Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Parents of adult children

Wondering how to stop worrying about your grown child? Speak to others in our Parents of Adult Children forum.

Help I can’t stand dd boyfriend

11 replies

Alfiemoon1 · 24/09/2020 09:46

Following on from the thread about being gutted your dc has split up with their partners how do you deal with things when you don’t like your dc partner.

Background is dd is 19 started mentioning she had been chatting with someone seemed very happy 3 weeks later after many hearing her cry at night I walked in on her self harming she described him as controlling and manipulative but said she could never leave him. I had seen and spoke to 2 of her very good long term friends who were also concerned. Tried to discuss it will her which resulted in her moving into my sisters for 3 months

Dsi tried to talk to her that this wasn’t normal and dd has now been diagnosed with depression and anxiety which I have suspected for a while and she is now on meds and having counselling dsi tried to limits dd going out time which I didn’t agree with and dd is now back home before she goes to university

Dd has told me everything with the boyfriend is now sorted it was just teething problems so although I am not happy he is 24 no job not studying can’t drive etc I decided he was important to her so better get to know him. I have invited him round for takeaways movie nights etc looked over his cv and highlighted potential jobs etc

Fast forward to last weekend we went to Blackpool and invited him. We ordered at a packed chippy I paid and when collecting things got chaotic the bloke servicing was talking to me every one else was talking I was trying to check the order so asked everyone to just wait a minute and be quiet didn’t raise my voice dd boyfriend was pushing past to put Salt and vinegar in a dinner to which I asked he to wait a moment as I didn’t think it was his he ignored me so i said no that’s ds yours it at the end please don’t put it on that one as ds doesn’t like it no raised voice

Queue he giving me dirty looks and frantically texting I presume his mum get out side to eat all the gravy curry sauce etc was missing and the queue to long to go back so to the whole family I apologised that things were missing but that’s why I wanted a minute with put being mithered

So we start walking and eating along the prom turn round to see dd and her boyfriend huddled together and he’s crying in the street I asked what was wrong and it was because of how I spoke to him ?? So I once again apologised explained nothing was aimed at him I didn’t use bad language or raise my voice etc

So we keep walking he keeps flashing me dirty looks me and dh try to make light of the situation to no avail dh at that point was ready to leave him in Blackpool so we go to the car to go through the lights

Total silence from ds dd and her boyfriend all in the back apart from him huffing and puffing occasionally me and dh still trying to diffuse the situation I offer to get donuts for us all and got blanked. Dh then says right we might as well go home then dd starts snivelling obviously upset

Not going to lie I was furious £40 in diesel £50 in chippy that nobody ate get home and out the car and dd breaks down she wants to die and is hysterical. Have spoke to her since and she completely agrees he was being ridiculous and was in the wrong I didn’t shout at him or have ago and he ruined it for everyone and he should apologise to us all but certainly to ds but after a few days of her talking to him not knowing whether to break up with him as when things are good they are great but awful when they argue it’s awful she can’t imagine life without him so feels she has to put up with the frequent bad times

So of course now they are back together I’ve said I will support her either way and always be there for her but deep down really don’t want them to be together and I am dreading the next time he comes round I will obviously be polite but struggle as my facial expressions don’t lie

So if you have read this far how do deal with not liking you adult children’s partner this is her first relationship and it’s only been 4 turbulent months

OP posts:
BigSandyBalls2015 · 24/09/2020 09:51

I'd back off a bit. Stop the outings, the move nights, the takeaways, let them get on with it. They both sound very immature - obv let your DD know you're always there for her if she needs to talk but other than that disengage.

I know this is harder than it sounds though!

Alfiemoon1 · 24/09/2020 09:58

He has his own flat so little money so whenever they go out dd has to pay and is always treating him to things if they go shopping she has has student finance was working full time over the summer but now going to 1 day a week she is moving into a house share we pay for her car mobile and support her through university as student finance leaves her with nothing to live on so while she is an adult she is very reliant on us

OP posts:
Alfiemoon1 · 24/09/2020 10:01

The outings etc have now stopped after his behaviour at the weekend. It was dd who asked if he could come as she wanted us all to get along and get to know each other to which I agreed.

