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Help! New step mum!

8 replies

Emma3842 · 18/02/2018 15:01

I hate myself for even having to write this. However, I need advice. I am a new step mum to a gorgeous 5 year old (nearly six) and I've been with my partner just under a year and we live together. From the day I met my SD it was apparent that my OH would pander to her every need and demand. She had no boundaries, no rules and no manners. Which is making her bahabiour appalling. However, at her mums she is in bed at 7:30, she herself dressed when asked, eats her meals and does things like get toys she wants herself, turn on lights etc... Where as with my other half she refuses to do anything and she has complete autonomy. For example my partner still wipes her bum when she goes to the toilet and supervises because she refuses to do it herself. Collects items that are infront of her when she demands, apologises and rationalises with her when she has a tantrum because she doesn't want to go to sleep at 11pm. The list goes on.
Before my OH met me, he was single for the best part of three years. He has my SD every Friday overnight. Every other weekend for the full weekend. Then a couple of hours on a Tuesday and Thursday night.
I don't have any children of my own so I am careful with my opinion, however, I do feel children need routines boundaries and manners. I am so stressed and I am finding excuses to be out or away when we have my SD now because I am so stressed and frustrated at having to watch events unfold and hold my tongue. We have spoken a couple of times about my SD behaviour. Though, he goes on total defended saying he is doing his best, that she isn't a bad kid and that he feels he hardly sees her so doesn't want to spend the time telling her off. My SD isn't a bad kid and I've told him this. I just feel like his parenting style is making causing her to be a brat when she is with us. He has got better slightly better with boundaries as he no longer sleeps in her bed at night and he puts her in bed for 8:30 sometimes (with a film on) however she still refuses to sleep and gets up and cries sayings it's not fair that she had to sleep alone. My OH is such an incredible man and I adore him. I love him and appreciate him so much but at this point I don't know if it's time to call it quits.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
swingofthings · 18/02/2018 15:12

It might be. You moved in quite quickly after meeting and it sounds you bypassed discussing your views on education, rules etc... He is trying his best, doesn't think he is doing a terrible job, and doesn't want to be told how to raise his daughter.

You think he isn't doing a good job, that his daughter is turning into a brat and feel so helpless that you feel the need to stay away to cope.

It isn't looking great, so either you can start discussing it without either of you feeling the need to be accusatory/defensive and managing to reach compromises, or indeed, you are better off moving on.

AnneLovesGilbert · 18/02/2018 15:28

If he doesn’t start parenting her properly and stopping all the Disney dad nonsense you’re going to lose all respect for him and that’ll eat away at the love you have for him.

He might be doing his best but he’s still really letting her down and he’s undermining her mum by being so lax and treating her life a tiny princess who gets waited on night and day while her mum is trying to bring her up to be a capable independent little girl who gets the sleep she needs and is learning to take care of herself.

Their dynamic has been in place for years and I don’t think you’ll be able to change it as he doesn’t think he’s doing anything wrong and gets defensive when you’ve tried to talk about it.

Stepparenting isn’t a breeze when you ARE on the same page as the parent you’re in a relationship with. I don’t agree with DH on everything but the areas we differ on are small fry and they’re his children so I keep out of it. On the basics, he’s fair, right, kind, responsible and I couldn’t respect him more. One of the reasons I love him so much and want to have children with him is he’s the best dad I’ve ever met. If he was behaving like your partner is I’d have walked within a month. We spent loads of time all together before we moved in together so actually I know that wouldn’t have happened. I adore him. But we have to function as both a couple and a family unit so it would have been a deal breaker if he’d refused to actually parent his children.

Sorry that’s not what you want to hear. Think ahead. This confused little girl is going to grow into a nightmare teenager and life is going to get much much worse, not better, unless things change a lot.

Emma3842 · 18/02/2018 15:36

I actually agree with you 100%. It's not SD's fault, she's and innocent child working out life. However, I do sympathise with OH. That doesn't mean it's ok though. I do feel things moved far to fast, it felt right at the time. However, in hindsight I would do things a lot differently and have learnt a lot. I'm going to talk to him again tonight. I just don't want to hurt him but we need to talk. Sorry to waffle Blush thank you again Smile

OP posts:
lunar1 · 18/02/2018 17:54

Did they share a bed before you moved in? It's not too late to take a step back, it's so soon to be living together.

ladybee28 · 18/02/2018 22:21

Hey OP - god do I recognise this!

A bit of background: my DP has a DS11, EOW and 2 afternoons a week.

DP does EVERYTHING for him – helps him get dressed in the mornings, fetches everything for him (will get up from working in his office to get DSS a glass of water, while DSS is playing Xbox). DSS doesn't pick up after himself, doesn't help lay the table for meals, doesn't help carry shopping in the from the car – doesn't even carry his OWN stuff in from the car. No bedtime, no house rules...

I also struggled HUGELY with all of this. Infantilisation, undermining his development, pandering to every need and desire, treating him like a little Emperor... I used to have to take myself out of the house for a walk and a cry (TBF, probably not just about OTT parenting, likely also linked to my own issues after having a pretty abusive and painful childhood, seeing DSS so intensely catered for and loved is sometimes tough).

Having said all that, DSS is a SUPER sweet and lovely kid, and none of this is his fault. It's the effects of Disney Dad-ing and it's not how I'd want to raise my kids, but it is what it is.

A year in, here's what I've learned works for me:

  1. Go do wonderful things for yourself, on your own, when DSD is around. It's important for them to have 1-1 time, and it's better for your mental health to take space and not watch the madness when you don't have to. And you don't have to! It's early days, you don't have to be around all the time. There's no rush to get to happy-blended-unit. So enjoy it. Go to a yoga class, go out with friends, take yourself for a walk or a massage or whatever floats your boat. Their Daddy-daughter-time can be your self-celebration time. If he's into having a tantrumming 5 year old around, let him. You don't have to be a part of it – and not being a part of it doesn't have to be resentful or borne of annoyance. Just gracefully bow out, blow them both enormous kisses and leave them to it.
  1. Your boundaries with DSD are yours - and they can be different from your DP's. DSS knows that if he and I are out doing the food shop, just us two, he's expected to help bring the shopping in. He's asked me a grand total of once to fetch him a glass of water from the kitchen when we were both on the couch. I burst out laughing and tickled him, asking what happened to his legs, and he's never done it again since. He knows what I expect of him is different to what his Dad does, and that's all cool. We're making our own groove. In your situation, you may have to tread carefully if your DP won't back you up on your boundaries with consequences, but you may also need to draw some lines in the sand with DP about what you will and will not stand for, when it comes to YOU. You don't get to say how he raises his daughter, but you do get to say how it impacts on you.
  1. Know where your frustration has its roots. When I asked myself why this was so frustrating for me, I realised it wasn't really about DSS not being raised right. My frustration came from feeling like I lost my DP to someone else whenever DSS was around, and it's the first time I've ever had to share a partner's love with someone else. I felt swept aside by the force of this little person who would always come first in my DP's life, and it was a brand-new and uncomfortable feeling.

Hence point 1 above becoming so important for me - doing LOVELY things for myself while DSS is around - not because DP DOESN'T love me to death, but because it takes the edge off these new emotions I'm still finding my way through.

Give yourself time, OP. Give all three of you time. If he's been single for a while before you, he's not had to make adjustments for the impact of his parenting on a third person before. Neither has she. It's going to take a minute Smile

I know it's frustrating, and I know the urgency to have it all worked out quickly. I've honestly felt it so hard over the past year. But you will all find your own grooves.

Eddie1940 · 19/02/2018 08:24

Whilst the above looks like good advice in my experience in the long term you will find yourself doing more of the “lovely things “ alone and then wonder why you are with your partner when you spend weekends and holidays alone . Surely being with a partner is you want to spend time together especially if you both work a lot - time is precious .
In regards to the boundaries as children get older they will find the gaps between you and it’s likely if you have different boundaries these will be exploited to split you .
This is a really difficult situation, lots of people give well meaning advice but living it is a different story .

WhiteCat1704 · 19/02/2018 09:17

Leave.
I love my DH so much..we have a beautiful DS...We are doing well but if I knew what I know now I would have never ever ever gotten involved with a disney dad..His SD is growing up fast..17now..the drama is much much less than it used to be...but part of me thinks that I could have had all that WITHOUT all those things that come with a SC, crazy ex and an over compensating father..

We have all adjusted and compromised but I feel it should have been different..

I suppose I have regrets..I would tell myself before DS to leave..as the crazyiness and drama from the ex and unfortunately SD really only escalated after he was born and I felt trapped..

Ehh..it's so much better now..relationship with SD is ok, her relationship with my DS is developing. DH mantains boundaries at last. SD will be 18 and go to uni next year and that will hopefully improve things even more..but it took years and almost cost us this marriage..

Winteriscoming18 · 19/02/2018 09:23

You moved in far too fast your still a stranger to her. Maybe she’s insecure about his new relationship with her df being single for 3years. She’s is reacting to the situation by allowing her df to do everything for her. I think it was totally unfair to call her a brat, I have a four and half old and she’s very much a daddy’s girl. If she can get away with no doing something she will. From her POV you have moved in and took her daddy away that might not be the case but in the eyes of a five year old that might seem that way. Do they spent time on their own or are you always there? I also think it’s far too early for you to be commenting on the dynamics of their relationship.

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