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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

Please help me, I don't know what to do about dd17 anymore

50 replies

dontforgettofloss · 22/04/2019 17:45

I'm at my wits end, so please be kind.
Basically, my dd has been nothing but trouble for the past couple of years.
When she was in yr 11 she constantly refused school for various reasons- she felt anxious, she'd fallen out with someone, she didn't like a certain teacher, every reason you could think of.
She managed to pass a couple of GCSEs, and got into college doing a course she wanted, as well as resitting her maths gcse.
Eventually she started skipping college as well, with all the excuses under the sun.
Shortly after starting college, she met a boy, who the whole family knew was bad news, she saw him for a few months, before she ended the relationship, admitting that he was abusive towards her, and also encouraged her to smoke weed.
When all this was happening, I made myself ill with worry, and did everything I could to get her to college, and try to stop her seeing this boy.
He ended up coming to our house, screaming abuse and spitting on my door, and the police were involved.
Fast forward a couple of months, she's still refusing to go to college, saying she feels scared in case he turns up there (the college have done everything they can to reassure her that she's safe there).
She won't get a job, she's done absolutely nothing since she left school last May.
I've worked with the college to help her, they've bent over backwards to help her.
She spends everyday on her phone on snapchat- talking to various boys, she was previously sending nude pictures of herself for money on snapchat Sad
She's also on a dating site called yubo, and I've seen some of the pics on her profile, they're awful Sad.
She went off to meet someone today, not telling me who it is or where she's going- I'm sick with worry that she's seeing her ex boyfriend again.

She's horrible to me, calls me all sorts of names, she does nothing to help round the house, I clean her room and she messes it up again, it's a complete pigsty.
She's doing absolutely nothing with her life- she said she needs to think about what she wants to do at college as she didn't like the course she was doing.
Yes she has anxiety, but often uses it as an excuse to get out of things.
I also suffer with debilitating anxiety, but somehow still have to work and look after her and the other children.
I'm sorry if this is a little muddled, I'm a wreck, I have posted about her before, but not sure how to find my other thread or link it.
As an example of how vile she is to me- she borrowed money from her younger brother last week to get her nails done, and refused to pay him back, I told her she had to, and she called me a fucking cunt for going in her room to ask her to pay him back.
Last year when she was refusing to go to school (yr 11), we were arguing one morning about her refusal to go, she kept telling me to get out of her room, then threatened to "kick my cunt in" if I didn't get out.

Please please someone tell me what to do, I'm not sure how much more I can take Sad

OP posts:
BeUpStanding · 22/04/2019 18:20

Oh love, what an awful situation. I wish I had some words of wisdom for you but I'm sure some more experienced posters than me will be along soon Flowers

BeUpStanding · 22/04/2019 18:23

Some obvious questions to start with - has she been to the GP? Is she under any mental health treatment or supervision? Have social services ever been involved? Just trying to think who else might be able to support her and you

crappyday2018 · 22/04/2019 18:29

Hi OP, this is an awful situation to be in. I've not got personal experience of this but the first thing I would say is that your daughter is clearly troubled and may need professional help. Maybe in the first instance, go and see your GP (hopefully the same one as your daughter) and ask what sort of help you may be able to get for her anxiety and possible depression. Maybe some counselling may help her but that's only if she agrees.
I also think you need to be firm with her. If she refuses to go to college or get a job, stop providing for her. I'm not suggesting you kick her out but do not give her any money, do not fund mobile phone accounts or any other luxury. Change the wifi password in the house and tell her she can have it back when she contributes to the house.
Also, is there anyone who can support you and back you up? You don't mention her Dad. What about grandparents?

QueenBeex · 22/04/2019 18:33

If she's sending nudes to random men id be changing the wifi password. If you pay her contract bill id stop that too. Don't clean her room, she's 17! Your being way too soft on her and your doing everything for her! You need to show some tough love. Don't clean her room, if she wants to live in a shit pit then let her. Don't give her money, tell her siblings not to give her money. If she wants her nails done she'll have to get a job. If she wants Wi-Fi for Snapchat she'll have to tidy her room. If she speaks to you like shit then stop talking to her, tell her you simply won't talk to her when she's acting like a brat and stop engaging with her. She'll soon start talking again when she wants the attention. You're doing too much for her, take away any privileges. If she wants to act like a child treat her like one. If she keeps threatening violence against you id threaten to call the police, she needs tough love. She can't think this is an acceptable way to act!

dontforgettofloss · 22/04/2019 18:36

She's been to the gp, plenty of times, been referred for counselling, but she gave it up after a few sessions.
I know anxiety, I've seen the effects it has on people, her anxiety doesn't seem to bother her if she's meeting a boy that she's never met before.

OP posts:
dontforgettofloss · 22/04/2019 18:38

I was paying for her phone on a contract, alongside my own phone and her brothers phone, she then racked up a huge bill, buying data, and I've been unable to pay the bill Sad

OP posts:
dontforgettofloss · 22/04/2019 18:41

I'm sorry if I'm not replying to any questions, my head is a mess at the moment, I just don't know where to turn to anymore, her dad isn't around, he left when she was very young, and yes, she has grandparents, but I'm scared to get them involved, they're old and just don't need this stress

OP posts:
dontforgettofloss · 22/04/2019 18:44

At the moment, I just want to hide under a blanket and let someone strong take over, I've always been able to overcome any parenting problems, (I have four children including dd) but all this has just pushed me to the edge

OP posts:
QueenBeex · 22/04/2019 18:49

Stop paying for her contract cancel it. If she wants a phone she can get a job and pay for one.
Change the wifi password, if she wants to use the wifi she can start treating you better.
If she wants her nails done, she'll have to earn her money, by either working or doing house work for pocket money.
If she wants to send nudes at 17 years old to random men for money you need to get some kind of authority involved to speak to her about how dangerous this is.
If she wants to threaten you then call the police.
Your being too soft on her and she doesn't respect you or care about any boundaries you've attempted so far.
You need to be stronger and put your foot down.
If she tries to argue with you, simply walk out the room, ignore hee, don't respond untill she's ready to talk like an adult.
If she can't act like a adult she can't be treated like one. Your the parent she's the child.

