Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

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

2 year old step daughter hates me

113 replies

MadK4 · 24/11/2020 18:47

Evening, I’ve come to the end of my tether and honestly cannot think of what else to do with my current situation other than end it.
Been with my partner almost over a year now and we have his daughter every weekend. I have a 5 year old son on my own and his daughter is 3.
She doesn’t speak a word so can’t communicate what she is feeling but when she is over, I always try and do fun things with both kids or just the two of us if my son goes to his dads.
I’m the one that gets up with the kids when we’ve got both of them. I get them dressed, give them breakfast and as I said, do something fun with them. The problem is that as soon as shes back home and around her dad and me, she will literally do anything to keep away from me. Hides behind him. Cries if he even leaves the room yet when I’ve taken her out she’s fine.
I’m at a point now where I don’t even want to be in my own house when she is over because anything I do just isn’t good enough. She honestly looks at me like she’s terrified and we both have no clue why. Or what to do about the situation anymore.
I’m getting close to just ending the relationship because I would rather be alone with my son than have a 3 year old act disrespectful towards me in my own home!
Any advice welcome!! Thanks

OP posts:
evenBetter · 24/11/2020 20:19

(Also, crucial detail- she is not your stepchild.)

HoofWankingSpangleCunt · 24/11/2020 20:23

Good point evenbetter

MrsPworkingmummy · 24/11/2020 20:24

2 or 3??

Why have you even met his daughter already let alone moved in with him??

I'm always gobsmacked by how quickly people on MN meet their partner's children. She's two. He's barely spilt from her Mother!

I just don't get it and wish people realised how much this messes with children's heads.

Littlepaws18 · 24/11/2020 20:32

As a stepmom I know how difficult it is to bond with step children, but it's so worth it! This is a 3 year old child! She doesn't hate you she doesn't have the mentality or the social ability to hate you. It's all new family dynamics, she's not with her mom she's not used to the step up yet. Don't ignore her, gently let her come to you. Smile, include her but don't over burden her with affection. My stepson was particularly hard to bond with but that was because I was over stepping the boundaries. It took time but I realised he didn't like hugs but that didn't mean he didn't like me! It took time we respect each other, know what each other likes and dislikes and I include him in everything I do if he wants too. He was 8 and it took him two years to be comfortable fully in our home and even call it home.

As for the bc that's going to cause problems in the long run you really should get that sorted, otherwise the power dynamics in their relationship will be an issue.

gamerchick · 24/11/2020 20:32

You're being ridiculous OP. She's still little and has no say in any of her life. A mother who doesn't give a toss about her delay and a dad who can't be bothered to do anything about it. Also a woman who clearly resents her presence if she doesn't show sufficient gratitude.

Kick the lazy twats arse out of bed on a morning to deal with his child. Poor little bugger.

SendHelp30 · 24/11/2020 20:35

Jesus Christ, poor child!!

She harms herself then points at you as if you’ve done it?
Does she attend nursery?
Why has he not had his name added to BC?
Is the contact court ordered?
Why the hell is your lazy DP doing absolutely bugger all with his child?

I agree with a PP, you need to hire your standards. You’ve moved in with someone within a year of getting together and do all the childcare for his daughter every single weekend.

LouHotel · 24/11/2020 20:37

Your second posts sounds like your creating the role you want your stepchild to be to make it easier in the future to break contact. I have a 'friend' who did this to her step son because he was badly behaved in front of her daughter, she never saw the bigger picture of that being the shared fathers equal responsibility to correct and you take the good with the bad.

This poor girls spends 2 weekends a month with her dad but actually instead it's a substitute looking after her. Imagine being a toddler how that feels.

I wouldn't accept this situation and if the dad wont change then please leave the relationship rather than be an adult partly responsible for a child being abandoned by their father.

Consistentlytired · 24/11/2020 20:40

The poor child wants her lazy was father to parent her, not you.
Hee scratching herself then pointing g at you shows how desperate she must be for his attention.
She needs a referral for her lack if speech and you need to do if no-one else is going to be her advocate !!!!

Consistentlytired · 24/11/2020 20:41

Sorry I should proof read before posting

youvegottenminuteslynn · 24/11/2020 20:41

I’m the one that gets up with the kids when we’ve got both of them. I get them dressed, give them breakfast and as I said, do something fun with them.

Why?! Why on earth isn't he taking proper responsibility for his own child during the two days a week he is supposed to take care of her? Why are you getting up with them, dressing them, feeding them both? What kind of a man lets someone do that to start with, let alone when there is clearly an issue that the poor little girl can't communicate due to additional needs and / or stress around her attachments. He sounds like a lazy, complacent father and partner. Do you not see that?

Mistystar99 · 24/11/2020 20:43

End relationship.

MandB23 · 24/11/2020 20:44

“Disrespecting me in my own home”.
I feel as though you shouldn’t see your home in that way when you are trying to be a family unit.
If you have made that choice to blend your families - the home is everybody’s. I really don’t understand why you would even think in the way you are doing.
It sounds actually like you are the problem. You seem to have a real problem with his daughter and you certainly don’t sound like you care about her.
I appreciate it is very difficult for everybody. But it is going to be much harder for the children and you should be focused on that - not feeling respected in ‘your’ home.

Anotherlovelybitofsquirrel · 24/11/2020 20:46

She's 2 or is she 3?

You are being ridiculous. She's a baby.

Dery · 24/11/2020 20:51

Lots of good advice from PPs.

I share the view that the problem is your BF - not this tiny little person on whom you seem to be projecting feelings (such as disrespect) which she can’t possibly have. And the home you share with your BF is also her home because he is her father.

