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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

Being pushed away by husbands relationship with daughter

76 replies

Hailly · 10/11/2021 16:07

I feel awful about how I feel towards my step daughter when she's around. My husband has three kids and i have two. His older children are lovely and get on really well with them, his youngest (around the same age as mine) is treated very differently by him. She is a nice girl most of the time, it's more about how he is with her. He has made it very clear to me that she is more important and it's clear that her feelings are considered more than mine. He hasn't said it in a while but he used to say that if she didn't feel welcome in my home that he would leave. One time this comment come after a conversation about her having nits for the 100th time that month, I wasn't happy because my daughter had very long think hair and an absolute nightmare to treat. But because my reaction upset her it promped him to say what he did. I have never not made her feel welcome and always made an effort to include her. He's very strict with my children (thankfully, they don't always see it that way). He gets at them all the time for not doing things, thats my job haha. I know this is supporting me because they are very forgetful and need constant reminding to do the same simplest job everyday....anyway. I just feel this has got worse and he has stopped having fun with them. He fuses over her when shes here, offers her food, drink, sweets which is fine, but he doesn't offer my two who are sat right there. He doesn't tell her off for the same things he would tell my two off for. She's rude to my children and speaks down to them often and he never pulls her up on it. I have made comments here and there but he is very defensive over her and it courses arguments. He also insists that we do things like activities and days out when shes here, even if we can't afford it. But he shows little to no interest in doing things with me and mine when shes not here. On the odd occasion where we have played a board game or something hes not as engaged. I used to have routines for my children before he moved in like strict bed time and no treats in the week (mainly because they were getting greedy). But this didnt apply to her when she was here and of course my children questioned the special treatment, so i gave in and I kick myself for it. Recently i have started a new job which means the only days off we have together now falls on a weekend which means we always share them with the kids. I love the time with the kids but when we go on days out or simply to the shops she is constantly attached to him and makes me not want to hold his hand anymore. He doesn't encourage her to go and look around and explore. Is it bad that I want his attention and want him to hold just my hand sometimes? I understand that he feels bad that he and his ex split when she was very little and wants to spoiler her when he sees her but he can't see that it's wrong and what it's doing to us. I've been feeling really down about this for a while now and don't know how to approach him about this without it errupting. I'm important too!

OP posts:
EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 10/11/2021 18:14

And to be honest I'm shocked at how quick you are to tell me to leave

Your husband is actively hostile to your children in their own home.

They are endlessly treated like second class citizens to their stepsister in their own home

They have given up complaining or defending themselves because it causes arguments and nothing changes.

And you are shocked you are being told to leave for their sake?

CactusLemonSpice · 10/11/2021 18:17

Making a child feel at home is not the same thing as giving them no rules.

Surely it would make her feel more at home if she was treated the same way as the other kids?

If he feels so able to discipline your children it is ridiculous that he won't hold her to the same standards! If anything, he is overstepping with your kids and should focus more of his parenting on his daughter. I strongly believe that discipline has to be balanced with love, and that's why parents should take on the role of enforcing rules for their own kids. As step parents may not have that same level of unconditional love for the kid, so it may not be as balanced.

If he's not willing to discuss these issues and work on making things better, that's no good. Your children shouldn't be treated as if they are second class citizens in their home.

Tiramiwho · 10/11/2021 18:17

Does he not think it's really rude to offer his child stuff and leave your own children out? We are taught as much at Nursery!
It's not the point that you eventually offer them also ( even though like you say, you would prefer they weren't stuffing their faces, I would feel the same about that )

Sorry, I couldn't respect someone who has such zero manners and inability to 'read a room' and think of others.

Your own kids sound lovely btw 🙂
Did he move into your own home?

