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Step-parenting

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Problem with his kids - am I ready to be a step parent after just 8 months???

13 replies

ferret41 · 27/04/2011 17:37

I posted this in the relationships board and got a bit of a roasting from some posters.
Someone suggested I put it on here.
Please be gentle with me Smile

OP posts:
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pickyourbrain · 27/04/2011 17:53

bless your ferrety fur, never post anything negative about step children any where other than here. I know it sounds awful but from my experience as a mum before I was a step mum, the thought of another woman having my children with her and another woman being with my ex, and then that woman slating my children and my parenting... would have made me see red.

A lot of people on that thread are applying your situation to theres I'm afriaid which I suppose is natural.

You do not have to 'suck it up' I was in fact playing 'suck it up' bingo as I read that thread and I knew someone would use it. It's bollocks, not to mention a horrible visual phrase that makes me think of sucking vomit off a carpet.

However, what i think you do need to realise is that it is their dad's job to discipline them. You need to sit down with him and convey the facts. Not emotions or opinions. Don't say "your children are naughty/badly behaved" etc. Say "on saturday your DS1 hit DS2 and he swore 3 times using shit/fuck/ whatever. They have spat at DS2 and they have broken my best royal wedding commemorative plate etc etc"

Tell him how it makes you feel and what your concerns are "it makes me feel uncomfotable and edgey and I am concerned that the other children will pick up on it"

"I want you to start disciplining them and use a reward chart (or other method, all 4 children could have the same)"

"if you do then we can continue to spend holiday time together, if you don't then I am sorry but we can't"

The end bit could threaten what ever you feel comfortable with sticking to. Because you have to stick to it. Re-gain control. Don't allow these little hoolums to rule your life.

They're being done no favours, kids need boundaries and disciline.

And forget about blaming their mum by the way... it's a good way to ofset anger towards your DP and the kids but it'll get you no where. I have a big brick shape printed on my own forehead that tells that story.

theredhen · 27/04/2011 18:12

I saw your post on relationships and am glad you came over here.

There are a lot of single Mums with their own issues on the other boards and they will try and project their own issues onto you.

Generally, you get people with real experience of step parenting on this board.

toddle · 27/04/2011 18:37

ive been lurking on the relationship post, sort of in a similar situation although i do not have any children of my own i do have my little sister everyweekend most holidays etc who is around the same age as dss. we all went away for the easter weekend and to call it a eye opener would be a understatement.

thankfully not violent, swearing etc but very tantrummy, spoilt and gets own way all the time, greedy (little sisters words not mine).so luckily the behaviour isnt to bad just humiliating having a boy throwing a fit on the floor like a 2 year old so although i cant give you much advice i sympathise very much.

before i met dp he lived full time with his parents so he would spend every weekend with dad and grandparents. as i can gather he has his own way one way or another example son- i want pizza for tea. dad- no you had mc d's for lunch. gramps then goes and gets him a pizza Shock.

if any one has any tips on how to get the rules to sort of match up between my rules for sis (i am not strict but like respect, manners etc) and his for son i would be so grateful. i did try to mention it while we were away and all i got was 'yeah his my son and i spoil him'. its not a massive problem just finding it difficult having rules changing all the time etc.

ferret41 · 27/04/2011 18:39

Thank you both.
I was starting to think I must be a really horrible person!!! I had a feeling it wouldn't go down too well - thats why I namechanged, but I actually quite like being a ferret, I might keep it!!
Tbh I have never even considered myself a step parent until that thread, which is why I didn't post on here. 8 months seems way too soon to use that word, but since we are both in this for the long term I suppose I must face it that I will be their step mum one day. They are sweet kids (sometimes) and I know their behaviour is because they have been messed up by their parents divorce, not because they are horrible kids.
Thanks for the advice, its nice to know I don't have to suck it up (I hate that expression too!) or finish with him over it but hopefully we can reach a compromise.
I'm staying here for a while - its much safer!!

OP posts:
ferret41 · 27/04/2011 18:43

we have the same thing toddle - I don't let mine drink too much coke, his drink it all day long. I bought a carton of orange juice and told mine that after one coke they had to drink orange and they accepted it, same with Easter eggs - his kids scoffed all their eggs in 5 minutes and wouldn't eat lunch, I told mine to have just one and then they would last longer, which they were Ok with.

