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Equality ( AIBU)

56 replies

jingleberries · 10/12/2017 11:57

Been with DP 3 years now. I have a DS 6 and he has a DD 9. We see His DD EOW and she hates the ground I walk on / the air that I breathe etc. It's not a great relationship! But that's for a different thread. DS's father died when he was just born so it's just me and him extended family wise. No 'second' xmas for him. DP has just announced that we should spend equal amounts on the children. I recoiled in horror ( an over reaction I agree but is how I feel) and pointed out that his dd has xmas day with her Mum ( we never get her for Xmas as per her mother, it would be too upsetting) so she will be getting spoiled on Xmas and Boxing Day. I'm not suggesting we get her nothing. Have already started a plan where I keep back some of DS presents for Boxing Day and have a lovely stash of pressies for her ( that will be from Santa and nothing to do with me as if she thinks they are anything to do with me they will be ignored) DP now annoyed with me as I am spending more on my son than we are spending on his dd. ( we have separate finances and I would earn considerably more than him). I can see his side but also my own. Who is BU??

OP posts:
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Tinselistacky · 10/12/2017 11:58

Surely you are both free to spend as you wish on your own dc?

MsGameandWatching · 10/12/2017 12:00

He is but many will post saying that equal amounts should be spent on all children of the family no matter what the circumstances.

Belleoftheball8 · 10/12/2017 12:01

Yabu I have ds from a previous relationship and he had equal amount spent on him
Sometimes more as he’s older that my dh pays for. It doesn’t matter if he gets extra presents from his dads and he does as they have a massive family because in my household all my children and treated the same

jingleberries · 10/12/2017 12:02

I agree about equal amounts but surely if she is getting xmas with her mother we should be spending about half the amount on her as I am on DS? Is how I rationise it anyway.

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RestingGrinchFace · 10/12/2017 12:03

Given that your finances are separate YANBU. It's not like you are stopping him from spending money on his DD.

TheVanguardSix · 10/12/2017 12:09

When DSD is with you in your household, you cannot think about how much she's getting or what boundaries are being laid down in her second home. I think you're being unfair. I get where you're coming from financially and pragmatically. But fair is fair is fair. In your household, on Christmas Day, you must be fair with both kids.

My DS1 (from my first marriage) gets more presents and more exciting days out than his siblings from my second marriage. I don't give DS1 less because of this. In my household, my 3 kids are treated equally. The fact that DS1 gets more than his siblings on account of the fact that he has a second family is something that doesn't colour our choices for him in our household.

Stepchild or bio, you have to treat both kids equally when they are under your roof. That's just how it is.

MycatsaPirate · 10/12/2017 12:11

It's so tough.

DP has two girls and so do I.

His oldest has no contact with her mum. So she gets from us, my family and also used to get something from her stepmum (his DD2's mum). She doesn't get anything from any extended family.

His youngest used to get from her mum (her mum died this year), us, her mums extended family, her god parents, her stepdad, her stepdads family and also my family.

My DD's get from us and my parents, plus their grandparents on their dads side. Their dad doesn't bother.

There is massive inequality looking at the four girls. His DD2 gets from many people and his DD1 and my girls get from much less.

We have always tried to treat them equally but often his DD2 wants nothing for Xmas because she either already has everything or the list of her present wishes have been passed round mum and stepdads family first.

Things are massively different this year, her mum is no longer around and her stepdad has been amazing, he has given us the list and first refusal on her wishes which means we will actually be able to get her something she wants.

His DD1 is living with her bf and they both have excellent jobs so they don't want much and we spend less on DD1 but buy for her bf too.

My DD1 is at uni and although an adult, is a broke adult. She is getting a car stereo and a few bits.

The most has been spent on my DD2 who is 12 and really gets very little from anyone else.

Overall it's worked out ok, they are all getting what they have asked for. Some years there has been more money spent on one or two than the others, it just depends on what they want. DSD1 wanted a surfboard one year, my two have had laptops, DSD2 has had a kindle from us.

I would concentrate on making sure that they get what they asked for and have roughly the same size of presents to open regardless of the cost.

Belleoftheball8 · 10/12/2017 12:14

My DS1 (from my first marriage) gets more presents and more exciting days out than his siblings from my second marriage. I don't give DS1 less because of this. In my household, my 3 kids are treated equally. The fact that DS1 gets more than his siblings on account of the fact that he has a second family is something that doesn't colour our choices for him in our household.

Stepchild or bio, you have to treat both kids equally when they are under your roof. That's just how it is.

This with bells on -

Mumof56 · 10/12/2017 12:16

have a lovely stash of pressies for her ( that will be from Santa

Why would Santa do 2 drops for her and only 1 for your child? That ruins the magic, no?

You can spend what you like on your child but by the same token he can spend what he likes on his.

MotherCupboard · 10/12/2017 12:21

We spend around the same on our children regardless of whose they are or what they'll be getting elsewhere. Then they know that we have been fair to them all. But then we have joint finances.

Viviennemary · 10/12/2017 12:24

I think you are the U one. You've had a hard time in the past. But honestly you need to stop this constantly going on about how much you spend he spends and your DP's DD might get more because of gifts from her DM. I agree when under your roof they need to be treated the same. But I'd forget about two drops from Santa. Too confusing. Put both your names on the presents.

jingleberries · 10/12/2017 12:51

This constantly going on??? that's a tad harsh is it not?? This is my first post here!!
Am very interested in the other frequent posts about the presents not being from Santa. I hadn't even thought about that. Is that not a bit unfair on DP though who will not get the joy of Santa presents under the tree? Personally I am sort of in agreement that it does all get a bit confusing

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Cantgetagoodusername · 10/12/2017 13:07

My DD gets considerably less that DH's DD (due to larger family etc) but that's just the way it is. Due to different circumstances it will never be equal but it can be fair.

