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Parents of adult children

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

Adult DD / DP

44 replies

handyandy1 · 19/05/2025 21:41

My Dd is 25 & DS 18. I am divorced from their Father for 12 years. I had a long term relationship for 9 years and we lived together which didn’t work out. I am now in a very good relationship that I see going the distance. The issue is my DD, she is highly educated but refuses to work, so stays at home all day every day. She has no friends / boyfriend or life outside of our little family of three. I see my partner twice a week. She does not see a reason why I should see him more, and does not want him in our house more than twice a week max. She really likes him, but doesn’t want our relationship to develop further. We are both in our 50’s and would like to see each other more & develop our relationship. I’ve known him for many years as friends so this doesn’t feel rushed as we had a very solid friendship. How do I speak with my daughter to approach this? She will shout & be very nasty, then not speak for days and sit and cry. I really don’t want to upset her, but I’m loving life with my partner and would like more. Or am I being a terrible mother by introducing a second man into her life and developing a relationship with him? My relationship with my daughter is the best it ever has been, so I don’t want to upset her. She has no plans to ever move out.

OP posts:
AnneLovesGilbert · 19/05/2025 21:43

She has no plans to ever move out.

How do you feel about that?

handyandy1 · 19/05/2025 21:48

We are lucky in that we have a house large enough to accommodate us, so I am happy for her to stay as long as she wants / needs to - but I would like to live my life now without the restrictions she is enforcing on me. I just don’t know what to do as she will say that I should put her first, she should be my priority and should respect her wishes.

OP posts:
Done2much · 19/05/2025 21:52

does your 25yo dd seriously want your whole life to revolve around her? does she have a relationship with her father?

handyandy1 · 19/05/2025 21:54

She does have a relationship with her father & he validates everything she says while living with his partner that my daughter doesn’t like! Yes, she does have this expectations, although if you asked her she would say she didn’t!

OP posts:
GuevarasBeret · 19/05/2025 21:58

are you all nuts- she’s 25, and everyone is just content for her to wither at home, and that’s not a problem?

She needs to become independent and transition to being an adult. Is it going to be OK for her to shout at you in another twenty or thirty years time.

Stop the madness. You are not doing her any favors at all.

handyandy1 · 19/05/2025 22:01

GuevarasBeret · 19/05/2025 21:58

are you all nuts- she’s 25, and everyone is just content for her to wither at home, and that’s not a problem?

She needs to become independent and transition to being an adult. Is it going to be OK for her to shout at you in another twenty or thirty years time.

Stop the madness. You are not doing her any favors at all.

I agree, I’m just looking for help on how to approach her without spoiling our relationship, which after many fractious years, is getting so much better.

OP posts:
shellyleppard · 19/05/2025 22:03

Why are you letting your daughter dictate your life?? She needs to grow up and let you live your life, she can't be a little girl forever. You deserve some happiness

GuevarasBeret · 19/05/2025 22:05

handyandy1 · 19/05/2025 22:01

I agree, I’m just looking for help on how to approach her without spoiling our relationship, which after many fractious years, is getting so much better.

Start by creating the expectation that she will have a job and live eld, independently.

Shesellsseashellsnotinmystreet · 19/05/2025 22:06

She puts up and shuts up or ships out..
Simple
..

Tinseltotties · 19/05/2025 22:08

without spoiling our relationship, which after many fractious years,
Im honestly not sure you have a choice
shes a 25 year old woman who refuses to work or have a life appropriate for her age, But wants to control what another adult does in their own home (that she presumably lives in for free).
really you should tell her to mind her own business and she can feel free to move out if it’s not working for her. Perhaps her dad’s house for example, since he’s so agreeable.
the best you can do is to keep doing what she says to keep the peace but I don’t think you’re doing her any favours, I’m assuming there’s a huge backstory here anyway though
or have a conversation and explain how you feel and hope she’s reasonable, but you’ve already said she isn’t.

Ikeameatballs · 19/05/2025 22:11

I suspect your relationship with your daughter is “better” because you are doing everything that she wants! Living your life only on her terms is not healthy for anybody.

Why does she not want to work, move out etc? I think you really need to set some expectations here.

Mumof2amazingasdkiddos · 19/05/2025 22:17

Is your relationship with DD the best it's been in years because you pander to her ridiculous demands so as not to upset her? You get one life so if you care for this man then don't let a grown ass woman acting like a petulant child spoil it for you.

LadyRoughDiamond · 19/05/2025 22:24

You are doing your daughter a real disservice by placating her in this way. Yes, your relationship is good, but that doesn’t mean you’re being a good parent, just that you’re enabling her controlling personality.
If you want to be a good parent, you’ll gently explain that you are an adult and will make your own life decisions. If she doesn’t like that, she can live elsewhere.
While you’re at it, why isn’t she working? I would be giving her an ultimatum to get a job, start a training course or start volunteering within the next two months, or all support will be withdrawn. You need to help her reintegrate into society and fulfil her potential.
This is what love looks like, not doing whatever she wants.

