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Step-parenting

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Stepdaughter decided she doesn’t like me... new sm

185 replies

MS28 · 22/10/2017 17:57

So, my husband has two kids by two different women who live on different sides of the country. One weekend we are forced to go up north to see his oldest daughter, this takes us 3.5 hours driving and having to stay overnight at his mothers (who only has a one bedroom apartment) or we wouldn’t see his eldest ever.... his other lives 1.5 hours south with his ex girlfriend. They separated before her second birthday, she turns 10 next month.
When I first met both the oldest and youngest they both liked me and wanted to hang out, suddenly, the 10 year old can’t stand being in my presence, lies to my face about how she feels, and sends her dad drawings (when I had just moved here (from abroad) and we were engaged) of her, her mum, and him together as a family....
she has also started refusing to come up to ours on her weekend so my husband has to go down to his ex girlfriends and spend the day with her in his ex girlfriends house, or else he doesn’t get to see her... I respect that she wants alone time with her father and I am happy to go out whenever she comes to ours and or have them go out and do things together, so am unclear why he has to go down there when she wants “daddy time”.... he gets a massive guilt trip from the ex girlfriend about not ever seeing his daughter and how if she were him she would be doing whatever she could to see her whenever possible... the man works a full time job so he can support both kids (the ex girlfriend doesn’t work and the ex wife doesn’t make much) and has to see his other child on the other weekend and she was the one who moved down south to begin with.
I am sure this will come across as selfish, but we did end up making a schedule so we get one weekend a month for us, which means one month one girl misses a weekend, the next month the other girl misses a weekend. I don’t think that’s unreasonable at all, but the fit the ex girlfriend threw was immense... she couldn’t believe how selfish my husband was being and how he could not want to see his daughter. All he wants is to see his kids, that’s all he talks about.
It wasn’t this bad until we said I do..... I just want to have a happy marriage and I am sure that most people would disagree, but the kids aren’t going to be kids forever and putting them first all the time leaves you with nothing when they’re gone/grownup.
We have been together for 2 years married for only 10 months, and the last 10 months have been hell... of it doesn’t get better my marriage isn’t going to last.

OP posts:
MaggieS41 · 22/10/2017 23:13

Wow, some of the self-righteous, unqualified, judgemental, presumptuous comments here! Unplanned children (I have 2), mums giving up their whole lives for their kids etc etc are almost comical.
lurker what did these mums give up for their children? You’ve got no fucking idea do you? Their careers? Their independence? What? It sounds like you’re saying giving up your life for your children is martyrdom. You don't give up your life for your children. You live it. Whether it’s being a SAHM, working full/part time or travelling the world with them - whatever you can and want to do.

Some self-reflection and objectivity from the MNers, not just the OP, would be refreshing.

LoverOfCake · 22/10/2017 23:15

I agree with @FaFoutis. I think that many women go into step parenting thinking that they can be good step parents, but on the whole women appear to lack that ability to take on children from someone else and have and maintain decent relationships with them.

FWIW I think there are also men out there who don't make good step parents either, however IME and IMO the difference between men and women is that most women would not tolerate a man who expected her to put him above her kids so most men with that attitude are likely shown the door very quickly. However men are more easily influenced into believing that the woman and/or her own children who live there almost full-time should take priority above the children who are only there as part of a contact schedule, and are less likely to fight the breakdown of a relationship between them and their children.

As for the OP, this is a woman who: married a man only just over a year into their relationship (she said they have been together for two years and married for ten months, that's hardly any time at all,) has said quite publicly that she believes children should spend at least one weekend a month with grandparents to give parents time off, and should go to boarding school.

Clearly she wouldn't even make a very maternal mother so it's not exactly a leap to think that the step mother role wouldn't be for her.

And the answer to that is, if you don't want to be involved with a man's children then you don't marry a man who has them. And yes of course the father is at fault here, for allowing his wife (how many wives has he had now?) to dictate his arrangements with his children.

Yes, it's hard if the mothers move away, but come on, the man has two women who are prepared to block access, really? We are to believe that not one, but two women are such psycho's that they're prepared to cut contact between this man and his children for no apparent reason?

