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Sick and tired of dh....

150 replies

user1484986087 · 01/05/2020 17:49

Need some advice or at least a handhold please.

Long story short, 2 of my 3 stepkids (sd 16, ss 10) came to live with us full time in August last year. This was without any discussion between me and dh, and happened because their bm was in her country of origin and didn't know when she was returning...to date she has not returned and as far as I am aware, nobody knows when she is coming back and she doesn't have regular contact with the sk s here.

dh and I have an almost 3 year old ds together. We live in 3 bed small flat. Dh and I both work full time. Bm has never worked.

for some context, we used to see sk every other weekend. I have never been close to them as their bm alienated them against me and their dad initially. I tried hard with them at the beginning but never having got anywhere with them, I have stopped and am just civil with them. The sd i get along with but the ds I find annoying and difficult to like. Dh often tried to float the idea of ss living with us full time, but I said no as I could not deal with him (disruptive and attention seeking, also has no manners). In fact, when we married I said that I was doing so on tjr basis that I would not be living with the sk full time.

since the sk came to live with us, our marriage has been on a downward trajectory. Part of the reason I didn't want sk with us full time is due to the fact they dh completely ignored me when they were around and spent his whole time with them. I didn't like it but coped with it as I reasoned it was only eow. Now they take priority with him, he spends his time running around after ss in particular, ss needy and attention seeking and is usually stick to dh and/or in his lap the entire time. When we went out on a rare date night ss would be waiting up for his dad. Ss basically hates anyone having his dads attention but himself. Dh barely talks to me and now this attitude is the same towards our dh in that he refuses to have 1 on 1 time with ds and insist upon ss bring taken everywhere with them . Even when I ask him if the 2 of us could just go for a walk alone to give me some alone time with him, dh insists upon asking ss. This is on top of dh spending at least an hour every day playing tennis or football with ss ans with ss barely letting anyone near him . Not only am I unhappy about dh's attitude towards me (he doesn't bother with me) but now also his attitude toward ds. Ss gets plenty of alone time with dh but neither ds nor I are allowed to have that opportunity.

i just confronted dh about this to be told to ' f off' and that I'm jealous and paranoid. He said he will do as he wants with his son (as). I said that it's not fair that ss has 1 on 1 time (plus more) with him whilst I and ds are denied that ? He just walked out.

There is a back story to some of this but too long to go into. I'm short I am really annoyed at dh for basically treating me as a nobody and constantly ignoring and belittling me. I would love to leave but I can't bear poor ds being separated from his dad and forced to be set aside by ss if he visits his dad. Also bm I think k has 'dumped' her kids on us deliberately to break up my marriage as she knew I didn't want them here full time. I have no relationship with my dh at the moment, we haven't been intimate for months and I am tired of being last place behind everyone. Part of me thinks to suck it up until needy ss is 18 and just lead a separate life...

anyone been in this situation? I am so sick of what my life has become..

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LouiseTrees · 01/05/2020 18:04

I kind of think you go and do things like play football in the park with your own son on your own and make tik toks and just generally be like, I’m winning over here. See if he realises you make no time for him and if he confronts you just say sorry but a younger kid just is more needy for attention and really needs someone to organise things for his development. Invite the daughter along as well, she’s done nothing wrong. So it’s kind of like showing him how much time he’s spending with one by spending the same time with the other two.

user1484986087 · 01/05/2020 18:06

That’s one way of doing it, but ds always wants his dad there too!

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user1484986087 · 01/05/2020 18:06

And I think that would encourage dh to just basically dump ds on me and continue with dss...

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SoVeryLost · 01/05/2020 18:12

What’s the back story?
TBH your SS sounds like a ‘normal’ 10 year old whose parents have broken up. Of course he wants time with his dad, it sounds like he’s been abandoned twice in his life.
Maybe try asking for family time instead of 1-2-1 time and your DH will be more receptive as it does sound like you are jealous of your SS in this post.

Tatty101 · 01/05/2020 18:13

I may be coming at this all wrong but its sounds nice that he has such a good relationship with his son.

The dislike you have for the SS is really evident - I wouldn't be too happy about that if I was your DH.

Maybe instead of focusing on this as "our time vs their time" you could do things all together as a 5?

I agree he should be making more effort with your son. Equally, I feel really sorry for your step kids who have apparently been dumped by their mother - don't you think they'd need some extra support after that?

Dazedandconfusedpart2 · 01/05/2020 18:17

'The' ss and 'the' sd, how utterly rude. You also find a 10 year old annoying and difficult to like? Poor kids not only left by their mother but to be landed with you...

user1484986087 · 01/05/2020 18:21

It’s been almost a year. Happy to do things altogether or for dh to spend alone time with ds, but not happy about not getting time alone with dh and ds being ignored. Our marriage is on a downward trajectory due to dh’s unwillingness to treat me as equal to ss.

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user1484986087 · 01/05/2020 18:22

What am I supposed to call them? They are my stepkids.

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user1484986087 · 01/05/2020 18:24

I have suggested family time..but it never works. Sd just wants to be on her phone and ss always moody to be with the rest of us when it’s not on his terms.

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Tatty101 · 01/05/2020 18:26

Your step kids sound like absolutely normal, typical kids. Yes there should be couple time and potentially alone time with his other son but I don't think I'd want to spend time alone with you if I knew you hated my kid and was so jealous of him sitting on my lap?!

It sounds like your step kids have been through a lot and you clearly have no empathy for that.

Dazedandconfusedpart2 · 01/05/2020 18:27

I was that it's the prefix of 'the' that was rude. You write DH and DS but your stepchildren are clearly treated with less respect and some pretty obvious disdain, it's as disrespectful as a spouse saying 'the' wife when speaking about her.

Dazedandconfusedpart2 · 01/05/2020 18:29

ss always moody to be with the rest of us when it’s not on his terms.

Maybe he's opting out of the shit treatment you're doling out?

user1484986087 · 01/05/2020 18:30

I don’t hate my s kids but I do feel resentful of them and now my dh due to him ignoring me (no intimacy, no chats, nothing). I feel like I am a nobody. And ss just sticks to dh like glue, nobody else is allowed near him!

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user1484986087 · 01/05/2020 18:31

What shit treatment? I hardly abuse them! I always get them presents for birthdays and am civil with them. I don’t think I need to go beyond that.

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Tatty101 · 01/05/2020 18:37

It's very evident just from one message that you don't like them, particularly the son and you'd rather they weren't there. That's a horrible thing for a child of 10 to pick up on, particularly after being abandoned by their parent.

If you and your DH do split, wouldn't you want him to spend time with his son regardless of his relationship status? Wouldn't you want your son supported by his Dad if he was having a tough emotional time? Or would you rather he prioritise his future GF/partner instead of his son?

If you honestly can't understand why your husband may have a problem with your attitude to his kids, you have 0% chance of sorting this out.

nahnonever · 01/05/2020 18:38

I don't think you are being fair on these kids.and your DH is trying to be a good dad to them as they have been through a lot and have no one else.

Dazedandconfusedpart2 · 01/05/2020 18:38

They are kids who've been through a lot. Their needs trump your desperate tantrum for attention and 'resentment'.
You're supposedly an adult, why not behave like one?

A lack of abuse and feigned civility is all these kids deserve? And to top it off, you actually think they should be grateful!?
Thank god all step parents aren't like this. Hmm

user1484986087 · 01/05/2020 18:41

Ok, so you are all of the view that the marriage should just be abandoned in favour of the kids? For the record, I never thought it would come to this. Being effectively ignored by my husband in favour of an attention seeking stepchild is how your marriages work?!

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Wolfgirrl · 01/05/2020 18:43

Do you have a step parent OP out of interest?

user1484986087 · 01/05/2020 18:44

Btw these kids have generally hated me since day 1, save for sd who I get on with. Ss has now no issue with answering me back and his older sister (thankfully not with us) was beyond rude with me, despite my efforts. That’s not to say that I should be the same to them but it’s part of the back story. If I had my time again I would never get involved with someone with a high conflict ex and kids under 18.

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user1484986087 · 01/05/2020 18:44

No, no step parent.

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Dazedandconfusedpart2 · 01/05/2020 18:45

You married him knowing he had children. While they are children, yes, they should come before you. Especially when you are so unbelievably rude about the people who have no control over what's happening to them.

user1484986087 · 01/05/2020 18:47

I did, but did not ever envisage the mother abandoning them! She would not even let dh have access for a long time. What is the problem here is dh attitude, quite frankly.

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Dazedandconfusedpart2 · 01/05/2020 18:47

despite my efforts

If your efforts we're anything like they are now then fair play to her for giving you a taste of your own medicine.

user1484986087 · 01/05/2020 18:47

And the rest of you don’t think he should have 1 on 1 with ds? Should ds be shunted in favour of ss?!

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