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Parenting

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Help me process why I feel off about my partner's choices around his daughter

128 replies

catsaremything · 24/11/2025 16:20

I am in a relationship of 4 years, we both have daughters about 2 years apart age 11 and 13 and share custody with co-parents. I feel blessed both our daughters embrace the relationship and get on well, as I know these configurations can be less than harmonious sometimes if the age or gender gap is too great or clashing parenting styles make those relationships difficult. We live separately but in the same part of London. I have been cautious of blending our families thus far, I feel sensitive that our kids feel comfortable before making a move together and also that our relationship is stable and we have been happy living separately as we both own our own houses. This is a small gripe but I would like help processing my feelings as I don't know if they are jealousy or parental concern and appropriateness and I have had similar feelings in the past. My partner and I don't get much time together due to opposing parenting and work obligations, so there is a feeling of scarcity present and we would love more time together. Anyway, a few weekends ago, my partner took his daughter out for dinner. Before the dinner he took her to another small restaurant for a drink/something to do. This is one of our favourite places it is intimate and cosy and for grown ups. We have had a lot of special memories there. He then wanted to take her to a new wine bar that has just opened which has a lot of buzz around it before going for their meal. I felt a bit pissed off about those choices. Partly because I felt like 'wow, can't he differentiate between a date and time with his daughter?' and 'really? you think it's appropriate to go to a cool buzzy wine bar with your 13 year old daughter on a Saturday evening. How will she feel about that when she is a few years older and may not idolise him or view memories with a different lens'. I guess I still feel both of these thoughts and feelings. I do wonder if it's an appropriate way to spend time with her, is he doing that because she is providing company in a way that adults her before her time? Kids should be kids imo. There is plenty of time for this stuff in adulthood. I kinda feel he is making her bend to his companionship/social needs rather than the other way round. Although am I just feeling this way because she is growing up into a young woman, would I feel the same if he had a son? Yes there is also jealousy. I guess I would like one area of our life to remain 'ours' - romantic and sexy. Time away From parenting. Somehow sharing our haunts feels off. I appreciate how well she shares her Dad with me, and I only feel this way when he does things that I feel represent something I thought of as 'ours'. Am I being out of order? I haven't mentioned anything, and would worry to do so. It's a tricky subject.

OP posts:
OriginalSkang · 24/11/2025 16:22

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

MysteryNameChange · 24/11/2025 16:24

Really out of order and a bit weird.

K0OLA1D · 24/11/2025 16:24

Yeah. First post nails it.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Newgirls · 24/11/2025 16:28

As a woman I take my daughter for a cocktail - is that ok? Not romantic surely?

13 is young to be in a bar so that’s maybe a bit odd unless it’s an all day place perhaps like an Ivy?

op kindly I think this is a you thing

WildLeader · 24/11/2025 16:31

Yeah…. Well, maybe a bit U, but I do get what you mean.

my oh decided to book a trip to theatre, and take his 2 eldest, we also booked swanky hotel. OH tells friends, taking my 2 eldest to the theatre and dinner etc…

i said, oi! WE are going to London for the weeend and taking your 2 out, unless you’re not bothered about me going, in which case I’ll stay at home

he got it. His kids are almost in 30s. It’s about framing and appropriateness

that was a bit “datey” for a 13yo especially when you’re struggling for date nights with him.

I’d also like to keep my favourite places for us, and not for kids

I know loads will lambast you, but fuck em, you feel what you feel and somehow it’s a bit off.

address your date night’s situation perhaps, change things up in the new year

TonTonMacoute · 24/11/2025 16:31

His daughter is 13, he wanted to treat her by taking her out to dinner at more grown up venues. Chill

NotrialNodeal · 24/11/2025 16:34

I think it's weird taking a 13 year old child to a wine bar. It's even weirder to be jealous though. I mean do you see her as sexual or romantic competition? Cause that's another level of fucking weird.

catsaremything · 24/11/2025 16:41

For anyone responding without care to contextualise or provide your own experience, thanks but I don't care what minimal and finger pointing ignorance you're sharing. Daughter is just a few weeks shy of 13. If you think these subjects are too weird to discuss that shows me you can't handle a complex set of emotions and potentialities but you clicked on the clickbait title none-the-less. Says more about you. I asked for help to process emotions not "please cut me down for being vulnerable"

OP posts:
catsaremything · 24/11/2025 16:44

By jealous, it isn't sexual jealousy. I don't see her as sexual competition I care about her. The jealousy is that I don't have much time with the man I love, especially just us time. We spend most of our time with our kids not alone. Is it really that weird to not want to share our romantic places?

OP posts:
mumonthehill · 24/11/2025 16:46

Ok well your emotions are not a reasonable response to a dad taking his daughter out. Dh took ds to the pub for a drink when he was younger, not odd. I would take ds to have a nonalcoholic cocktail in a bar if we went out for an evening. Your dp probably just thought these are nice places and he would like to share them with his dd, I would be shocked if it was anything deeper. Be pleased for them both.

Starlight1984 · 24/11/2025 16:47

How will she feel about that when she is a few years older and may not idolise him or view memories with a different lens

What??? Why would she "view memories with a different lens"?! It's just a dad treating his daughter to a nice evening?

