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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

My partner lets his 18 year old control his life

149 replies

ThisGreyLurker · 21/04/2025 13:11

I am at my wits end, I have been with my partner for nearly 3 years and am in a three-way relationship where I am the third wheel. I have my own house and my partner has his. Due to a change in my circumstances, I am struggling to maintain living in my house (which he says is nothing to do with him) and thought that after 3 years together we should be thinking about moving in together. However, I am not the "partner" in our relationship (or at least that is how it feels) and my needs and wants are not important. His now 18 year old daughter currently lives with her mum but spends most of her time at weekends at his. He has recently come into money and is looking to buy a big house. He is doing this mainly because his daughter wants to move in with him and her room in his current house she feels is not big enough for her (it is a double room). She gets a say in what house they buy and is finding properties she likes and going on viewings with him and if he likes somewhere and she doesn't then that is it! She has just said that she thinks he should up his budget by about £50k so that she gets what she wants in the house. She has a say on everything in his life - what car he has, what clothes he buys / wears, where they go on holiday, where and what they eat, what he spends his money on and what they do at weekends. He pays for everything for her (even though she has a part time job) including her hair, her clothes, her make up, her toiletries, her tattoos, the fuel for her car, her car itself, the car insurance, the modifications that she wanted for her car, the new ipad that she had to have, expensive weekends away, expensive holidays, festival tickets - the list goes on. I don't think she likes me much, sometimes she barely acknowledges me and if me and my partner go out without her, she asks him how much he spent - and he tells her! It is like she feels that he should spend all his money on her and nothing on me (I do always pay my way but my financial circumstances are not great and nowhere near as good at his). When there is the 3 of us, they walk together sometimes arm in arm and I tag behind. On holiday, he will sit with her and I sit on my own and we have to do and go where she wants. I just think that she has too much control over his life - it is everything (he will go and change if she tells him to and will buy clothes because she tells him too) and he asks her opinion about everything and takes it fully into account. When they get "their" house, she will be choosing all the decoration and they will live together in harmony, cooking together, doing everything together. My question is, where does that leave me?? I feel like the third wheel and not a part of it and I want a proper relationship, one where I am the "partner" and treated as such - is this wrong?? I am not getting any younger and don't what to waste anymore time on a relationship that isn't going anywhere. He can't see it and says that she will get whatever she wants and that is the way it is and she will come first (which I understand but not to this extent) and he will get the house she wants, will always buy her want she wants, do what she wants and spend all the time with her that she wants (which is a lot as she does not have a lot of friends at all).
I would welcome thoughts as it is affecting my mental health terribly and I am on a downward spiral as I am so confused. I thank you all in advance x

OP posts:
cordelia16 · 21/04/2025 17:57

I would end things immediately - they're not going to get better.

You shouldn't have to beg (even internally) for respect and emotional support.

ThisGreyLurker · 21/04/2025 17:59

Um, seeing I have tried I don't see why she would not like me much, I have never been anything but nice to her and seeing as it is a recurring theme, I think it is unfair to say that it is my fault that she does not like me!

OP posts:
EllieEllie25 · 21/04/2025 18:00

You're allowing, even inviting them both to treat you badly OP. Time to walk away and work on building up your self respect. You can't change the dynamic between them, which sounds really enmeshed and unhealthy, and you can't make him care about you more. All you can do is walk away, or stay and continue to be unhappy.

beetr00 · 21/04/2025 18:02

ThisGreyLurker · 21/04/2025 17:59

Um, seeing I have tried I don't see why she would not like me much, I have never been anything but nice to her and seeing as it is a recurring theme, I think it is unfair to say that it is my fault that she does not like me!

it is not personal @ThisGreyLurker I'm sure you're a perfectly lovely person

It's about power, over her Dad

ThisGreyLurker · 21/04/2025 18:03

Sorry, I am a bit sensitive, I have really tried and have been nothing but nice so I read your message wrong when it wasn't personal - apologies

OP posts:
allthemiddlechildrenoftheworld · 21/04/2025 18:08

@ThisGreyLurker to be honest, it looks like this relationship has run its course. just walk out of his life. it will be easier all round. you obviously now need to start looking for somewhere else to stay and get your house on the market if you cannot afford to keep it.

