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Step-parenting

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Very long.. but please need advise.. One foot out-the-door!!

7 replies

Sunshine7890 · 18/11/2010 07:35

Well let me give you a little background on my situation. Well DP was married for about 5 years and had two children from ExW and helped raise a step-child in marriage as well. I on the other hand was also married for 5 years to my Ex, but decided to not have any children with ex, due to a having a rocky marriage from the begining. Well DP and I have now been together for about 1 year.. and since then my life has changed ALOT!!.

Some has changed for the good but mostly for the bad. When I met DP he was going through the divorce process and now his divorce, I on the other hand am soon to start mine due to the finicial issues and his divorce in the past.. we could not afford it.

Let me start off by saying I love this man verrryy much!.. never had a guy treat so good. Well here's where the story starts to take a twist. When we first met each other the Bio mom had the kids, and life was just great for us no worries and no stress!. A little background on the ExW she is a druggie and was very abusive toward DP through their marriage.. he stuck around with her for soo long for the sack of the kids. Well as soon as the divorce started, he ended up getting full custody of the kids, due to her bipolar behavior and drug addiction.

In this last year,

I've had to go through all the turmoil and stress that she brought on due to the divorce!

Had to deal with DP being scared to stand up to her due to all the verbal abuse he went throught with her. (He has gotten better.. but till this day he is still scared to tell her things) uggh!! Angry

and now I have to deal with the guilt of not want to be a full time step mommmy.. due to not getting any praise or credit for any of the changes I have made in my life.

DP kids are still young DS is 3yrs and DS is 18 months. So once they moved in with us and we got a house... my life got flipped up side down. DP is in the military and is always working. Well once we moved in I got stuck caring for the children full time...due to him going through his divorce process, her being a dead beat, and us having to handle all of the financial aspects of everything.

Well here's where my big problem comes in up until now.. DP and I were discussing all of the decision making about the kids.. because I have grown to love them as my own, and because I have done more for them.. then their own mother in the last past year.

The ExW was not to invovled b4 with the children..because 1 they were too little to understand what was going on. Well now that the divorce is over and we have 50/50 custody but the kids live with us. His starting to feel guiltly about not letting her talk to the kids as much and his also scared she might take him to court.

I feel like it's unfair and I'm really getting hurt going through this whole process. I know I may sound selffish.. but I have done so much for those kids in this past year and it seems like no matter how much I do.. everyone always finds a way to tell me.."SHE WILL ALWAYS BE THEIR MOTHER". I'm not trying to keep the kids away from her completely.. but she hasnt done anything for the kids in the past year. We won't be getting any child support from her..until like 6 months from now due to the divorce decree. Did I mention she is also the biggest Witch!!.. and talks to DP any way she feels like!!.and for the most part he might say something but he doesn't like confrontations so he'll just take it.. even though we have the kids!

I'am at my witts end.. we sent her some pictures the other day..because she hadnt gotten any from us.. and then she wanted more pictures and DP was going to go and send them to her.. with out even dicusssing it with me first. I mean we discuss everything that has to do with the kids.

I'm tired of being treated like the mom when it is convienent to everyone..but when it's not then it's oh.."she will always be their mom.. you have to deattach yourself."

HELP!!! this happened a couple of days ago and since then I have deattached myself to the point.. where i dont cater to the kids like I used too. I let him do most of the work...I dont want it to be this way.. but when things like that happen..I feel like I don't even matter, and nobody will ever be truely be grateful for all the work I put in. I'm feeling a little better by being deattached.. but I dont want the kids to be affected by this in future. any advice anyone???

OP posts:
FreudianSlimmery · 18/11/2010 07:55

That sounds really tough. They are lucky to have you as a stepmum if their real mum isn't bothering.

Tbh I know it's really hard but you just have to throw yourself into it. Bugger what anyone else thinks, and when their mum sorts herself out then so much the better.

You may not get appreciation now but believe me those kids will thank you when theyre older.

mjinhiding · 18/11/2010 14:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

FreudianSlimmery · 18/11/2010 15:49

Very true mj.

Op please don't distance yourself from these kids, they need you. So what if you didn't give birth to them?

I'm a stepmum so I know what it's like to feel unappreciated, because I will never be their mum. I know others won't recognise what I do (on some issues it's a lot more than their mum, like helping with schoolwork) - but THEY appreciate it.

AnonymousDad · 18/11/2010 18:49

I'm with FreudianSlimmery on this, keep doing what you do for the kids sake. They may be too young to appreciate it now but they will grow to know you are allways there for them. There will be times when it is difficult, just take a minute and refocus.

piscesmoon · 18/11/2010 19:05

I would carry on doing what you are doing. DCs aren't silly, they will be loyal to the bio mother, but they will be comfortable with you and love you for yourself.

Sunshine7890 · 18/11/2010 19:22

Thanks everyone for the encouraging words... Yes, I will try my hardest to make things work..I know it stresses him out even more having to deal with two women upset with him over petty stuff.

I think it's also hard for me due to me not having any Bio kids with DP...from what I've read on this forums.. it seems like it's easier to just go with things if your already a Bio mommy yourself.

**An update.. well we checked the mail today and guess what she finally sent her daughter a birthday card!.. We had to hound her for one week straight to send her daughter something for her birthday. She lied to us for a two weeks saying she was going to send some money and presents for her birthday party.. and never did!! Finally two weeks later all my poor SD gets from her Biomom is a little birthday card in over a year.. wow!.

I guess something is better then nothing.. but geez!!...she makes pretty decent money and she's so cheap with her own kids!

... sorry just venting again! Wink

well thanks everyone,

OP posts:
ChippingIn · 18/11/2010 19:42

It sounds like a complete nightmare.

I think you have to think about yourself as well.

  • Decide if DP is the man you want to spend the rest of your life with or not.

If you do, then you need to talk to DH, tell him exactly how you feel. Exactly how this affects you and come to an agreement about your role in the kids life.

I wouldn't be happy with anything other than him having 100% PR and agreeing that for all intent & purpose you are their Mum and he must treat you like that. Nothing gets done for/with the bio mum without your joint agreement. He does not (and does not allow anyone else) to say 'you are not their mum' or 'she is their mum' etc and treat you like a second class citizen. If he is not happy with this, then walk away. It will tear you up watching this from the sidelines being dragged in and kicked out of it.

:(

(I am only saying this because of the state she's in - I wouldn't normally say this at all!)

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