The way you've worded your post is very strange...

amiadickhead · 24/11/2025 16:49

I agree, you're really weird.

Starlight1984 · 24/11/2025 16:50

catsaremything · 24/11/2025 16:44

By jealous, it isn't sexual jealousy. I don't see her as sexual competition I care about her. The jealousy is that I don't have much time with the man I love, especially just us time. We spend most of our time with our kids not alone. Is it really that weird to not want to share our romantic places?

Why are they "romantic places"? You said you've not even been to the wine bar as it's only just opened?!

A restaurant (or any place) is only romantic if you're there with the person you love or on a date with someone you fancy. Otherwise it's just a restaurant.

I feel like you have different views on these places than your partner who just sees them as something to eat / drink that he likes and wants to take his daughter to.

SilverPink · 24/11/2025 16:50

I think the main issue is that you see these places as ‘your couple places’ and he just sees them as somewhere he likes and wants to introduce other people to. Neither of you is particularly wrong, it’s just a difference of opinion. Would you feel the same if he suggested you go there with couple friends?

JinglingtoChristmas · 24/11/2025 16:50

NotrialNodeal · 24/11/2025 16:34

I think it's weird taking a 13 year old child to a wine bar. It's even weirder to be jealous though. I mean do you see her as sexual or romantic competition? Cause that's another level of fucking weird.

Edited

This is my feelings on the situation too.

BeCalmLilacLion · 24/11/2025 16:50

catsaremything · 24/11/2025 16:44

By jealous, it isn't sexual jealousy. I don't see her as sexual competition I care about her. The jealousy is that I don't have much time with the man I love, especially just us time. We spend most of our time with our kids not alone. Is it really that weird to not want to share our romantic places?

"Partly because I felt like 'wow, can't he differentiate between a date and time with his daughter?' and 'really? you think it's appropriate to go to a cool buzzy wine bar with your 13 year old daughter on a Saturday evening. How will she feel about that when she is a few years older and may not idolise him or view memories with a different lens'."

"Although am I just feeling this way because she is growing up into a young woman, would I feel the same if he had a son?"

These quotes point towards it being sexual jealousy.

K0OLA1D · 24/11/2025 16:50

catsaremything · 24/11/2025 16:44

By jealous, it isn't sexual jealousy. I don't see her as sexual competition I care about her. The jealousy is that I don't have much time with the man I love, especially just us time. We spend most of our time with our kids not alone. Is it really that weird to not want to share our romantic places?

Yes. Its a bar. Not that deep

WhamBamThankU · 24/11/2025 16:51

You sound jealous…. Of a child!

AmberSpy · 24/11/2025 16:54

I remember being that age. One of my favourite things about becoming a teenager was that my parents started to include me more in their adult lives. Not all the time, obviously, but it made me feel really grown up and special when I could spend one on one time with a parent in a slightly more grown up setting - it was a big step up from Happy Meals at McDonald's (and of course mum and dad preferred it too!)

If the daughter enjoys it and it means they get some nice bonding time together I really can't see a problem with it.

Starlight1984 · 24/11/2025 16:55

I guess I would like one area of our life to remain 'ours' - romantic and sexy.

This is so weird.

Your partner doesn't see taking his daughter out as "romantic and sexy". He's just treating her to a grown up night out at a nice restaurant.

AlwaysGreenerGrass · 24/11/2025 16:56

You will have to take these replies onboard OP as the vast majority of them are saying it is you who has the problem, not your partner.

Sittingonthefence83 · 24/11/2025 16:56

I do think I understand how you feel. I think you are probably jealous, more to do with the quality time he’s spending with her rather than anything romantic/sexual. Especially as you’ve said you don’t spend much alone time together. From an outside perspective I think it’s really lovely that he’s treating his daughter and spending time her but I get that maybe you feel a bit … sidelined? Ask yourself, if you were her mother would you be feeling the same way? I think the appropriateness (if that’s a word?) of taking her to a wine bar is not really the issue here. I don’t think you’re weird if you do feel a bit put out. Maybe talk to him about trying to spend more quality time together?

IndigoIsMyFavouriteColour · 24/11/2025 16:57

I think if he wants to take his child out for dinner, that is none of your business.

Tryingatleast · 24/11/2025 17:00

I don’t think it’s a great place for him to take her but I don’t think she’ll view it with anything other than fondness in the future. But yes, strange choices for that she!!!

Ddakji · 24/11/2025 17:01

catsaremything · 24/11/2025 16:44

By jealous, it isn't sexual jealousy. I don't see her as sexual competition I care about her. The jealousy is that I don't have much time with the man I love, especially just us time. We spend most of our time with our kids not alone. Is it really that weird to not want to share our romantic places?

I think that you are underestimating the difference between and 11 year old and 13 year old. She’s at exactly the age where she’s going to enjoy and appreciate going to places that are a bit more grown up with her dad. Maybe he wants to share places he likes with her.

Or maybe he doesn’t view them in the same way as you do.

DH and used to go to a particular tapas bar before DD was born. We both would like to take her there too. We enjoy sharing places that were special to us in the past with her.