S0j0urn4r · 19/05/2025 22:27

This is very similar to a post from last week.
You're enabling your daughter. Stop. Live your life.

handyandy1 · 19/05/2025 22:30

Genuinely, thank you. I think I needed to hear all of that as I feel like I am so unreasonable in wanting my own life now. The back story is that I left her dad and tried to make it up to her for the past 12 years as she has never forgiven me. If you saw me on my professional life, you would never believe that I let my DD control my personal life!!! I would prefer to have her on board and be a major part of my life, that’s why I’m trying so hard to get this right.

OP posts:
AnneLovesGilbert · 19/05/2025 22:39

Has she ever worked? Does she have qualifications? Is she disabled in some way? Is your son aiming higher than his sister?

Perpetuating this dynamic through misplaced guilt isn’t helping anyone. Since her dad’s so sympathetic to her demands I’d tell her to go and live with him. He’ll soon tire of being expected to support an adult who thinks she’s entitled to a free ride when he’s the one paying for it.

You have a right to pursue your own life and be happy. If that means living with your partner then go for it! The other option is move him in and she’ll probably move out - to pandering dad’s or somewhere else.

You need to form a new relationship as adults and escape the parent/child dynamic. For her sake as much as yours.

Sleeplessinmetal · 19/05/2025 22:39

You need to stop asking for your dds permission. Your relationship will change - it has to, atm you are delivering to her whims. You need to tell her she is manipulating you, monopolising you and when you love someone that iis not how you behave. Tell her your plans - not up for debate. If she’s not keen she can live with her dad for a while. She is behaving like a toddler, she sounds scared and lacking in confidence, she’s too dependent. She needs to start living her own life rather than interfering in yours.

sesquipedalian · 19/05/2025 22:42

“she is highly educated but refuses to work, so stays at home all day every day”

OP, ask your daughter how she sees herself ten years from now. What will,she be doing? Where will she be living? If she says, “At home, like now”, then you need to have a serious conversation. First of all, if anything were to happen to you, would half your estate buy her a house? If you were ill or incapacitated, does she really want to become your carer? One of my DDs stayed at home far longer than I would have chosen, not because I didn’t love her, but because, as I told her, the life of a child who stayed at home to look after elderly parents was never all that, and in the 21st century, it’s really not what anyone would want, least of all her for herself. Your DD needs either to do some training, or get a job. She can’t just stay at home drifting round the house and doing nothing, and it’s a parenting failure to let her think this is a possibility. As for your relationship, clearly your DD is fearful of what might happen if you start spending more time with your man, and where her place would be if he moves in permanently. She probably also fears that he just might not be quite so tolerant of her indolent lifestyle. OP, you are not being a terrible mother by wanting more of your relationship, and indeed wanting a bit of life for yourself. Sometimes you have to remind your DC that it is not actually their house - that while it will always be their home, it is your house, and the expectation is that one day, they will get a house of their own. Your daughter may well sulk or cry or shout at you- but it’s because she is fearful - of getting a job, of moving in in life, of,the status quo changing, But things will change. It’s not fair of your adult daughter to try and prevent you from having a relationship - she needs to find something in life for herself, and sitting in her bedroom just doesn’t cut it.

ScaryM0nster · 19/05/2025 22:44

Worth thinking about planning in a discussion on how live together as two adults, ‘as you’re clearly planning on staying here a good while
longer, and you'll
always be welcome, but we can’t do it in the same way as you did when you were a child’. Let’s come up with a plan together on how we share a home as adults. Running costs, chores, maintenance, sharing information on when expect to be home / not home, visitors during the day, overnight etc.

And in that reinforce the difference between you as the home owner, and her as a resident of that home that you own and run.

VeryQuaintIrene · 19/05/2025 22:46

I am seriously trying to understand why she can't get a job like pretty much every normal, healthy young adult does. Why is she so special?

CarpetKnees · 19/05/2025 22:51

Even putting the relationship aside for one second, why are you allowing her to just fester, and not make any attempt at working, or generally getting out and living life ? Confused

You are not doing her, or yourself any favours.

Cynic17 · 19/05/2025 23:05

Why isn't your daughter working or studying, OP? Frankly, if you were to die suddenly, how would she look after herself? You are doing her no favours by shielding her from the real world - she is an adult. So,she gets a job, and moves out.
Meanwhile, your partner can stay with you as often as you like - your daughter does not get to dictate who comes into the house.

uncomfortablydumb60 · 20/05/2025 01:59

Bloody Hell. She has you treading on eggshells and you’re too scared to to call her out on her stroppy behaviour in case you damage the relationship?!!
Who does she think she is, Lady of the manor?
Yes she does, because you don’t dare tell her otherwise.
Enjoy your life with your new DP, do whatever you want. I have 3 Late 20’s DS’
Seriously After a couple of untimely bereavement’s lately, life is too short.

whynotmereally · 20/05/2025 02:50

Yes you need to be clear to her you are moving on and if she is unhappy she can find somewhere else to live. She’s not a teen anymore she is an adult and needs to take responsibility for her life. Do you give her money? Pay for her phone etc? I would also stop doing that.

Bananalanacake · 20/05/2025 06:15

She needs to pay towards bills and food, she can't expect everything for free, is she intending to get a job in the future. I really wouldn't tolerate such a lazy adult.

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