QueenBeex · 22/04/2019 18:51

If the younger children see her acting in such a way and getting away with it without a punishment they could start pushing the boundaries too because it's what they've witnessed for years. Go talk to your gp on your own, tell them you need support theyll give you some numbers to ring/point you in the right direction.

whyiinstigate · 22/04/2019 18:54

Ha ha ha ha ha at the "stop paying for her contract."

The phone isn't the issue.

OP, it's shit, and here is what I'd do. I'd wait it out.

She's not going to come to her senses overnight but she WILL grow out of it. In the meantime, stay out of her way as much as possible. Don't engage in arguments, don't try to persuade her to go to college. Only intervene if she's clearly unsafe. Go along with reasonable requests reasonably asked "mum, can you give me a lift to Jack's?" but don't put yourself out either. Give her nothing to fight against.

YOU are sinking, you need to forget about her for the minute, put yourself first, don't engage, stay calm, protect yourself.

Flowers
ppppppickupapenguin · 22/04/2019 18:58

What an awful situation you’re in. Agree with pp that she is very troubled but if she refuses help then I have to say I agree with QueenBeex. She’s your daughter and of course you want to help her and provide things for her but are there consequences for her actions? (I’m in no way judging you, you’re clearly at the end of your tether).

The way she’s behaving must be having an impact on your other children and the last thing you need is for them to start copying her behaviour (not saying they will but there’s a chance they could).

QueenBeex · 22/04/2019 19:01

The phone IS part of the issue that's been mentioned. In the op it says another problem that the mother is concerned about is the daughter sending nudes online for money and putting up inappropriate pictures on dating sites. I'm guessing she's using the Snapchat app on a phone.

QueenBeex · 22/04/2019 19:03

How would she be arranging to meet random people shes never met without a phone? Definitely sounds like a part of the problems the op has mentioned.
Ha ha ha ha ha Hmm

QueenBeex · 22/04/2019 19:07

Also the op now being responsible for a huge phone bill she's unable to pay is also a problem.
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Confused

SevenStones · 22/04/2019 19:14

At 17 she can get a provisional licence and have driving lessons. Then she can buy a car and she doesn't need a lift anywhere. I wouldn't call that a reasonable request if she's not doing something to change the situation where she needs a lift, i.e. whilst she's learning to drive.

I agree with those who are saying you're too soft. Yes, you need to stop her wifi, tell her it's until she pays you for all the data she bought.

At the moment she has no incentive to do anything for herself because you're always there clearing up her mess. Why on earth are you tidying her bedroom?

Also, tell your other children not to lend her money. If they do and she doesn't give them it back, then it's an issue between them, don't be dragged into it. Tell them you advised them not to do it.

It's going to be hard, but you need to toughen up. At the same time, you also need to seek help with her mental health.

It sounds a rubbish situation. Flowers

dontforgettofloss · 22/04/2019 19:21

Thank you for your replies, and to the posters suggesting tough love, you're right, I've been far too soft on her, maybe if I'd stopped wrapping her in cotton wool a long time ago then she'd have turned out better.
I am reading your replies and taking it all in.

OP posts:
whyiinstigate · 22/04/2019 19:22

Point is, it is beyond naive to state "change the wifi password and don't give her a lift!" will see this girl saying "Mum, I now see the error of my ways, forgive me!"

It would make her angry. That's what OP doesn't need.

dontforgettofloss · 22/04/2019 19:33

whyiinstigate you're right. Plus my dd is very manipulative, she's good at saying sorry without meaning it, good at laying the guilt trip on

OP posts:
ppppppickupapenguin · 22/04/2019 19:39

But how would ignoring her help wrt her sending nudes and meeting men? Surely she’s putting herself in danger, who knows who she’s meeting.

I get the sentiment of ignoring bad behaviour but if she’s endangering herself it cannot be ignored.

whyiinstigate · 22/04/2019 19:40

But what can OP realistically do?

ppppppickupapenguin · 22/04/2019 19:50

Not pay her phone bill, turn off the WiFi at the least. Also if she is getting aggressive and threatening towards the op or the rest of the family then call the police.

Nanny0gg · 22/04/2019 19:50

OP, it's shit, and here is what I'd do. I'd wait it out.

For how long? It could be years

ppppppickupapenguin · 22/04/2019 19:51

Agreed Nanny0gg

QueenBeex · 22/04/2019 19:55

It's already been going on for years and there's younger children in the house being exposed to this behaviour.
Not only is the daughter putting herself in danger by meeting online strangers and selling naked pictures of herself, she's also borrowing money with no hope of paying it back from her younger siblings which isn't fair at all. Now she's got her mum in debt on a phone contract. The mayhem that would happen if op waited it out for any longer wouldn't do anyone any good.

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