24/03/2025 20:43

I don't know what country you are in - is there any involvement from Social Services or similar? Given she has been kicked out of Daycare (permanently excluded I assume) clearly her problematic behaviours have been noticed by professionals outside the family.

If you choose to stick with the relationship/blended family, I suggest you source all the outside help you can.

You are also entitled to walk away in order to protect your biological children. I have to say I think that's what I would do.

Also agree with other posters that a lot of the little girl's behaviours seem to indicate she is a survivor of childhood sexual abuse? I assume you are confident that your husband would not have harmed her - is it plausible she may have been abused under her mother's care?

(These are probably questions for a child psychologist, not for you. Unless you choose to stay and try to work it out. I also see that you have a child with your husband, so to some extent he, and therefore his daughter, will always be in the lives of you and your kids. But you can, and possibly should, limit this. Enormously sad, but you can't sacrifice your own happiness and even more importantly your children's safety, out of guilt....

Good luck OP. The whole situation sounds horrendously hard and I feel for you all enormously.

Samiam92 · 24/03/2025 20:43

We live with my family at the moment. Her dad has said he would leave for awhile to keep her from the other kids. I'm not one to give up on a child and I care for her but I'm tired, and I don't want my kids to be effected by this. I also feel I'm building resentment towards her and I don't want to feel like that either. I see how smart she is and how she switch's up. I honestly think it's her, no sexual abuse. That was a concern for me as well but it's more her sadly to say. I wish I could show it through my eyes for people to better understand.

OP posts:
SawItOnTikTok · 24/03/2025 20:46

AliBaliBee1234 · 24/03/2025 20:41

I'm not quite sure you can blame how fast they had another baby. Many families do .

OP this sounds like a huge stress and fair play to you for trying to do your best by her. I wouldn't be able to carry on either.

The poor thing sounds like she needs help and I think her Dad needs to step in and sort this out with the mother. I do agree with the above in that, 5 year olds don't naturally behave this way.

I wouldn't feel comfortable living with her and you are not being unreasonable at all.

Of course you can blame them, they were trying to blend families with what sounds a huge number of kids with extremely difficult circumstances - baby daddies, half siblings and stepchildren absolutely everywhere.

not only did they move too fast in the first place they also decided to bring more children into this mess

Bathnet · 24/03/2025 20:46

OP you have done what you can. I really feel for you all but she sounds as though she’s going to potentially be a real detriment to the health, safety and welfare of your own children if you stay living with her.

PeppermintPatty10 · 24/03/2025 20:47

It's a sad situation but I would protect my own children and leave. Sorry, OP, but your children come first.

AliBaliBee1234 · 24/03/2025 20:47

Samiam92 · 24/03/2025 20:43

We live with my family at the moment. Her dad has said he would leave for awhile to keep her from the other kids. I'm not one to give up on a child and I care for her but I'm tired, and I don't want my kids to be effected by this. I also feel I'm building resentment towards her and I don't want to feel like that either. I see how smart she is and how she switch's up. I honestly think it's her, no sexual abuse. That was a concern for me as well but it's more her sadly to say. I wish I could show it through my eyes for people to better understand.

She must be hearing these things from somewhere. What is her mother like? Is she watching things she shouldn't? I know you mention tiktoks.

Maybe some one on one time living with Dad and a child therapist getting involved is the way forward

purpleandcoral · 24/03/2025 20:47

Samiam92 · 24/03/2025 20:43

We live with my family at the moment. Her dad has said he would leave for awhile to keep her from the other kids. I'm not one to give up on a child and I care for her but I'm tired, and I don't want my kids to be effected by this. I also feel I'm building resentment towards her and I don't want to feel like that either. I see how smart she is and how she switch's up. I honestly think it's her, no sexual abuse. That was a concern for me as well but it's more her sadly to say. I wish I could show it through my eyes for people to better understand.

She’s 5. It’s not her

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.

Swipe left for the next trending thread