Maybe we should just lead by example and hope they follow suit

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toddle · 27/04/2011 19:06

omg haha same here seriously fizzy pop is a treat not to be consumed like AIR!!!

ditto easter eggs. told them not to eat it all before tea my sister ate one cadburys egg mean while he swallowed 4 yes 4 flakes and the eggs. bouncing balls the living room i say dont do it something will get broke it did last week. at this time there was just me dp and dss in the house and he started boucing a ball ok it wasnt going crazy just up and down but that will soon turn into bouncing it against the wall or something so i said no. dad - oh its fine. yes i agree that is fine but soon that will be boring and it will turn into something else which is liable of breaking something. then even he started doing it grr how is his son suppost to stop if even he does it. yes deluded on the following suit i think unfortunatly. we had a episode over breakfast ceral while we were away. dss wants cookie crisp (i dont condsider cookies in milk breakfast nor does my mother so i personally would never allow that in my house seeing as i do the shopping she cant see them to ask) sis wants frosties which is bad enough but passable. debating this in the tiny shop on the holiday site and dp comes and says well we will have cookie crisp and everyone will like it. this got my back up in showing my sister that her thoughts are worthless and arent to be valued unlike dss's. sorry for the rant this has all been playing on my mind over the weekend. ive also been asked to join them all (dp, son, mil and fil) for a week in a caravan in the summer hols and it would likely to be worse then. he is generally a awesome kid but just some things i consider shocking.

glasscompletelybroken · 27/04/2011 20:10

Welcome ferret - glad you came over. We're MUCH nicer on here!

ferret41 · 28/04/2011 11:00

I've just read my thread in Relationship and am close to tears.
How dare they say that I am more interested in my sex life than my dc Shock.
Basically - according to them my relationship is doomed to failure and I have to choose between dp and my dc!!

I know he does need to man up (I think he knows this too) and I will have to have 'the talk' with him at some point and I am not sure if I am ready to be a full on step parent after just 8 months but did I really deserve that pasting??

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tokenwoman · 28/04/2011 11:11

feret dont cry life as a step or a potential step is fraught with dangers, problems, rows, tears etc etc read some of the other topics on this board to get a feel of how hard it is and for the time being dont move in with him many of us went in with high hopes with our rose coloured specs on totally unprepared for anything that stepfamilies can throw at us I iwsh Id seen this board years ago - you're not alone, we understand here, stay a while and dont give up not yet tis better to be prepared knowledge is everything and our experience both negative and positive will help

2blessed2bstressed · 28/04/2011 11:25

Oh ferret, don't get upset - just stay here when asking those kind of questions. My dp and I have been together for 2 years now, his dcs are with us at my house every other weekend, once every week after school for tea til bedtime, and half of all school holidays. (older has also occasionally stayed for longer periods after fallouts with mum). I was told by poster on another thread that because dp didn't live with me the rest of the time, (and we weren't married - in 2011 Shock) I had no business to describe myself as stepmum, I was JUST DADS GIRLFRIEND and should keep my nose out of any parenting issues!
I actually never describe myself as either in RL, it was more a shorthand on MN to explain the relationship - but I got a roasting like you wouldn't believe!

It is difficult with 2 sets of rules and boundaries - after a while I took to saying "that's not how I want people to behave while they're in this house." and have found that to work quite well - my dp and his ex sound a bit like yours - they really cannot get on and find it difficult to maintain even an illusion of civility, so now we just go with "what mum says goes in mums house, and what we say goes in this house" it's not ideal, but it's been peaceful for a few weeks now!

slimbo · 28/04/2011 16:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ferret41 · 29/04/2011 20:20

I have had a proper lurk on this topic and found it so refreshing to see that so many people have similar problems with their step kids and just reading a few threads has made me feel loads better. I will steer clear of the Relationships topic for now.

You have all been really kind and helpful - thank you all.
Smile

OP posts:
aurorastargazer · 04/05/2011 14:41

hi ferret i have just read through this thread and while i haven't seen your other thread, please don't cry ((((hugs)))) i am at a simialr stage to you - dp and i have been together since september 09. adn yes, i can feel that dp and i will also have to haev a talk about things and quite soon too. his ds is starting to push his luck with some things and when dd has a tantrum he will say baout his son being at that stage but not anything about his son starting to play up now Grin

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