OP posts:
Alfiemoon1 · 24/09/2020 10:08

I initially let them get on with it then dd wanted to introduce us so I suggested a takeaway movie night then we had a bbq she was out with him that day so I asked if he wanted to stay which I would of with any of her friends then we said we were going to Blackpool so she asked if he could come as well

OP posts:
DidIMarryAnIdiot · 24/09/2020 10:40

I know its really hard but I agree you should try not to get involved.
Don't invite him on days out but also don't exclude him if DD asks for him to join. Don't be directly critical of him in front of her but still say supportive things if she opens up, (such as 'oh that not a nice way to treat someone', rather than, 'he has treated you like dirt').

My ex was like him, we also had the age gap. He made out my family hated him, that they were manipulating me against him but really it was the other way round. Treat carefully, I felt like I had to defend him and he used the situation to manipulate me to move in with him.

Eventually reality set in, even though I am close to my mum, I hid breaking up with him because I needed to know in my head it was my choice, not because of family. That is literally how much he got in my head.

Encourage her (without making it obvious) to spend time with her other friends, days out that don't involve him, family visits busy her with other things (which I appreciate is tricky during a pandemic).

I really feel for you though, it must be very difficult. Now I look back I do appreciate that my mum always had my corner, she literally deserves a gold medal for them years, hopefully your dd will one day see that too.

Alfiemoon1 · 24/09/2020 10:59

I have no issues with the age gap there is 8 years between me and dh and I met him at 17 just celebrated our 20 th anniversary yesterday

I won’t be inviting him again and unfortunately for her I don’t think she will be suggesting us getting together again as she was embarrassed by his reaction and wants him to apologise for her sake at the very least which makes me sad that she feels stuck in the middle although I haven’t made her feel like that and haven’t been critical of him

I have encouraged her to see her friends although after speaking to 2 of them they told me he gets narky with her when they go out and she has cancelled a few times last minute due to his moods. I didn’t approach them for this information they are friends from primary school who were driving past looking for her car while I was gardening so stopped to say hello I said oh I thought dd was with you to which they said she had called it off said she was unwell and that she does cancel because he kicks off arguments or has a mental health crisis that only she can deal with

Going to take her out this afternoon as we are off. Hoping when she is back in uni next week it will fizzle out or her counsellor with help her see sense in the mean time there will be a lot of me biting my tongue

OP posts:
Anordinarymum · 24/09/2020 11:02

@Alfiemoon1

Following on from the thread about being gutted your dc has split up with their partners how do you deal with things when you don’t like your dc partner.

Background is dd is 19 started mentioning she had been chatting with someone seemed very happy 3 weeks later after many hearing her cry at night I walked in on her self harming she described him as controlling and manipulative but said she could never leave him. I had seen and spoke to 2 of her very good long term friends who were also concerned. Tried to discuss it will her which resulted in her moving into my sisters for 3 months

Dsi tried to talk to her that this wasn’t normal and dd has now been diagnosed with depression and anxiety which I have suspected for a while and she is now on meds and having counselling dsi tried to limits dd going out time which I didn’t agree with and dd is now back home before she goes to university

Dd has told me everything with the boyfriend is now sorted it was just teething problems so although I am not happy he is 24 no job not studying can’t drive etc I decided he was important to her so better get to know him. I have invited him round for takeaways movie nights etc looked over his cv and highlighted potential jobs etc

Fast forward to last weekend we went to Blackpool and invited him. We ordered at a packed chippy I paid and when collecting things got chaotic the bloke servicing was talking to me every one else was talking I was trying to check the order so asked everyone to just wait a minute and be quiet didn’t raise my voice dd boyfriend was pushing past to put Salt and vinegar in a dinner to which I asked he to wait a moment as I didn’t think it was his he ignored me so i said no that’s ds yours it at the end please don’t put it on that one as ds doesn’t like it no raised voice

