Our 2 DC's returned home after a year away, they have been back about 9 months. My DP (their DF) and I don't have the same expectations about parenting them/sharing the house with them. It's causing huge problems all round and I'm in tears of frustration most days. DP, DS and DD each now thinks that I am hysterical and have an anger problem. I have booked on an anger management course in Feb and have started to see a counsellor but I don't feel objective about the situation at home at all, so much so that a huge part of me thinks I am being 'labelled' unfairly and that I'm being painted as the bad person because I have different expectations.
I no longer say anything about what I think should be happening, to my DP, as we argue every time, and it is easier to let him get on with doing it his way. I no longer address anything with my DC which I think should be addressed/raised/discussed, as they 'write off' what I'm saying as me being mean and nasty. I simply do not know if I am, any more.
I'll give an example. DS (20) needs to buy a car as he has a job starting on Monday. I bought his first car , about £1500 and he broke the big end within 6 months and he has been borrowing his DS's car (which I bought around the same amount) since then, as she had not passed her test.
She has now passed her test and wants access to her car.
I have researched and identified suitable cars for DS to buy he can afford it himself now): he is utterly incapable of organising this himself, I can say more about this if need be, but basically he relies on me and his DF to organise everything for him, I have tried and tried to teach him/support him/guide him into being more self reliant but his DF just steps in every time and 'saves' him.
Anway, DS asked his DF to go with him to look at the possible car and they agreed last night to leave at 11 am today. I had also mentioned to DS that it would be really nice if he also mucked out his DS's car which is a filthy mess inside where he has left his rubbish in the car over 9 months. 'Yeah I'll do that tomorrow' he said. So this morning I was not expecting DS to get up say 10am, muck out his DS's car, and leave to see the possible new car with his DF at 11. His DF agreed this was a plan.
Come this morning, DS is in bed; 10.30 I say to DP, should he not get DS up? Nope, he says, this would be treating DS like a child, telling him when to get up. It becomes clear that DP would go with DS to the garage this afternoon, if DS gets up late (DP has an appointment 2-4 today). I say this is ridiculous - that DS should be getting up, and doing what was agreed. DP says DS is an adult. I say yes - with all the adult rights but none of the responsibilities. DP will bend over backwards so that DS is never inconvenienced, upset, or expected to do anything (he does absolutely ZERO around the house). DP says he will always help and support his DC's when they need him. I say this is bad parenting and is enabling our DC's to become entitled and lazy.
I then start crying - again , it's every bloody day tbh - and then I get so angry that I want to rage at everyone (and this last reaction is the one I accept is totally unacceptable and that I am working on).
DP is an easy going, conflict-averse, passive and kind man. I am not easy going, I am intolerant and judgemental, and I'm an active, problem-solving person. It was okay when the DC's were small but now they are not, it's becoming a really awful situation.
I want to flee the house - I feel like we are not doing the right thing for our DCs, and that I am powerless and disenfranchised from being a parent.
DP did say, 'why don't you parent them your way and I'll parent them my way'. I don't see how this would happen, and also I feel angry that I then get to be the 'bad mum' who eg asks them to load the dishwasher, put their shoes away, feed the cat etc.
I feel like running away. I feel so lonely at home. I don't know what to do.
Can anyone help me get clear what's going on or what to do?