I am usually the first to say that of course there are women who do block access, but if all the women are blocking access or threatening to unless it happens on their terms one needs to start asking the question as to why that is. Because if it really is them then the man has poor judgement and needs to stop jumping into marriage on a wim, and if it's not the women's doing then the man isn't telling the whole truth here and women need to stop marrying him on a wim.

ThePinkPanter · 22/10/2017 23:35

Why don't you stay at home then instead if brimming with resentment at your MIL's? Surely seeing your husband a weekend less a month isn't a big deal? Hmm

Belleoftheball8 · 23/10/2017 09:27

MaggieS41 You might have two unplanned children but I bet they both live together and grow up together. It’s totally irresponsible to be go round impregnating women especially when he had one child already who he loved away from and this was a new relationship op was putting blame on the ex when he too is equally to blame. He married op after only a year of being together it doesn’t reflect much on his judgement does it? He made this situation himself therefore he has to accept the consequences of his actions and try to do what’s best by these young girls who in reality are getting snippets of him. The reality of this situation for these girls is unfair they don’t even have the opportunity to have a relationship with one another.

HelloSquirrels · 23/10/2017 09:57

Yes because their mothers are not allowing it? How is that ops husbands fault?

2014newme · 23/10/2017 10:03

I don't understand why you're going with dh on these trips. Let him go and have some time with the daughters with you there. No wonder they are resentful if they never get any 1-1 time with dad. In terms of you and he not having a lot of weekends together, you chose to marry someone with kids who live hours away. Thems the breaks. Would not be be my choice of ideal husband but it was yours so suck it up I'm afraid.

Belleoftheball8 · 23/10/2017 10:05

Squirrel oh yes the two women who don’t know each other are the problem I think there’s more to this situation.

HelloSquirrels · 23/10/2017 10:14

Thats what op has said though what reason do we have to disbelieve it?

2014newme · 23/10/2017 10:17

Meh the daughter does not like her. The dad hardly sees the kids. This was never going to be a happy ending no idea why she would marry into this situation

Belleoftheball8 · 23/10/2017 10:22

Because not one but two woman who don’t even know each other have been blame for being difficult despite ops dh being he common denominator in the situation

HelloSquirrels · 23/10/2017 10:31

But they are being difficult. Why would you not want your child to go to their dads house? They are not tiny babies.

Chocolaterainbows · 23/10/2017 10:34

Can't be bothered to read the whole thread, I'm sorry op, but the minute you mention you are a stepmum you immediately loose the argument. Stepmums are always in the wrong apparently and can't do anything right. Flowers from a fellow stepmum

Belleoftheball8 · 23/10/2017 10:43

Chocolate if you read the full thread then you would know that ops dh dd get very little time with their df

Chocolaterainbows · 23/10/2017 10:46

Yes Belle, I do know that, but that isn't the ops fault is it? From what I read, didn't one of the mums move away? Not sure about the other one? And it's annoying to read the comments about unprotected sex, mostly aimed at the man. I thought it took two people to get pregnant?

bastardkitty · 23/10/2017 10:48

Thank you @MaggieS41 it really is a no win situation, and we are both tired and stressed... I just hope the girls realise how much work their father has put in for them when they're older.

That is an absolutely shocking comment. Of course he can't go for a court order - no court would award him the current contact because it's not adequate to meet the needs of either child. And no court would prioritise his weekends off because he's tired.

Lottie509 · 23/10/2017 11:03

I think if one or both of the exs moved away she/they should expect it to impact on their childs contact with their father, Traveling hundreds of miles in distance is hard work my husband has to do this and its very tiring, as well as working very hard all week he does it to pick up step child though and take stepchild back to our house which stepchild loves spending time where we live, I dont think it should be all on the father to do the pick ups if the mother moved away, Its totally unfair to expect the dad to do all the hardwork of traveling, She should at the very least be meeting half way and encouraging a relationship between the daughter and Dad away from her house.
Also why arent the sisters spending tiem with each other, Why cant they manage to arrange it so instead of a child missing out a month they have a contact with both children at the same time.
The situation doesnt sound like it works out very well at all and thats also regarding the childrens pov they are growing up without contact with each other its not right.
Personally I think you should all be looking at a change of contact that works for everyone involved.

