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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:
BoyFTM645 · 24/11/2025 19:23

Maybe I'm too European, but I went to bars and pubs and restaurants with my parents all the time. 13 year olds do like fancy places too, even if they just sit there and drink cranberry juice.

Such a weird reaction from your part.

PeonyPatch · 24/11/2025 19:23

AutumnLeavesandKnittedJumpers · 24/11/2025 19:21

Would it be weird if it was a solo mum?

I think less so, but still strange. Nando’s or a dessert place or something sure. I never went to a wine bar with my parents at that age… it just doesn’t feel very age-appropriate? We might go to the pub as a family but not a wine bar one on one. I just think it’s odd and most people are failing to see how that context is strange imo.

AutumnLeavesandKnittedJumpers · 24/11/2025 19:24

PeonyPatch · 24/11/2025 19:23

I think less so, but still strange. Nando’s or a dessert place or something sure. I never went to a wine bar with my parents at that age… it just doesn’t feel very age-appropriate? We might go to the pub as a family but not a wine bar one on one. I just think it’s odd and most people are failing to see how that context is strange imo.

So it’s a sexist thing.

my mum used to take me for “cocktails” (mocktails) at a nice upmarket bar in town. Nothing weird about it.

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PeonyPatch · 24/11/2025 19:26

AutumnLeavesandKnittedJumpers · 24/11/2025 19:24

So it’s a sexist thing.

my mum used to take me for “cocktails” (mocktails) at a nice upmarket bar in town. Nothing weird about it.

Lol, okay… sure… sexist. Thanks for that!

OnToast81 · 24/11/2025 19:26

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, my husband has a teenage daughter and if me and him go on a date to a lovely restaurant he might also take his daughter separately, it’s not something I’d have a problem with.

PeonyPatch · 24/11/2025 19:27

Are people forgetting that the daughter is 13? Not 18, not even 16… 13!

what business does a 13 year old have in a wine bar 😂 I’m just telling it how it is! It’s bloody weird.

Celestialmoods · 24/11/2025 19:27

PeonyPatch · 24/11/2025 19:20

I think it’s bloody weird and inappropriate to take your 13 year old daughter to a wine bar as a solo father 😂

Edited

Are fancy places only allowed to be visited by parents and teenagers of the same sex then, or is it ok as long as it’s not a solo parent?

If the place allows teenagers in and he likes to go there, there nothing weird about him taking his teenager.

PeonyPatch · 24/11/2025 19:29

Celestialmoods · 24/11/2025 19:27

Are fancy places only allowed to be visited by parents and teenagers of the same sex then, or is it ok as long as it’s not a solo parent?

If the place allows teenagers in and he likes to go there, there nothing weird about him taking his teenager.

Thats not what I said at all though is it?

Context matters… I go to wine bars and I’m in my 30s, I wouldn’t expect to see young teenagers in there. It would be a bit strange imo. It’s less strange in a restaurant, even a fancy restaurant. Absolutely nothing wrong with that. But taking his 13 year old out for a wine before a meal? It sounds like he doesn’t know how to be age appropriate.

pottylolly · 24/11/2025 19:29

There are very few actual wine bars outside central London and even there there are only 4 that I can name off the top of my head. Everything else is a restaurant too. So yes I think you’re being massively weird about this.

PeonyPatch · 24/11/2025 19:31

pottylolly · 24/11/2025 19:29

There are very few actual wine bars outside central London and even there there are only 4 that I can name off the top of my head. Everything else is a restaurant too. So yes I think you’re being massively weird about this.

Have you visited the UK?! We have lots of wine bars over in Kent and Surrey, lol.

NuffSaidSam · 24/11/2025 19:33

pottylolly · 24/11/2025 19:29

There are very few actual wine bars outside central London and even there there are only 4 that I can name off the top of my head. Everything else is a restaurant too. So yes I think you’re being massively weird about this.

😂

Tell me you've never been outside the M25 without telling me you've never been outside the M25.

mashandgravy · 24/11/2025 19:35

Not sure Mumsnet can offer much in the way of helping you unpack this, especially judging by other comments. But I understand your feelings, and there's nothing wrong with them. It's complicated, and humans are weird. Don't worry about it. I think the crux of it is, you want more special time with your partner. Maybe something to talk to him about. x

BeCalmLilacLion · 24/11/2025 19:35

NuffSaidSam · 24/11/2025 19:33

😂

Tell me you've never been outside the M25 without telling me you've never been outside the M25.

The OP lives in London.

SnozPoz · 24/11/2025 19:37

I agree that it's a totally inappropriate choice of places to take his very underage daughter out to. A cocktail bar for a 13 year old? It's a big no! But maybe he's just really unimaginative when it comes to knowing what to do with her? He enjoys these places and thinks she might like them too?

