Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

My step daughter is a spoiled brat

215 replies

Frankieat3427 · 03/03/2019 13:50

I have been married to my husband for six months but with him for about 6.5 years. His girls are manipulative, controlling and spoiled brats. They scream at their father right in front of me and when I tell them their behavior is not appropriate they start screaming at me. There are many inappropriate examples (which I’m not going to get into on this thread for the purpose of time) of these girls ruining holidays by their screaming and abusive behavior. According to my husband his ex wife ruined every holiday with her constant screaming so I understand the girl’s behavior is learned from their mom (he has 3 daughters and I have seen them all behave this way more often than not and a lot worse than what I’m describing below.)

Most recently the 17 year old daughter was supposed to go out to her brothers birthday dinner. This boy is an adult special needs 28 year old. He is schizophrenic. He lives with us full time and literally sits in the chair starring at the wall due to being heavily medicated. He doesn’t leave the house other than for special occasions. The daughter didn’t want to go to her brothers birthday dinner. When she got into the car she started screaming at her dad that she told him she didn’t want to go and he told her she didn’t have to go to the birthday dinner, she seemed oblivious to the fact that the words coming out of her mouth might be hurtful to the birthday boy that she was sitting right next to in the car. Even though her dad told her to be quiet she kept screaming even though she was sitting right next to her brother. Both her dad and I were shocked at her lack of awareness that what was coming out of her mouth was incredibly hurtful. After about 5 minutes of her screaming I interfered because I felt so bad for her brother and I wanted it to stop. I merely said “Amy it’s your brothers birthday you need to stop” or something like that. At which point she said I was a cunt.

After the incident she left the car and went to her mom’s for about 4 weeks. She never apologized to her dad, her brother, nor me. While the father has a very permissive parenting style and does not demand respect from his daughters I do not have this parenting style and if my sons ever spoke to an adult this way I would punish them by being grounded, etc. Luckily my boys are very well behaved and would not consider this type of behavior.

During this month of his daughter being at her mom’s I spoke to many other women that told me they would slap anyone that called them this name and that I should ignore her unless she apologizes. I have decided that this girl owes me an apology. Her dad has told me already that she probably won’t apologize to me as she hasn’t even apologized to him. I really hate his parenting style as his daughters behave like terrorists.

Last night I told my husband that if she doesn’t apologize by her high school graduation in three months that I was going to tell her mother of her behavior (even though the mom probably behaves this was herself). He told me if I did this then our marriage was over and we would get divorced. As a mom If my boys behaved this way I would want to know. Needless to say with this threat that my husband made he and I are not talking now. The step daughters have never accepted me not because of anything with me but because they have never liked any woman their father has been with. These girls have a preoccupation with what they will inherit when their father dies. He is very wealthy and unfortunately he talks about when he dies quite a bit (even though he is only 57 and has family genes that will have him living into his 90’s). When the 17 year old was 12 I remember her asking her father “who gets the boat when you’re gone?” I find this absolutely disgusting. But I digress...

How do I handle this with this daughter? I want an apology and feel like since I was protecting a special needs person that her behavior warrants one. Aside from that, it’s pretty hard to not get involved when you’re in a confined space (a car) and one person is screaming non stop.

My sis has already advised me that her mom probably won’t care so it doesn’t solve anything for me to talk to her mom about her daughters behavior. After all these girls are brats because of both parents parenting style.

I’m Interested in how others would handle this.

OP posts:
AgentJohnson · 03/03/2019 13:55

Your problem is your H and always has been but you’ve chosen to focus on the products of his shit parenting rather that the shit parent. Why is that?

bsc · 03/03/2019 13:56

Well, her behaviour is down to her upbringing/parents, isn't it?
I personally think it's very, very difficult for teenagers to empathise/cope with having a disabled sibling. I wouldn't have made her attend his biithday meal if she didn't want to. 17 is more than old enough to decide for herself.

frustratedashell · 03/03/2019 13:57

I cant understand why you are with him to be honest. His parenting , or lack of, must have been obvious. If he is threatening divorce I'd be out of there

HerRoyalNotness · 03/03/2019 13:59

Take him up on his offer for a divorce. I couldn’t live like this

Dirtybadger · 03/03/2019 14:00

She isn't your child to parent. He doesn't want to change. You can't make him. It's a like it or lump it situation. Utterly confused as to why she stayed in the (stationary?) car for 5 minutes screaming. Why did she ever get in? Why didn't she get out when she was told she didn't have to go?