AnneOfCleavage · 23/10/2017 11:14

OP are you planning on having children with your DH because that will change everything that is in place right now too?

Belleoftheball8 · 23/10/2017 11:14

Yes chocolate my point excately it does take two people but op was hell bent on blaming her dh ex rather than accepting dh was also responsible to engage in safe sex I was merely pointing out he to had a responsibility to use contraception especially as he has an existing child who contact has been reduced and he is currently dividing contact between two dc.

Belleoftheball8 · 23/10/2017 11:17

Only one of the ex’s moves away the dh moves away from his first child.

Squirrel you only know what op is saying it would be interesting to see their POV I very much imagine that’s there’s more to this situation. My ds does go to his df twice a week he also has a sibling who he has a relationship with. If I was in one of those women I wouldn’t be impressed my op dh either!

Lottie509 · 23/10/2017 11:29

Also I think that it doesnt matter if it was both or one of the exs that moved away, The fact she moved south knowing his child lived in the north she cant expect it to not impact on his contact with her child, Its something she should have factored into her decision before the move, Personally I wouldnt move away with my dc from their Dad as I know it would be too much of an impact on their lives missing out on time with him, I would also not expect him to do all the traveling, I think its totally unfair to take a child a large amount of distance away from their father so it effects their relationship and contact and then make him also do all the traveling. And then moan about it! Ridiculous

Belleoftheball8 · 23/10/2017 11:34

So should the ex wife make travel arrangements when she wasn’t the one to move Lottie?

Lottie509 · 23/10/2017 11:39

Did she not move then? I didnt read anywhere from op that said she didnt move?

MaggieS41 · 23/10/2017 12:09

belle yes both my children are living with me and dad but it was also a quick pregnancy after a year of a long distance relationship where we wanted to have the child as we were in love. I moved in with him and we got married. It could have gone the other way like lots of break ups and divorces. But you don’t plan for that to happen. We were lucky if you can say that.

It’s not fair saying he’s going around impregnating people! When stuff happens you have to deal with the consequences but there’s no reason why everyone can’t be amicable and ALL parties, including the mums, work something out that works for everyone. Let’s face it, not everyone can love a step child the same way the parents do or how you love your own child. What’s important is they’re cared for and considered but that doesn’t mean they rule everyone’s life. I don’t agree with any child ruling their parents life whether they’re together or not. Some kids don’t even like they’re own families whether it’s siblings or parents! Some MNers here have quite clearly stated some step children prefer their steps to their own parents so let’s not make such bold comments. Whether the OP is maternal or not isn’t relevant. There are lots of maternal women that don’t get on with step children for many reasons - they’ve been poisoned by their Mum or dad or they just don’t like each other because they’re different with different values and expectations. You can’t force love but you can still be a decent human being.

Belleoftheball8 · 23/10/2017 12:37

Your situation isn’t comparable though is because if you and your dh hadn’t worked out both dcs would have lived together this is not the case in ops dh situation is it? What if he goes on to have a third child that’s dividing his time three ways when it’s already stretched with two dc. I have children to two different men.I fell pregnant accidentally with ds and our relationship ended when he left me for ow. I had my dd and ds2 when I was established relationship and properly introduced dh to ds who he been in his life years before we had dc together. His df has been with his wife for several years before they started a family. We both took care and attention when it came to extending our families further so that ds was considered and apart of that but involved in our family units.

howtodowills · 23/10/2017 12:40

Only got to page 3 of this before wanting to scream at my screen.....

  1. The dad needed to get work. If he stayed out of work to be close to his DD he would be vilified for not providing.
  1. Why the fuck are we slating him for his contraceptive choices? He was married to one and in a relationship with the other. Nobody is saying "those stupid women should have got themselves on the pill".
  1. I agree the 10 y/o is controlling the situation. I don't think she should get to dictate how and when she sees her dad. She should have a say but saying she refuses to come to the house is her choice and I don't see why her dad should suddenly have to jump.
  1. OP is getting slated for going on the visits and also getting slated for not bothering to form a relationship with them. OP you can't win on this one.

This is a sad situation for all concerned...