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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:
PippistrelleBat · 24/03/2025 21:08

A five year old showing inappropriate sexual behaviour should be a huge red flag for abuse.

Samiam92 · 24/03/2025 21:09

I was a product of sexually abuse as a child and adopted. I understand everyone concerned for her in that aspect but I feel it has nothing to do with that. I really agree that she is traumatized by her parents not being stable and I really do think it's a behavioral issue. I just feel I needed advice cus I have no where else to get it. It's very easy for everyone to criticize me and say it's not her fault and blame dad. Yes dad needs to do better I agree but he has been trying. Mom needs to do better I do also agree that she may have a lot of issues with her mom. Her dad and grandparents have been the only constant in her life. She has only ever had me and her mom in her life (as mother figures) the other kids are older from relationships before she was born. My twins are the same age as her. So her dad hasn't really brought her around anyone else.

OP posts:
arcticpandas · 24/03/2025 21:10

Samiam92 · 24/03/2025 21:01

I'm not sure what happened that's just what step dad said. She prefers to be with step dad over her mother, she calls her mother by her name not mom or anything like that.

Abused children often goes to their abuser because it's the only one who shows them some affection sadly. I would be concerned about the stepfather since she's displaying sexualized behaviour around your children.
As for OP's husband he should take care if his children instead of just producing them with multiple women

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LadyKenya · 24/03/2025 21:10

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

This. I agree, the poor child sounds very troubled, and it sounds like a very busy household, which is not going to help matters. Hopefully the OP will get some help for the child. Her own children should not have to live with so much disruption, and where is this poor child hearing disgusting racism, that she is repeating, I wonder?

Bathnet · 24/03/2025 21:11

Booboobagins · 24/03/2025 21:08

@Samiam92 she sounds like she is traumatised to me and is acting out.

I dont know where she is getting this touching stuff from, has she been abused? I really hope not, but its not normal for a 5yo to understand any of that.

Pls dont treat her like she's treating you, she does not have your emotional capabilities, sjes a young child. Be extra loving towards her, she needs it. She needs to know she's loved just like everyone else, she needs to know she's valued just like everyone else.

I'd also help her and the other children grow self esteem. Get them to look at themselves in a mirror and high 5 themselves whilst not making a noise (that's to concentrate the feeling). Ask them to do this every morning.

Also play baroque music quietly in the background. It really reduces stress - dobt ask me how but I can confirm it works.

I do hope these tips help.

Sending you a big hug.

BTW having so many kids is something you should look at. Im not telling you not to have anymore, but seriously your hands are completely full and its likely you just dont have the time each child needs and that is very sad.

What planet are you on? Because it sure isn’t earth

Samiam92 · 24/03/2025 21:12

Grandparents told me she was always troubled and angry. She didn't start out like this until about 6 months into the relationship with her dad for me.

OP posts:
Newnamesameme · 24/03/2025 21:12

Op you are laying blame on this little girl. Her parents have failed her. You need to call social services this girl is showing markers for signs of sexual abuse. That could be your partner or her step dad. This poor girl is very traumatised and needs help.also where is she hearing racist comments from? That is learned from an adult.

Frostynoman · 24/03/2025 21:13

The child needs a psychologist for an extended period. If there is no SA then I’m thinking more along the lines of sociopathy. Your kids need support here too as her behaviour will have impacted upon their emotional well being.

Daisyrainbows · 24/03/2025 21:13

Samiam92 · 24/03/2025 21:12

Grandparents told me she was always troubled and angry. She didn't start out like this until about 6 months into the relationship with her dad for me.

You do sound very against her OP

SawItOnTikTok · 24/03/2025 21:14

Samiam92 · 24/03/2025 20:49

Blended families are very common now. No we did not plan to have another child but we did. Our other children get along great, unfortunately something is going on with her. So ypu could be kinder.

You could have been more careful. You could also have chosen to have an abortion if it really was an accidental pregnancy. Absolutely every adult in this child’s life is failing her including you. Can’t just blame her behaviour on her. She’s 5. She’s a product of her so far rubbish upbringing

Samiam92 · 24/03/2025 21:15

Racism is from mom I've heard her use the same words daughter has used. I've really given them everything I could I even offered to pay for a therapist and a nanny to help at home that specializes in care for her and that's when mom and step dad said they'd help more and take her. But I think it's cus mom doesn't want to pay. I'm not too sure.

OP posts:
Shouldbehoovering · 24/03/2025 21:16

My kids are a lot older than her and have no idea about sexualised behaviour/abuse. They wouldn’t even know how to come up with this sort of thing as ‘lies’ even if they wanted to. She hasn’t learnt this from tik tok… she needs serious help.