Tassys · 21/04/2025 18:15

OP, you are a convenience not a priority to him.
His daughter is his priority and he hasn't a notion of you moving in.
You are wasting your time.
I'm sorry, but time to make plans for yourself.
Could you get a lodger or two to help you cover costs in your home?

NeverDropYourMooncup · 21/04/2025 18:16

If this were flipped and it was a man who had got into a relationship two a bit years before the son could be encouraged to move out with the aim to have a nice wind down into retirement with somebody who owns their own home and he happened to have a bit of a housing issue just at that point, the responses would be very different.

Nobody would be accusing the mother of having an incestuous level of relationship with her 18 year old son or that she owes her boyfriend a house and comfortable retirement - it would be about 'a nurse with a purse' and how the man wants to elbow her son out so he can get his feet under the table. She'd be told that his housing issues weren't her problem and to watch out for him trying to persuade her to get rid of her son.

beetr00 · 21/04/2025 18:19

ThisGreyLurker · 21/04/2025 18:03

Sorry, I am a bit sensitive, I have really tried and have been nothing but nice so I read your message wrong when it wasn't personal - apologies

Do not be sorry lovely.

HE cannot give you what you, reasonably, need from this relationship.

You said

"He can't see it and says that she will get whatever she wants and that is the way it is and she will come first"

That tells you EVERYTHING about him. Please take heed.

For you and your own self-worth, I suspect you really do need to walk away and find someone who will cherish you. 🌸

StIgantius · 21/04/2025 18:24

There is nothing to be done here. You know his
priorities so either you have to accept them or end the relationship. If you try to set up a “her or me” battle you will lose so there is no point trying. Whether her level of control is ok or not by some objective standard is neither here nor there.

Spinachpastapicker · 21/04/2025 18:27

VirgosNeedGoals · 21/04/2025 16:46

I can't believe how many people are saying this is normal. It's creepy as fuck!

I know!! Parents saying their daughter is “close” to their Dad like this!!
She tells him what to wear, how much to spend, she will decide on their house ….. really? This is NOT normal.

cinnamongirl123 · 21/04/2025 18:29

I didn’t even need to read half-way to know that this guy is NOT a good partner, and you need to run for the fucking hills OP. Build your self-esteem, learn to recognise red flags, and raise your bar!!!!!

candycane222 · 21/04/2025 18:30

It's a shame you have hung around for so long really OP, he isn't your partner, despite you referring to him as such. He probably doesn't even think about you for a lot of the time.

There is no prospect of it getting any better, surely you can see that?

Nanny0gg · 21/04/2025 18:35

CopperWhite · 21/04/2025 13:16

She’s only 18 which is still plenty young enough to need a parents support.

Your partner is presumably happy with his relationship with his daughter and their future housing plans, so who are you to try and change it? New partners are not as important as existing children. If you want a relationship where your partner helps support your housing needs then you need a different relationship because no happiness will come from your trying to mould this man who is doing nothing wrong into what you want.

He should prioritize his dd but this is way over the top

Nanny0gg · 21/04/2025 18:38

NeverDropYourMooncup · 21/04/2025 18:16

If this were flipped and it was a man who had got into a relationship two a bit years before the son could be encouraged to move out with the aim to have a nice wind down into retirement with somebody who owns their own home and he happened to have a bit of a housing issue just at that point, the responses would be very different.

Nobody would be accusing the mother of having an incestuous level of relationship with her 18 year old son or that she owes her boyfriend a house and comfortable retirement - it would be about 'a nurse with a purse' and how the man wants to elbow her son out so he can get his feet under the table. She'd be told that his housing issues weren't her problem and to watch out for him trying to persuade her to get rid of her son.

Nonsense!

This daughter has way too much input into her father's life

My kids never behaved like that towards either her father or me.