BeCalmLilacLion · 24/11/2025 19:38

PeonyPatch · 24/11/2025 19:31

Have you visited the UK?! We have lots of wine bars over in Kent and Surrey, lol.

To clarify, the OP, going by the OP, lives in a borough of London and what she is most likely talking about is the bars in her local area. Like around Clapham or something. So that poster was saying that there are very few actual wine bars in those areas. They are more like restaurants with cocktails.

NuffSaidSam · 24/11/2025 19:38

BeCalmLilacLion · 24/11/2025 19:35

The OP lives in London.

I can see that from the OP!

BeCalmLilacLion · 24/11/2025 19:38

SnozPoz · 24/11/2025 19:37

I agree that it's a totally inappropriate choice of places to take his very underage daughter out to. A cocktail bar for a 13 year old? It's a big no! But maybe he's just really unimaginative when it comes to knowing what to do with her? He enjoys these places and thinks she might like them too?

Why a big no?

CaffeineAndChords · 24/11/2025 19:39

You absolute oddball.

Daisy12Maisie · 24/11/2025 19:39

Im going through a bereavement. It happened about 2 weeks ago. I would love to be being supported by my partner at the moment but he has taken his daughter out for the evening to watch a tribute band.
I don’t think it’s weird. I think he is a good dad and they are close. Yes I could do with the company but ultimately I will manage without him and I’m glad he has taken his daughter out.

I can’t date a crap dad as my children’s dad is crap so I find crap dad’s repulsive. So as a consequence my partner is a good dad. That means I’m not his number 1. His daughter takes up a lot of his time. Is it a bit annoying at times- yes but I know it’s for the best as if he was a rubbish dad to his daughter I would then find that behaviour/ him repulsive and I couldn’t date him anymore anyway.
So I think it’s normal for good dads to take their daughters for nights out. I also think that good parents will prioritise their kids over their partners. It can be rubbish though because I would like him to be fussing over me at the moment if I’m being perfectly honest because I’m having a rubbish time. I know that’s not possible though as he has other things in his life other than me and I think that’s just normal when you date someone with kids. So I think what your partner is doing is completely normal but I understand it’s rubbish to know that time with you is less of a priority than time with his daughter but that is just how it is. I’m sure time with you is also important to him but time with his daughter will always be more important.

Humanswarm · 24/11/2025 19:39

Can you not refarme it? He's showing his daughter what she should expect from a man, in the future. Sharing these moments with her literally as a Dad and daughter means her bar is raised surely? And I think that's wonderful. There are too many stories on here of Dad who do less than the minimum. Perhaps you need to step back, and be grateful you have chosen a good one.

RawBloomers · 24/11/2025 19:40

I think this is a you thing, OP. Your partner is trying to keep up a good bond with his DD by doing 1:1 stuff they can both enjoy. You seem to see it as a date, but what you're describing is the sort of thing lots of friends do together - so why have you framed it in your head as a date rather than an opportunity to catch up? It can be really hard to get a tween/teen to sit and talk, this is a great way to do it if you can afford it. DD also gets the excitement of a glitzy night, good food, an introduction to a safe bit of the adult world, being the focus of their dad's attention, etc.

Agree with PP that a buzzy wine bar might be inappropriate for a 12 year old, or it might be fine. I've hardly ever been in one that would be inappropriate that would let a 12 year old in in the evenings, though.

AutumnLeavesandKnittedJumpers · 24/11/2025 19:43

PeonyPatch · 24/11/2025 19:27

Are people forgetting that the daughter is 13? Not 18, not even 16… 13!

what business does a 13 year old have in a wine bar 😂 I’m just telling it how it is! It’s bloody weird.

If it was 10pm and it was full of couples it would be a little more odd. But by all accounts it was a dad and daughter out for dinner. She’s at the age where she would likely really appreciate her dad treating her a bit more like an adult

PeonyPatch · 24/11/2025 19:44

AutumnLeavesandKnittedJumpers · 24/11/2025 19:43

If it was 10pm and it was full of couples it would be a little more odd. But by all accounts it was a dad and daughter out for dinner. She’s at the age where she would likely really appreciate her dad treating her a bit more like an adult

At 13, I would have found being in a wine bar very boring 👍

PurpleSkies2026 · 24/11/2025 19:44

I remember going to the pub with DF around age 9,10,11 on a Sunday, he would have a pint and I'd have an OJ. Seemed quite normal?

I have friends who would get taken out on business dinners with their DFs acquaintances and there would be wine - I was around 14 when I went with them.

napody · 24/11/2025 19:45

'Help me process'.... oh God, are we going to have a wave of OPs treating MN as ChatGPT therapy and instructing us how to respond? I don't think ChatGPT would have instantly responded 'you're really fucking weird' though😂

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