Lalalallalalala · 24/03/2025 21:16

Whilst I do feel for you , it cannot be easy , I also think you probably aren’t helping with your attitude towards her. I’m not saying I blame you , you are clearly overwhelmed and have children yourself to think about but her best interests are not at the forefront of your mind ( by the sounds of it her best interests aren’t at the forefront of anyone’s mind if no help has been sought and pushed for more )

You say she’s manipulative - shes 5. Any behaviour she has is learned .

You say she’s been like it since she was born - you didn’t know her and also how can a baby be like that? Behaviour is learned .

You said it’s not sexual abuse , it’s just her. Again, you don’t know that and you clearly have decided that she is just ‘bad’.

She is a child . A very young child. She doesn’t have the mindset to play games and manipulate - not without it being learned behaviour.

This child needs help. Her behaviour is communication . I beg you to refer this to social services . I’m sorry but I absolutely can’t believe that behaving inappropriately at 5 years old and accusing others of touching inappropriately comes from nowhere. How does a 5 year old even know how to make this up?

Shame on your partner for expecting you to handle this.

Take your children and leave this relationship and before you do , report it so someone can try to help the poor , innocent child.

Samiam92 · 24/03/2025 21:16

I'm only stating what grandparents said. I still care for her so I am not against her.

OP posts:
Rainbowqueeen · 24/03/2025 21:17

@Samiam92 I would separate now. You say you will need to if things don't get better but a five year old with this level of trauma is going to take years to get better. And what damage is being done to your own children in the meantime?

I realise it's a hard decision to make given you have a child with this man and you feel like you would be giving up on his daughter but I do not see how it is possible for her to get the help she needs in her current living situation.

Lalalallalalala · 24/03/2025 21:17

Samiam92 · 24/03/2025 21:15

Racism is from mom I've heard her use the same words daughter has used. I've really given them everything I could I even offered to pay for a therapist and a nanny to help at home that specializes in care for her and that's when mom and step dad said they'd help more and take her. But I think it's cus mom doesn't want to pay. I'm not too sure.

Don’t want to pay , or scared of what will come out ? Any decent parent seeing that go on with their child would sacrifice anything they needed to in order to pay for therapy

Northerngirl821 · 24/03/2025 21:17

This is a deeply traumatised five year old. Saying “this is her” or “this is behavioural”
is incredibly unfair and dismissive. Children aren’t born with these behaviours, they develop them as a coping strategy in the face of emotional neglect, abuse and other forms of childhood trauma.

I agree that separation is the best way forward. Your own children need to be protected from the harm this situation is causing them and this poor little girl will not be helped by the resentment and frustration you feel towards her.

TimeForABreak4 · 24/03/2025 21:17

She's five years old for goodness sake she shouldn't know any sexualised chat, that's hugely concerning. I'm also not surprised she's acting up when she's been passed from pillar to post, with no consistency and eleventy billion step/half siblings etc all in the picture between you, her mum, dad and stepdad. Five is a very young kid, her parents need to get a grip and start caring for their child.

Why are so many of you living with your family, has that been a recent move that's also possibly disrupting her?

FatLarrysBanned · 24/03/2025 21:18

● Her mother has 2 older children with one (or more?) father's.
● Her dad has another older child with another woman who isn't her mother.
● Her step father presumably has other children who she is exposed to as well.
● Her father is now a step father to 3 other children (your kids)
● Her father then has another biological child with you pushing her even further down the pecking order.

She's only 5 YEARS OLD and the above family tree is blowing my mind and I'm an adult. Blended families my arse. Just adults doing what is best for them as usual and the kids can fit in. Or not 🤷🏻‍♀️

There's at least 8 kids in this circus? For the love of all that is holy stop procreating you sound like an episode of Jerry Springer.

Bananalanacake · 24/03/2025 21:18

Why the rush to move in, you made it sound like you were looking after his child early on in the relationship, what would have happened if you had made it clear you wanted to date him but didn't want to meet his DC for at least another 2 years. I also think they should move out and he needs to parent his own kids while you focus on yours.

PippistrelleBat · 24/03/2025 21:18

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.

If she was being abused it is likely she would have been coached/emotionally blackmailed to keep it secret.

NC28 · 24/03/2025 21:18

What an absolute shit show of a situation.

Samiam92 · 24/03/2025 21:19

Yes a recent move.

OP posts:
EdinburghTimezone · 24/03/2025 21:20

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.

But what you mean by 'it's her'? She's been having a chaotic, insecure, distressing time and it's not surprised that she is disturbed. There are other factors than sexual abuse to consider.

Samiam92 · 24/03/2025 21:20

I only have children with this child's dad and another man.

OP posts:
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