It's way too invasive

PooksBear · 21/04/2025 18:42

It will only get worse. Throw this one back 🐟

altmember · 21/04/2025 18:52

NeverDropYourMooncup · 21/04/2025 18:16

If this were flipped and it was a man who had got into a relationship two a bit years before the son could be encouraged to move out with the aim to have a nice wind down into retirement with somebody who owns their own home and he happened to have a bit of a housing issue just at that point, the responses would be very different.

Nobody would be accusing the mother of having an incestuous level of relationship with her 18 year old son or that she owes her boyfriend a house and comfortable retirement - it would be about 'a nurse with a purse' and how the man wants to elbow her son out so he can get his feet under the table. She'd be told that his housing issues weren't her problem and to watch out for him trying to persuade her to get rid of her son.

I would be. It's the same whichever way round the genders. What the OP has described is text book emotional incest.

LillyPJ · 21/04/2025 18:57

You're jealous (understandably). But you're putting all the blame on her when it's as much his behaviour as hers. The relationship is not what you want and there's no way you can change it, so you either have to accept that his daughter takes priority with him or walk away.

Toucanfusingforme · 21/04/2025 19:00

I agree a “child” should take priority but good grief, that’s one unhealthy dynamic between them. It’s not close, it’s a spoilt brat and her willing puppet. She sounds incredibly self centred and indulged, but he is obviously happy with it and she is happy with it for all the rewards. It won’t change, so either suck it up or end it and find a man with a more balanced attitude.

LazyArsedMagician · 21/04/2025 19:01

She’s only 18 which is still plenty young enough to need a parents support

Oh come on. This isn't parental support Hmm
@ThisGreyLurker listen, she doesn't like you and he is never ever going to put you first. Frankly I'm surprised you've hung around for this long, it sounds exhausting. You must be on pins all the time.

PussInBin20 · 21/04/2025 19:07

He’s telling (and showing) you all you need to know. He doesn’t appear to recognise or want you as a partner. I’d run if I were you.

ParsnipPuree · 21/04/2025 19:08

Nothing wrong with being close to his dd but it looks as though she’s set herself up in competition with you and is deliberately goading you and rubbing your nose in it.

let the next poor woman enjoy.

ThisGreyLurker · 21/04/2025 19:17

I don't actually think this is her fault, most children would take advantage of someone who will give them everything they want / do everything they want etc and would want more and more, so I don't think she is to blame, I don't actually have an issue with her (I would like her to make me feel welcome and treat me as I treat her however) - it is just the situation which I have to say is all my partner's doing - I don't think he is setting her up well for the future which is a worry as she needs to learn how to budget the money she earns, the true value of money, how to be independent etc - I'm all for helping your children out and looking after them but you have to teach them life skills for their future also

OP posts:
Sassybooklover · 21/04/2025 19:24

Honestly, the relationship is bringing nothing into your life. I understand a person wanting to put their child first, that's only natural but your partner's life isn't his own. He has allowed his daughter to not only rule the roost, but him as well. It's not a healthy Dad/daughter relationship at all. You will never be a priority in your partner's life, and I'm afraid your wants/needs/opinions will always be dismissed, in favour of his daughter. I don't think this is personal towards you, I think it will be the same regardless of who your partner is in a relationship with. End the relationship, it's clearly not working, and don't waste any more of your time on this man. Life is too short.

beetr00 · 21/04/2025 19:44

ThisGreyLurker · 21/04/2025 19:17

I don't actually think this is her fault, most children would take advantage of someone who will give them everything they want / do everything they want etc and would want more and more, so I don't think she is to blame, I don't actually have an issue with her (I would like her to make me feel welcome and treat me as I treat her however) - it is just the situation which I have to say is all my partner's doing - I don't think he is setting her up well for the future which is a worry as she needs to learn how to budget the money she earns, the true value of money, how to be independent etc - I'm all for helping your children out and looking after them but you have to teach them life skills for their future also

You are right, ofc.

But are you happy with the dynamic @ThisGreyLurker?