Got to pick your battles ...... But WWYD?

[Petal02]

DSS, who is 18 1/2, is taking his driving test next month. DH has been happy to agree that once he's got his licence (he already has a car) that we can finally discontinue with the access rota, as DSS will be able to transport himself to/from our house as and when he wishes. I was delighted, I've lived by a rota for far too long, and the thought of normality is wonderful.

However DH said something strange last night; that he wants DSS to have a key so that he can come over whether we're in or not. This niggled me slightly, I'd expected DSS would visit us when we're home, I've never got my head round all this "in absentia" visiting, I don't see the point. But my main, overriding concern is that DSS has a terrible track record when it comes to switching things off, closing windows, locking doors and is completely incapable of sorting out pets (would you shut a dog in the lounge when you go out?) and can't master our very simple burglar alarm. The thought of him letting himself into our empty house, and then leaving without locking up, or with the gas hob still lit, or the French windows still open ....... Well it's scary.

I appreciate its normal to be home alone at the house you live in, but I'm uncomfortable, essentially on fire/flood/security grounds, of having him hang out at ours when we're out.

So you have to pick your battles, so I'm proposing to suggest the following to DH: I accept I might have to give in gracefully regards DSS having a key, he's 18 and it is indeed his fathers house. But I want DH to have a proper conversation, not a Disney joke, about taking care of our home, and if we have any problems, that the privilege of a key is rescinded (assuming the house hasn't burnt down).

In return for this, I request that if we're going on holiday or away for the weekend etc, that we don't leave DSS to secure the house (I couldn't relax on a beach wondering if DSS had left the bath taps running) and that he doesn't visit our empty house while we're away, as there's no point. Does that sound reasonable?

I really don't want a huge row with DH over this, I know he wants DSS to feel welcome, but this needs to be balanced with the need to protect our home, and my peace of mind. And (I shan't say this to DH) I understand why you need key for the house you live in, but don't think it's mandatory for any other houses. Not when the 'child' in question has been repeatedly irresponsible with basic household procedures.

Can I reiterate I'm not suggesting we reduce visits, just that they take place when we're in, and that he doesn't cause damage to our home.

[TheHumancatapult]

not add Freddie were all just different .i would hate my mum to walk straight into mine

[allnewtaketwo]

Agree everyone is so different about this type of thing. I personally hate anyone coming unexpectedly to the house and would never consider going not someone's house without knocking, my parents included. But it seems that these differences are acceptable only until there are step "children" involved, at which point your wishes stop being "differences" and apparently turn into evil stepmother traits of wanting to exclude the "children" and not liking them

[Petal02]

Well said Allnew, normal wishes/standards are construed negatively if applied in a step situation.

[Freddiemisagreatshag]

Well, I don't see it like that. Because he's not some randomer you don't know. He's your husbands child and it should be his home.

But I don't think we are ever going to see eye to eye on this. And it's supposed to be a supportive thread for you Petal, so I shall bow out.

[NotaDisneyMum]

There are lots of posts from parents in the MN teen section asking for advice/opinions on exactly this issue - to be fair, there is a similar split of opinions; some people think that withholding a housekey from a DC is the ultimate rejection, others think that it's a privilege that has to he earned and can be withdrawn.

[DeskPlanner]

I think the point that All and Petal are trying to make is that they wouldn't expect there biological children, if they had them, to let themselves onto there patents home when they had left home or gone off to uni. So why should the situation be any different for adult sc ?

[Petal02]

Thank you Desk planner, that's exactly my point. If a bio child were a liability, no one would criticise you for withholding a key.

[NotaDisneyMum]

petal. There are posts in which parents are accused of rejecting their teen by withholding a key though.
It's not exclusive to step-parents; although I'm the first to admit the venom with which it is done here on the step- board is far more marked than anywhere else on MN

[Petal02]

Thanks NADM, that's interesting.

[FrauMoose]

I have two stepchildren both now in my twenties. My stepdaughter has lived here on and off and has a key. Although there have been occasional very very minor issues about times when we've gone away and she's done stuff like disconnect everything round the TV in order to play Nintendo Wii, but not remembered to connect it all back, so we've spent hours struggling with the leads - that's just ultra-trivial stuff. If she was away, but planned/wanted to come back at a time when we were also away, she would let us know first about her plans.

My stepson is just not as tuned into other people's feelings - he's on the autistic spectrum. At one point he had a key because he'd lived with us temporarily, but we got back from a holiday which coincided with a university reading week - to find that he had decided to come back without letting us know. (He actually had only stayed a day because he had never listened when we told him about the hot water/heating etc and hadn't been able to make anything work.) The place smelled of smoke, though I think he tried to air it. Spouse and I are in agreement - for all sorts of reasons - that we wouldn't let him have a key again.

I think it is as much about the personality/responsibility of the young person with the key as about whether the relationship is a parental or step-parental one.