In our house they get equal amounts spent on them.

Can you do something lovely when it's just you & your DS? Father Christmas? Panto?

lifeandtheuniverse · 10/12/2017 14:09

It is irrelevant what the Ex spends in her house.

In your house both your DCS are equal.

Viviennemary · 10/12/2017 14:24

Sorry. I didn't mean you going on about it here! I meant it sounds as if you're making a big issue of it at home. And the you earning more than him and who pays for what and whose DC is getting the best deal. Which I don't think is a good idea.

Oswin · 10/12/2017 14:30

I grew up the youngest child in the family, had four older half brothers and sisters. They all had other parents buying presents.
My parents still spent the same amount on every child. To us it didn't matter what happened outside our house, we were a family so we all got the same.

purpleprincess24 · 10/12/2017 14:33

I have an adult DSS and DSS

My DS’s father is in benefits
My DSS mother is from a wealthy family

Both have lived with us full time since the age of 7

They have both always been treated equally regardless of the fact that my DSS has always had significantly more money spent on him (he’s getting an iPhone X for Christmas from her this year)

PSMum2 · 10/12/2017 16:03

They should both be equal in their home with you, it doesn’t matter what happens elsewhere. I am sure there is inequality in many other areas that work out in favor of your DS - he gets to live full time with DSD’s father for example.

Kids need a stable, secure upbringing. Counting presents is bringing unnecessary drama into their lives. Personally I think people put too much importance on Christmas, it seems like it’s more a source of stress than joy for almost everyone who posts here. Kids don’t care, they just want to have a fun day with happy, loving family and friends.

You won’t help your case by making your DSD feel “less than” in your home. It’s also obviously important to your DP or he wouldn’t have brought it up.

When something makes me react negatively I spend some time with it figuring out why, and it’s usually some stupid BS that is only an issue for me. Why would you “recoil on horror” at your DP wanting his kid to have the same in his home as yours does in your home? This seems like it’s less about the gifts and more about how you feel within the relationship.

jingleberries · 10/12/2017 16:24

Ah the recoiling in horror!! I did. It's probably a lot more to do with my relationship with DSD which is awful. Different thread but I have tried, we have been to counselling etc and none of it has worked. She's is awful to me and he lets her. DP has already told me he is broke this year and isn't getting me an xmas pressie which is fine. But if he wants to equal out the presents it means me forking out more which I do not want to do. And yes it's selfish but he pays significantly less of the household bills than I do, he has bought my DS significantly less than I have spent on his DD but now he wants to even things out even when he says he can't afford it. Yes the whole thing is pointing to bigger flaws in the relationship and his daughter and his attitude to her is the single reason I have kept our finances separate. Plus she won't be here on Xmas day to see if the presents are equal or not!!!!

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PSMum2 · 10/12/2017 16:36

It probably hurts your DP to see your son getting more things than his daughter, and in his home. It’s not rational. It probably also bruises his man-ego. These are the challenges you face as a woman in a relationship with a man who makes significantly less than she does. I’ve been there so I totally get it (and I won’t go there again because of the ego BS).

I hope you manage to find a way to make it work for everyone.

PSMum2 · 10/12/2017 16:44

(and it is a big deal that he’s not getting you a pressie!!!!! He can’t make you a nice dinner? Draw you a picture? Wrap up a few packets of your favorite crisps? Fuck that. Seriously.)

jingleberries · 10/12/2017 16:47

Thanks PSMum. And tbh VivenneMary I see what u are saying but I try and not discuss finance and money too much. I earn more than DP but I like to think I am a generous person. We split the bills in proportion to our income, I pay for everything childcare related and for all of DS clothes etc. I also pay for our holidays and trips away, meals out etc. If my relationship with hos DD wasn't so awful I don't think I would be quite so put out by his suggestion but tbh I would put her on Santa's naughty list and get her nothing with the amount of lying and manipulative behaviour she has been up to this year

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Missjumblebum1 · 10/12/2017 16:51

In our house we spend roughly the same on all children regardless of what they get from others. My two girls dad lives with his wife and her two children. He works a good job and she doesn't work at all so I am asuming that apart from if she receives cm from their dad, that he supports and pays for most things. My girls normally get one gift from their dad in the region of £30. Thankfully they live far away (he moved) and don't see a lot of the inequality I see. He has also never asked to have them for Christmas day, fathers day, their birthdays or taken them on one of their many "family" holidays. I guess because they get presents from me, mothers day and holidays with us then you could say it's even. But I think when they are old enough to see the full picture it will still hurt.

ClareB83 · 10/12/2017 16:52

I don't think you're being unreasonable. She's already had a load of presents on Christmas Day, she won't be there when DS opens his main load of presents on Christmas Day. Then they both get some on Boxing Day. Seems fine.

If she wasn't getting much at her mums then maybe it would be mean, but sounds like both kids are getting plenty.

RandomMess · 10/12/2017 16:57

TBG as your DP won't deal with her awful attitude towards you and he is also acting entitled in her behalf I would seriously reconsider if this is going to be a healthy relationship to carry on with? I honestly think it's only going to get worse Sad

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