LoekMa · 10/11/2021 18:20

It sounds like you want him to be a father figure to your kids and he is making it painfully clear he doesnt see himself as that. You wont be able to force him to change the way he feels about your kids, nobody controls another person's heart, thats the way human beiings are set up Im afraid.
In the long term you will have to think long and hard about whether you are ready to let go of the dream of he becoming a father figure to your kids and deal with the situation as it is. Odds are when she gets older and naturally pulls away and maybe doesnt come by as often, he will get even more irritated with your kids being around him (in his eyes) all the time. I dont see this getting better for you OP

Salayes · 10/11/2021 18:56

It’s pretty depressing your kids and how he treats them seems like an afterthought to you and you just brush it aside saying they are fine. They’ve noticed the unfair treatment and it’s still continuing with how he is behaving, not to mention the nagging and lack of positive effort with them.

That would bother me a lot more than how much attention I was getting compared to the stepchild and yep i’d totally leave someone doing that, because i’m not going to let my child live with an adult who clearly doesn’t like them much and doesn’t treat them fairly.

whistleryukon · 10/11/2021 19:20

Wake up and stop prioritising a relationship over the well-being of your children. I feel sick when I read these sort of posts. The cumulative impact of growing up in a home like this is massive for children and will shape the way they see themselves and the world around them, what choices they make in their future, everything. You're an insipid passenger on this journey, watching your own children be used as props for this man to demonstrate to his child how insignificant they are compared to her. Wake UP.

EKGEMS · 10/11/2021 20:09

He's not being kind or loving to your children and you may not WANT to breakup but you may very well NEED to break up. Do you want you children to live with inequality for many years down the road? Think long and hard about this.

DeeCeeCherry · 10/11/2021 20:17

You're putting a man before your own children yet complaining he's putting his daughter before you. How is he any worse than you are?

I feel sorry for your children. When you make a man your God it never bodes well.

The blended family thing isn't working

whitehorsesdonotlie · 10/11/2021 20:32

He sounds awful and a shit parent. He's treating the children completely differently - and soon they will all realise that. He should have the same ground rules for all.

Doesn't sound like blending the families is working. I'd rethink.

Moonface123 · 10/11/2021 20:44

l think its highly unlikely you will do anything to rock the boat.
He rules the roost by the sound of it.
l absolutely could not tolerate this kind of behaviour, l am a lone parent by choice, and would prefer that anyday to what you are choosing to put up with at the detriment of your children.

Babyghirl · 10/11/2021 20:44

@Hailly
How can he expect you to treat his daughter with respect when he does not treat your kids the same, put your foot down op, parents who think giving there kids what they want is showing them they are loved is delusion, kids thrive of rules and boundaries they need them for adulthood he needs to parent his daughter first instead of friends first. And if he has rules for your kids they need to apply to his daughter aswell.

Squeezyhug · 10/11/2021 21:02

OP, you said,
“I have never not made her feel welcome and always made an effort to include her.“

He doesn’t do this with your kids though does he?
If you behave to his dd the way he treats your children how would he react?

Is it one rule for him and another for you?
In your own home too by the sound of it !
As somebody else here said, he’s using your kids to demonstrate to her how superior she is to everyone else in the household. It’s pretty unacceptable !

Could you ask him and his dd to move out so you can make your kids your priority, the way he makes his dd a priority?
Assume the house is in your name only ?

Buggritbuggrit · 10/11/2021 21:03

He treats you and your children like second class citizens, but you’re surprised we think you should leave? Seriously?

OP, I’m very sorry you’re dealing with this, but you cannot continue to accept this. You and your children are being disrespected and it needs to stop.

kelseypops · 10/11/2021 21:11

I'll just post again quickly as this thread is still going.

I have left my H for many reasons however one of the main ones was how he treated my dc. In a very similar way to yours op.

I have left our family home and am currently staying at my mums, sharing a double bed with my dcs.

The dcs don't want to go home. I have asked them both separately without putting the pressure on if they are upset that me and H have separated. They were both shy and looked away but said no. They felt guilty for saying no!

Dd words were 'he was funny and always joking with me but sometimes I couldn't figure out if he was joking or if he was just really mean to me'

That's what H did to my dcs. I am proud of them that they told me how they really felt. They would never of said this if I was still there.