Honestly it sounds like you really don't like the girl. I don't see this working. She may well grow out of this selfish streak and regret her actions but it sounds like the relationship is quite damaged and probably not redeemable.

poppingoff · 03/03/2019 14:01

Yes, it sounds pretty awful, but, really, what would be the point of discussing it with her mother? The problem is your DH.

poppingoff · 03/03/2019 14:02

And especially telling her mother three months the later?

lifebegins50 · 03/03/2019 14:04

The issue is with your husband. If he found the behaviour unacceptable he needs to agree sanctions but it also seems as if the daughters are very troubled. His way of handling the difference with you is not appropriate, you threaten to tell the mum, which might be outside of your rights and he threatens to divorce you. That is a major overreaction, if he disagreed he could have discussed it with you calmly as your friend did. Your husband is overly defensive and that is not healthy.

I don't think this is fixable by you or him now, it has gone past that point and needs professional help. I would recommend family counselling probably father and daughters and once their relationship is stable then you can be brought into the dynamic.

How are the daughters performing at school? Do they have outbursts at other times away from their father.

Dirtybadger · 03/03/2019 14:05

Do you have any positive interactions with her or her sister? Does your husband?

mummmy2017 · 03/03/2019 14:12

Is you life happy when the children are not visiting?
If so I would make him face up to his daughters, by not being there when they visit. . Tell him you don't want to cause upset, let him go on holiday just with them, and sperate holidays with you.

Moralitym1n1 · 03/03/2019 14:13

He problem is and has always been your husband.

Did you stay in the relationship and marry him partly or mainly because he's very financially secure?

liitlepenguin · 03/03/2019 14:16

Op you have used a name in the post !

Also your problem is your DP !!

WhatTheNightBrings · 03/03/2019 14:17

"special needs person"

Really?

Frankieat3427 · 03/03/2019 14:19

I have focused on their behavior because my husband is extremely non-confrontational. He generally treats me very well.

OP posts:
Frankieat3427 · 03/03/2019 14:21

The girl stayed in the car because her father told her not to ask her for money or anything else any more. We were on our way driving to the dinner and turned around when she wouldn’t be quiet.

OP posts:
Shmithecat2 · 03/03/2019 14:23

Yeah, I'd let him divorce you. Just make sure you get the boat. That'll really piss DSD off.

Imissgmichael · 03/03/2019 14:23

A 17 year old enough to have empathy with her special needs brother. She is not a child. She’s abusive and just because the OP is not her parent doesn’t mean she has to put up with it. Disgraceful behaviour.

Sounds like the OPs DH is negligent to his own sons needs. What an awful parent.

Frankieat3427 · 03/03/2019 14:25

It takes these girls a long while to mature. I’ve noticed the older one, now 30 years old and married is more normal and is shocked by her younger siblings behavior. The two younger girls (23 and 17) screamed at her on Thanksgiving, calling their older sister a bitch, etc. they haven’t talked since.

OP posts:
Imissgmichael · 03/03/2019 14:28

Give a rest WhatTheNight. Stop finding offense where there is none.

Frankieat3427 · 03/03/2019 14:28

Mummy2017- good advice. It seems to be difficult for these girls to celebrate anything or anyone that they are not the center of attention for.

He and I have had a very good relationship when his girls are not around. I’ve stayed with him because the girls will move out. He is generally a good man, although very selfish himself, I’m sorry to report.

OP posts:
LovingLola · 03/03/2019 14:29

Really ???

Lauren850 · 03/03/2019 14:29

Why would anyone think they can get together with someone who has kids and expect everything to be ok? Many children who've been through a divorce are traumatised one way or another - why would they then feel positively towards a new step-parent? These particular children have had a really hard time - one of them is mentally ill and there's an implication the mum may also have mental health issues or at least emotionally volatile. The dad's presumably dumped her, now the girls are supposed to act reasonably around his happy new marriage ??

Dippypippy1980 · 03/03/2019 14:29

Do they actually scream, or are they shouting, or complaining loudly?

If hey truly are screaming simply because they don’t want to go out for dinner then it sounds like there is an underlying physcological issue that needs to be addressed.

Setting that aside, it sounds like they are the product of very poor parenting. Your husband doesn’t seem to want you to parent them, and has threatened divorce if you interefere by speaking to his ex wife. It all sounds like unnecessary high drama.

If you want to stay in this relationship, I would suggest family counselling- if you are given an accurate and impartial accou t of the girls behaviour then they probably need some additional help along side this.

However, the key point is your husband doesn’t want you to be involved, if I was you I would think long and hard about what that means for your relationship.

LovingLola · 03/03/2019 14:30

So he’s very good to you and very selfish as well ?

Frankieat3427 · 03/03/2019 14:34

Morality1N1- yes of course I’ve stayed with him for two reasons - we have a very good stable relationship (when his girls are not around) and to be frank it is nice to be with a man that is financially secure. His financial security is obviously not the only reason though. If he didn’t generally treat me nice and be respectful I wouldn’t be with him regardless, Believe me, there are many times I considered ending it because of his daughters behavior (which I know they would have loved because they don’t care about their father[s happiness). We are in our 50’s and every family at this age has baggage, whatever the baggage may be.

OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread