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Step-parenting

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Becoming a young 'step mum'

65 replies

hannah41 · 20/07/2020 13:20

Hello,

I am looking for some advice and general help so starting here I thought could be a good place.

I am 26 and my partner is 45, we have a really good relationship we are very strong and I am very much older than my years and our relationship has always worked.

(Please do not judge) Due to my own personal circumstances I made the decision not to have children and will not be having them. My partner has 3 children and the youngest is a 11 year old girl, I generally struggle with it and being honest I do not know how to act.

In my opinion she is very young for her age, she calls my partner Daddy which again please don't shoot me for but I believe this to be very young behavior. She cannot sit still or be quiet for any length of time, she bores easily and this is something I personally struggle with also but do not mind sitting watching a film etc to put myself in a relaxed mood. She expects us to do something with us every time we have her which is not financially viable all of the time.

I'd really appreciate just any advice and what I can do, how can I get myself into this? Sorry for the essay! Smile

OP posts:
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Aquamarine1029 · 20/07/2020 17:44

You don't want your own children, yet you think saddling yourself with 3 step kids and a nearly 50 year old man is a good idea? Give your head a wobble.

dontdisturbmenow · 21/07/2020 08:52

You need to understand what it is especially you struggle with and why.

For one, don't ever compare her with you at the same age because for one, you'll remover the things you want to about your own behaviour, because things have changed even in the few years between you and her at the sane age and because all kids are different.

You also need to appreciate that it is possible that you do have slack of understanding of children that age! Its not a criticism just fact. If you are going to be commited to your oh, you need to trust him.

If living with him and the place his kids holds in his life is going to be a struggle, you need to consider whether it really is the right family setting for you.

user1488481370 · 21/07/2020 13:54

OP I’m a year older than you, my partner is 41, he has a 10 year old DD and we have DD6, DD1 and another DD on the way.

I’ve been in DSD’s life since I was 18. What you are describing are none issues. You’re just describing a normal child.

FizzyGreenWater · 23/07/2020 14:32

You are very much not 'older than your years' if you think that an 11 year old child calling her father 'daddy' is in any way a problem.

In fact it's really a red flag that you think that. It's normal age-appropriate behaviour... but even if it wasn't, it would be WELL out of your remit to have an issue with it. It's simply none of your business. There is the additional issue - why would you pick up on this, in particular? It leaves a nasty taste - there is something very off about you having an issue with an expression of their closeness in this way.

The rest of what you describe is also normal behaviour. The problem is you - unsurprisingly, you sound completely unsuited and far too young to be in this situation (with a much older man and as a stepmother figure to children who are or soon will be teens).

MsTSwift · 23/07/2020 17:29

Absolutely agree Fizzy. Various posts from young “step mothers” moaning about perfectly normal 11 year old girls. Having an 11 year old girl myself it’s hard to read tbh.

Yellowstone1985 · 24/07/2020 10:45

Hi OP! If you’re posting in a stepmum type capacity on here you’re going to get a variety of scorn and flippant comments - don’t take them to heart. Put them to one side. In this case it seems to have focussed on the example of DPs daughter calling him daddy at 11 yo in your request for help/advice.

The youngest is 11, so very soon she will be a teenager. Average teenagers loose interest in going out and doing things with their parents very quickly, so for you it could be a matter of waiting it out. Try to make the most of this time as much as possible to bond and make memories. In 4 years time when she comes to your place and sits in her room on the phone the whole time you may miss her enthusiasm for doing things (or it may be a relief and you can all quietly get on with doing what you want). I’m assuming she doesn’t live with you so it sounds like she values the finite time with her dad (and yourself!) and wants to make to make the most of it.

You have a good relationship with DP, you don’t want kids, so him already having kids works because you won’t feel like you’re taking the opportunity from him. I don’t think there’s any problem with this. As long as don’t obstruct his relationship with his kids, initiate any conflict with their mum and try to get on with kids as best as possible and there’s no nastiness, all will be fine. You don’t need to be super mum - they already have a mother. If there’s no issues between DH, you and their mum (you don’t mention that there is) this is a massive boost for the relationship.

It doesn’t sound like it from your post, which comes across as light hearted, if there are any deeper issues that you weren’t able to comment on your post that are causing you greater mental suffering you need to leave. I don’t know how long you have been with DP but if it isn’t long really think long and hard about this.

90% of the time blended families are extremely hard work and painful. 99% of the time they are not for people that want an easy life.

My story is different to yours and I’m not telling it for you or other posters to make direct comparisons to. Just to give you an idea of my experience for offering above advice. I was 27 when I got with now DH who was 31 with DSS 7 and DSD 10 yo at the time. I thought it was going to be easier than it has been. I looked forward to meeting them and wanted to spend loads of time doing activities together.

DH had been split from their mum for three years at the time and I wasn’t involved in that. There was conflict between DH and her, him getting into a relationship with me seemed to fan the flames (I don’t know why as she already had another baby daughter at this stage - maybe stressed out with the baby?). It hasn’t really got much better 10 years on. I thought it would. If I could go back, me now would tell me then to leave because of the ex wife involved in this situation. It’s caused a lot of mental pain and I have questioned if I wanted kids myself because of it (side question: are you sure the issues with step kids aren’t putting you off having kids or didn’t you want them before?).

Silver lining is that the kids are great. Due to the stress with trying to arrange visits they were usually apathetic by the time they got to us and didn’t want to do much. But we did do things and had a some nice times.

They’re older now so they can see the whole picture and are good judges at what’s going on. I don’t know where she’s got it from, school friends maybe, but DSD 17 has a strong sense of social justice and won’t tolerate unfairness toward any of the parties involved (even, shock horror, if it’s directed at me). Wish things had been easier with their mum when they were younger so we could’ve made more memories, but starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel - step kids are growing up into reasonable adults and our involvement with their mum will soon be very minimal.

897654321abcvrufhfgg · 24/07/2020 10:48

43 here and still call them mummy and daddy!!

trixiebelden77 · 27/07/2020 08:05

I don’t think I’ve ever encountered anyone who declares themselves as older than their years or mature for their age who is actually seeing themselves clearly.

I wouldn’t get more involved if even at the girlfriend stage you’re jealous of his daughter and you don’t want kids anyway. I’d find someone on the same wavelength.

Amanda87 · 30/07/2020 19:08

Crumpets111 sounds like an anti-step moms!!!
Give it a break, she needed advice and not attacking.

Calanthe · 01/08/2020 15:25

OP, don't pay any attention to the mean responses. Of course your partners children are 'your business'. If you remain together as they mature you will have contributed in some way to raise them.

The use of 'daddy' is totally normal but I suppose there could be a source of irritation for you depending on the context. If it's 'daddy' before she asks for something then I totally get that could grate- you're going to have to let that go though I'm afraid.

As for the expectation of doing activities whenever she comes over- you're so lucky she isn't doesn't just want to be glued to an electronic device! There are plenty of suggestions above for cheap activities.
Geocaching is an excellent one by the way!

jimmyjammy001 · 13/08/2020 00:35

You are In your mid twenties, there are plenty of blokes out there the same age as you without children, don't waste your time with someone in their 40s who has children you will live to regret it, the stress and hassle is really not worth it, you will have to make alot of sacrifices to make it work, he will have to make none. Do not give up your prime years for someone in that position.

Tiredoftattler · 13/08/2020 01:17

Perhaps the decision not to have children might also be an indicator that you may not be well suited to live with children.
You can be a girl friend/ who chooses to live apart from her partner.

You do not wish to be judged and yet you are willing to judge the behavior of the11year old as being" young. "

Perhaps , you might be less troubled about the behavior of the 11 year old if you extended the same lack of judgement to her behavior and decisions that you would like extended to you.

Tolerance extended often results in tolerance returned.

There is nothing wrong with saying to your partner that while you love him very much, you have no desire to live with his child.

A happy girlfriend need never become an unhappy step mother. Just remind him that you wish to date him and that you have no need or interest in stepping into any kind of parenting role.

If he objects, then you know that this is not the relationship for you.

Many people are able to compartmentalize their lives and live happily that way.

Jm75 · 14/08/2020 08:34

Hi
I think it is extremely hard to be a stepparent and 'real ' parents find this hard to understand. You are expected to love the child straight away or you are branded as a child hater. You have no say on behaviour but you are expected to still all live together happily. You are also walking a tightrope of trying to fit in .
I am a stepparent and it's an incredible hard role and takes alot of getting use to .
The thing is it has nothing to do with not liking children , its because you don't have the matural bond with the child so annoying 'normal ' child behaviour is more grating because you don't have the instant tolerance that parents are given when they have their own child .
It's like trying to live with a stranger that is sometimes really annoying and demanding ( as all children are) and everyone expecting you to just love every moment with no say at all.
All I would say is that it is something you really need to think about . Your life will change forever . No care free holidays, weekends doing child friendly activities which are sometimes boring , little time for your relationship . All these things real parents accept because they made the child together - you did not make this child with your partner . Yes you meet him and knew he had children but reality of living with someone else's child is very different . Equally you cant help who you fell in love with and so it's not as easy as saying find someone who dosnt have children . You fell in love and also he came with children that you also have to take responsibility for . Its alot to get use too .
So give yourself time but don't beat yourself up . It's hard but really think if this is the type of life you want as if it's not the relationship with your partner may suffer anyway

FlorenceTSC · 28/08/2020 08:41

@hannah41 So sorry that you have to be viciously attacked when all you're doing is ask for support... Ladies, can we please behave like decent human beings and help rather than attack one another?

I was a stepmum for the first time in my early 20s and it was a challenging experience. Looking back, I realise that it's not that I was lacking maturity, it's just that I hadn't experienced being around children very much. Experience is something that is extremely important when you become a stepmum, be it yours that you acquire through the years, or the one that people around you can share.

I also didn't want children (and still don't) but I've never let that decision get in the way of happiness if I met a man who had children. I am 38 now (my husband is 56) and a stepmum to 3 girls (32, 13 and 11). And we are very happy.

With regards to your 11 stepdaughter, there are a few things there I think...
• calling her dad "daddy": nothing really abnormal there to be honest. As said by other members, some people address their parents "mummy and daddy" their entire life. It will either pass or not and that's ok, really. But maybe she is also trying to be a little girl to her dad because she misses him and doesn't have much time with him? How long have the parents been separated? How often does she see her dad? We would need to get a deeper understanding in order to find an explanation to that behaviour. It might also be that she is a little bit less mature than other kids her age and it's ok. Everybody is different, children (and adults!) become mature at different times. Some adults still behave like kids! Smile
• her needing the attention and not being able to stay still: how old are her siblings and are they around? Being the last of 3 myself, I can tell you that it can feel lonely when your siblings aren't around (both my siblings being in boarding schools when I was little, I pretty much grew up like an only child). I can see how she would be trying to connect with you and your partner if she feels lonely and bored. And yes, children are a handful! Grin Maybe, also, she has ADHD. I often tell that to people because it's still something that we don't instinctively think of...

I hope that I could help, sorry for the essay too Wink please don't hesitate to reply to me here and we can continue with that discussion.

Take care.

BigThunderMountainRailroad · 28/08/2020 08:54

No offence OP but I think you’re a bit naive to how children are. She can’t sit still to watch a movie? Show me a kid who can!

I’m 27, married (with my own baby on the way), and I still call my parents mummy and daddy. It’s really not a big deal!

You’re not a step parent, you’re “daddy’s girlfriend”. It’s not your job to parent those children maybe ever or at least until a time when you’re invited to do so.

In the mean time I would sit back and try to be a bit more chill and lower your expectations. Children are unpredictable!

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