But I can understand why it is frustrating for you.

Btw, if your BF wants more say over decisions related to his little one, he can apply to court to be recognised as having parental responsibility for her.

AnneLovesGilbert · 24/11/2020 20:59

Why are you doing more parenting than her dad is? She comes for contact to spend time with her other parent. Doesn’t he want to care for her? How long have you been doing this?

Obviously you should end the relationship, you’re not happy, you’re being taken for an idiot, it must be shit for your own child who should be your priority, and this very little girl who doesn’t have any words to express herself with sounds terrified and traumatised.

How old is she, 2 or 3?

OhDearMuriel · 24/11/2020 21:00

FGS come on OP she's a toddler.
Try and have a bit more understanding of the poor thing - she doesn't even know how to be disrespectful - she's 2 and obviously uncomfortable or confused!!
Do you really think she can work it all out at her age and be respectful in YOUR house.

Badwill · 24/11/2020 21:01

Why are you doing all the parenting of his child? Where is he when you get her up/dressed/fed etc?

EKGEMS · 24/11/2020 21:04

What in the hell is your partner doing while you parent the two children at the start of the day-watt for you to change his nappy and give him a bottle?

Voice0fReason · 24/11/2020 21:21

Any thoughts on why she would scratch her own forehead and then point at me like I had done it? That’s how bad things are getting now! I honestly feel like the older she gets she’s gonna purposely try and get me into trouble!
No, this has to stop.
Can you not read this and see how wrong this is.
She is 3 years old and non-verbal. She cannot think beyond herself and you think she is plotting to get you into trouble?
Leave the relationship. It's not going to work for any of you.

Haffiana · 24/11/2020 21:26

Any thoughts on why she would scratch her own forehead and then point at me like I had done it? That’s how bad things are getting now! I honestly feel like the older she gets she’s gonna purposely try and get me into trouble!

This is a wind-up surely? Or is this being posted by another toddler?

SandyY2K · 24/11/2020 21:42

You come across as immature OP. Let her father parent her and take the lead.

Lillygolightly · 24/11/2020 21:46

Ok I’m not going to start this by slating you or your BF OP.

Advice: she’s 2 or 3, so a toddler and the best way to go about this is not to force yourself upon her. I understand this is hard, especially when your already in a routine with your son, and so I’m sure it just seems both fair and convenient to just include her in that, but don’t. Instead you offer things to her, DS and I are going to brush our teeth now, do you want to come and brush yours too? If she’s come along and joins in great, but if she doesn’t don’t be offended. You give her the option and if she doesn’t want to join in, her dad can see to her after all that’s his job. Same goes if your doing something fun with DS, for e.g let’s say you’ve got some crafts out let her clearly see what you are doing, I’m sure it will peak her interest and when she comes closer welcome her warmly and again ask if she would like to join in. Basically you just need to let her come to you, allow her a little bit of control to decide if she wants to join in rather than just automatically including her by default. I think if you do this you’ll get a much more positive response. It will take a bit of time, but if you tread carefully and slowly and allow her time to adjust to the situation, I’m sure she will warm to you.

As she is non verbal, she may well struggle expressing herself at your home which in turn is going to lead to some frustration and challenging behaviour. Mothers often understand their non verbal children very well, almost like a code only they can interpret and so communicating her wants/needs may be very much easier at home. I don’t know if her dad has his own way of understanding her but I’m guessing from what you’ve written that he doesn’t, or just isn’t as fluid at it as her mum is. I don’t know if your BF and his ex are amicable, but if there are this is a conversation they need to be having. It would be useful to know certain things for instance that DSD tends to get angry/frustrated if she’s tired/hungry, or that when she rubs her feet together she needs a nap etc. Maybe it has just been assumed that dad knows these things or that he would work them out for himself, or maybe he already knows but has omitted to share these with you. So these are some things to consider going forward.

For what it’s worth I do agree with other posters in that your BF needs to take a much more active and hands on parenting role with his DD. I understand how easily it can be for you to fall into the default carer especially when your already doing this for your son but that itself doesn’t negate his need to parent his own child. Lastly make sure he spends time alone with his DD without you and DS around. At DD’s age an hour or two alone is sufficient, he could take her to the park or do an activity with her while you and DS do something else as you need quality one on one time with you Ds also.

Blending families is hard, and it’s a long ever changing road, rest assured there will always be challenges.

TerribleLizard · 24/11/2020 21:51

Little children do all sorts of things when they can’t express themselves, or as a soothing mechanism. Many adults bite their nails for the same reason. When you say scratching her head and then pointing at you, do you mean all at once, or you notice she’s scratched her head and then she points?

There’s no way she can come up with a plan to get you into trouble. It’s a plan with too many steps and involves imagining how others will see the situation - 2/3 year olds can’t do that. They think everyone knows what they know.

What would you think if your son was as his dad’s and his dad’s new partner was doing most of the looking after? Moving between households can be incredibly stressful and confusing to children. And it must be awful to not be able to communicate when in that situation. Does she sign at all so she can ask for what she needs?

WellQualifiedToRepresentTheLBC · 24/11/2020 21:52

Stop being the nanny, and read a book about early childhood development, those two things alone will help you and her immensely. You need basic education on how children and relationships work.

Sundance2741 · 24/11/2020 21:57

Sounds wrong on many counts to me. Why has no one sought help for the child's needs? Why doesn't her father take care of her when she is with you? Why do you have so little understanding of a toddler when you have your own child?