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Bonding

4 replies

NicknameNotTaken · 17/06/2012 23:06

I've been with my boyfriend for a year(ish) and he's got a two year old(ish) son. He and his son's mother split up (mutually) when their son was 4 months old. He has his son 1 day and 1 evening a week.

I'm finding it incredibly difficult to form a relationship with his son because he is (understandably) very defensive of the time he gets to spend with his dad and doesn't want to have to share it with anyone else. I have mixed feelings about this - while I want to leave them time to bond as father and son I do find it very upsetting that his son often bats me away from activities we're all doing together shouting that he only wants it to be him and his dad.

My boyfriend does try to involve me but we're unsure whether to insist that I'm a part of the scenario and that sometimes it'll be me that does the puzzle/book/nappy etc or whether to let him come round on his own.

I'm a little worried that I'll grow to resent his son if he continues to act like this - and while I don't want to adopt a motherly role (we've described me as an honorary aunt) I do need to establish a relationship with him that isn't quite so upsetting for both of us!

Has anyone got any experience of this - or failing that anyone with more parenting experience got any ideas?

Thanks!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
brdgrl · 18/06/2012 00:58

Maybe I should not reply, as I haven't got experience with this. My stepkids are much older. I do have a two-year-old, though.

I think that is quite young for the sort of conscious defensiveness you are ascribing to him? But yeah, he doesn't have much time with his dad, and at that age, keeping and preserving the bond with his dad under these limited circumstances should be the top concern, so I guess I would say - let the relationship with you develop slowly, even though it must be frustrating.

Having said that, of course DSS needs to see that you are part of the family and a couple with his dad. Can I ask - what are your times together like? Do DSS and DH spend some time alone as well as some time all together? Do you ever have time with DSS just the two of you?

Do you have much experience with kids yourself? Are you sure that what you are expecting from DSS is age-appropriate? I just know how my DD can be - she's a sweet-tempered kid, but she definitely has just started the bossy two-year-old thing, and has definite ideas about how she wants to play and interact - where you have to sit, who is involved, which cup they can use at her tea party! Obviously I try not to encourage that bossy streak, but I do think it is a natural thing for her to try on, and maybe some of what you are seeing is just that.

One thing that helps a lot with DD is explaining to her in advance how things are going to go....in the morning I talk to her about the day ahead and who she will be spending time with (my DH does the childcare two days a week and I do the others, but we both do a lot of our work from home so sometimes one of us in in the house but not available for her entertainment!), where we will be going that day, if her half-siblings will be at home or at school that day, if any one else is coming to the house. I feel like it lets her know what to expect; obviously she can't hold it all in her mind, but if I have said in the morning "Daddy has to work today", she is less upset later on when she wants him for something and I have to remind her that he's working. If you don't already, you could try to lay out the day for DSS like that - "This morning you and Daddy will go to the park by yourself and play on the slide, then we'll meet Nickname for lunch"...or "After lunch, Nickname is going to help you put on your shoes"....letting him know in advance when you will be part of things and when you won't?

NotaDisneyMum · 18/06/2012 14:44

A lot of two years olds do this to their biological parents, too - push one away in order to monopolise the attention of the other - apparently I used to push my dad away if he hugged or kissed my mum!

How does your DP deal with it? I think it's really easy to get hung up on the 'step' element and overlook the fact that it's a normal stage in development that can be handled in an appropriate way regardless of whether the adults involved are blood relatives or not!

NicknameNotTaken · 18/06/2012 21:01

Thanks to both of you - I think I was being quite oversensitive about the situation as well as getting hung up on the 'step' element. I'm sure he'll come round, he's just as posessive about his toys with his cousins etc.

brdgrl - hardly any experience with children of this age so perhaps I'm overreacting (it wouldn't be the first time!) and actually he's just being a two year old!

If all else fails I'll just bribe him with chocolate buttons in future. I'm not his mum so I'm allowed to do that, right? Wink

Thanks again.

OP posts:
Happylander · 20/06/2012 12:56

My son does it to me sometimes when there is another adult around particularly if they are male. Pushes me away and says 'no mummy I want to play with so and so' I find it quite funny and I don't take it personally as he is only 2. I wouldn't worry about it.

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