My point is....he is damaging your dcs! You need to sort this one way or another. They are your dcs - they haven't chosen to have this man in their life, you have. Therefore the responsibility lies with you.

Don't let this go on and on.

Isthisit22 · 10/11/2021 21:20

@Salayes

It’s pretty depressing your kids and how he treats them seems like an afterthought to you and you just brush it aside saying they are fine. They’ve noticed the unfair treatment and it’s still continuing with how he is behaving, not to mention the nagging and lack of positive effort with them.

That would bother me a lot more than how much attention I was getting compared to the stepchild and yep i’d totally leave someone doing that, because i’m not going to let my child live with an adult who clearly doesn’t like them much and doesn’t treat them fairly.

This. It's awful reading how little you think about your kids. You're more bothered about the attention he shows you.
Lollyneenah · 10/11/2021 21:27

This.
It's awful reading how little you think about your kids.
You're more bothered about the attention he shows you -
100 percent agree.

billy1966 · 10/11/2021 21:31

@romdowa

You need to put your children first. The way he treats your kids is appalling and I'm pretty sure they do mind but they see you doing nothing about it and don't bother protesting. Get this man out of your house and stop letting him treat your children like dirt on his girls shoes . No man who loves you would treat you and your children this way.
This.

Your children know very well they are not your priority.

They know there is no point in saying anything as your focus is on HIM.

I cannot understand how any woman could stand by and watch their children treated the way he treats yours.

It's shameful.

They know.
They will judge you very harshly when they are adults for choosing a man over them.

He clearly prioritises his daughter.

You should be doing the same.

UnshakenNeedsStirring · 10/11/2021 21:53

I really feel sorry for your poor kids. You ought to be ashamed of yourself, putting a man before the welfare of your own kids. /he seems to be looking after his kid really well whilst your poor kids are suffering while you are blissfully unaware vying for the scraps of attention from him. Pathetic .

UnshakenNeedsStirring · 10/11/2021 21:55

He treats your kids appallingly and you want to hold his hand? How old are you? And how desperate are you? This thread is so depressing and shows you in such poor light. You seem to have no love or care for your own kids. YOUR POOR KIDS!!!!

timeisnotaline · 10/11/2021 22:01

I wouldn’t ever live with anyone who would treat my children as second class citizens, and I wouldn’t put up with the hypocrisy either. House rules on how children are treated, one rule for yours and another for mine because mine are special is not ok.
I know that doesn’t help you talk to him, but you need to change this. People are saying leave them becasue they don’t see any signs he will be open to changing it. If you genuinely insist on fair treatment for your dc he will probably leave anyway.

SnoopsCaliforniaRoll · 10/11/2021 22:04

@EineReiseDurchDieZeit

Your families are not blending, and it maybe time to move on.
100%
UnshakenNeedsStirring · 10/11/2021 22:05

@timeisnotaline From her comments I doubt the OP has enough strength to leave her wonderful man. Doesn't look like she cares much about her own kids. I hate reading stuff like this

DinaofCloud9 · 10/11/2021 22:07

He treats your kids like shit which you say lol at.
He totally favours his daughter. Why exactly are you with him?

We all love our own kids the most but most of us try to treat kids fairly.

Mooloolabababy · 10/11/2021 22:26

Your dcs will resent you if you don't stand up for them more. The same thing happened when my mil got remarried, bil was treated differently to ex step fil dcs and it drove a wedge between mil and bil. Their relationship never recovered from it. Your dh needs to treat all dcs the same, if he can't do that, you need to leave. Put your dcs first op!

youvegottenminuteslynn · 10/11/2021 22:28

@DinaofCloud9

He treats your kids like shit which you say lol at. He totally favours his daughter. Why exactly are you with him?

We all love our own kids the most but most of us try to treat kids fairly.

This.

I'm shocked that you're shocked people have said this isn't working and you should break up.

There's nothing to 'lol' about when your kids are second class citizens and the blending of families simply isn't working.

Put them first and break up or you're going to really damage your relationship with them, which should be your priority.

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