Queue he giving me dirty looks and frantically texting I presume his mum get out side to eat all the gravy curry sauce etc was missing and the queue to long to go back so to the whole family I apologised that things were missing but that’s why I wanted a minute with put being mithered

So we start walking and eating along the prom turn round to see dd and her boyfriend huddled together and he’s crying in the street I asked what was wrong and it was because of how I spoke to him ?? So I once again apologised explained nothing was aimed at him I didn’t use bad language or raise my voice etc

So we keep walking he keeps flashing me dirty looks me and dh try to make light of the situation to no avail dh at that point was ready to leave him in Blackpool so we go to the car to go through the lights

Total silence from ds dd and her boyfriend all in the back apart from him huffing and puffing occasionally me and dh still trying to diffuse the situation I offer to get donuts for us all and got blanked. Dh then says right we might as well go home then dd starts snivelling obviously upset

Not going to lie I was furious £40 in diesel £50 in chippy that nobody ate get home and out the car and dd breaks down she wants to die and is hysterical. Have spoke to her since and she completely agrees he was being ridiculous and was in the wrong I didn’t shout at him or have ago and he ruined it for everyone and he should apologise to us all but certainly to ds but after a few days of her talking to him not knowing whether to break up with him as when things are good they are great but awful when they argue it’s awful she can’t imagine life without him so feels she has to put up with the frequent bad times

So of course now they are back together I’ve said I will support her either way and always be there for her but deep down really don’t want them to be together and I am dreading the next time he comes round I will obviously be polite but struggle as my facial expressions don’t lie

So if you have read this far how do deal with not liking you adult children’s partner this is her first relationship and it’s only been 4 turbulent months

Leave her to it and stop getting so involved. You are getting nowhere fast here
BigSandyBalls2015 · 24/09/2020 11:23

Does she live away at uni? If so it is very likely to fizzle out 🤞

Alfiemoon1 · 24/09/2020 11:41

She will be moving away but it’s only 40 minutes away and she has a car so she picks him up to go and stay with her as he doesn’t have a job or any commitments

OP posts:
Alfiemoon1 · 24/09/2020 11:46

We are currently in local lockdown and not allowed to visit other houses or gardens but I think she has still been to see him at his flat it’s her choice I told her the rules when they
were announced

OP posts:
Alfiemoon1 · 18/10/2020 19:09

Update. After speaking to her friends and counsellor she decided to end things nothing to do with me I don’t mention him. She gave him her key back and messaged his mum as he wasn’t dealing with it well.

A few nights later she was due a night out with the girls and confided in me she was worried he would ruin her night out as he has done many a time so I suggested she blocked him which she obviously ignored which I know about because her friends messaged me

Haven’t mentioned him to her since so no idea if they got back together. Dd had been at home due to local lockdown and yesterday was suddenly upset and decided to go back to university. Her cousin who is a year younger messaged me as she was concerned for dd as she also thinks he’s controlling and he is threatening to kill himself if she leaves him

I spoke to my sister about it as dd used to opens up to her we had both promised dd we wouldn’t discuss between ourselves. He bought her a dress for her birthday and demanded she wore it dd didn’t want to as the rest of the girls were wearing jeans so on the night out chat group he asked her friends to all wear dresses so she would wear it. Quite rightly they told him to fuck off they would wear what they want she did wear the dress but she confided that she feels stuck in the middle as he’s trying to turn her against her friendship group and family and her friends obviously done like him and are concerned as am I that she’s in a controlling abusive relationship

I know I’ve got to let her realise this for herself but it’s so hard watching her get upset and is giving me anxiety I just hope it doesn’t mess up her education or leave her with no friends. I don’t feel like I can mention it when her friends confide in me as I don’t want her not to go them for support. Is doing nothing waiting for her to come to me the right thing to do as at 19 I can’t stop her seeing him and it will probably push them closer together

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page