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DP refusing to help with homeschooling my son

100 replies

dontknowwhatto · 10/01/2021 08:04

Last week was tough. 38/39 weeks pregnant, final week of work before mat leave, then coupled with homeschooling my 8yo (y4), c section booked this week. Work was crazy busy and I often worked late into evening (10pm/11pm). P was available all week (as on holidays) but only helped with our 2yo, point blank says no to homeschooling. I said it's my last week of work , I need help, etc. On Friday morning I was gone for 3 hours at hospital and asked 8yo and P to do homeschool, came back lunchtime and very little was done. Nothing was corrected, lots of gaps in work completed, didn't do a manual spell check with 8yo (instead 8yo did electronic quiz got 4/10 but they didn't do any test/practice before) Meaning my only afternoon 'off' would be filled with homeschool. I got very upset and ended up crying saying I'm feeling so unsupported, all week and now Friday too. He didn't care, ignored me so much so that the first words he spoke to me were I'm going to the shop do you want anything.

So Saturday I tried to raise it with P again, he said he has nothing to apologise about and I said next week I will have newborn, will he help with homeschool then? He point blank refused saying no, if my 8yo doesn't listen then he won't help and P cannot/will not make him sit there and do it. 8yo doesn't just sit there diligently and do work, 8yo needs encouragement and guidance. P then turned it around saying he has nothing more to say about and he told me that he would not help and that's it.

What do you think of all this ?

Ps I have no family support at all, no bubble here. I'm doing on my own (newborn, 2yo abs 8yo) and P is only here til end Jan as he works away for work.

OP posts:
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FoxtrotOscarPoppet · 10/01/2021 08:11

Hi OP. That does sound tough and I’m sorry you’re stressed at such a time.

What has led your partner to feel this way? Has he previously been involved and helpful or has he always maintained a bit of distance?

doctorhamster · 10/01/2021 08:16

So he absolves himself of all responsibility when parenting gets a bit difficult? Will he do the same with his own children, or just yours (I'm assuming from your thread title that the 8yo isn't his)

SendHelp30 · 10/01/2021 08:16

I don’t have any advice other than your DP is an absolute twat. There is no way you’ll be up and about next week to help so he really needs to pull his finger out now. Not engaging in the online learning results in logged absences for my child’s school, I’m not sure how yours works? Make it very clear this is not an extended school holiday. Your child needs to receive their education at home to reduce the spread of a virus, how doesn’t he see this?
Perhaps explain how much of a disadvantage this will be putting your child at; when he returns to school an entire term behind his peers and doesn’t understand the school work because his dad can’t be bothered.

KatherineJaneway · 10/01/2021 08:17

Has his attitude always been like this?

Sorry for what you are going through Flowers

inquietant · 10/01/2021 08:19

I am so sorry you are in this position but this is really awful, especially for your 8yo.

MattWanksock · 10/01/2021 08:40

"He point blank refused saying no, if my 8yo doesn't listen then he won't help and P cannot/will not make him sit there and do it. 8yo doesn't just sit there diligently and do work, 8yo needs encouragement and guidance."

Is your 8 year old being a bit of a shit about homeschooling? Could you talk to him about it? Could he look after the newborn while you do the homeschooling?

Your DP is being unreasonable. We can't pick and choose which aspects of parenting he does and doesn't do. Could you talk to your 8 year old? Help him have a better attitude to learning? Last year homeschooling was a shit show but this year with the zoom lessons etc my DD is attentively sitting and doing it. It's taken some work but it's doable.

Not saying the issue lies with your 8 year old. Just saying it may help.

LatentPhase · 10/01/2021 09:03

I’m aghast that you’re at such a vulnerable time and he is leaving you doing it all. I feel for you.

How does he feel about your ds, in general?

Plussizejumpsuit · 10/01/2021 09:06

Sorry you're having another child with him opFlowers

How is he I'm general with parenting?

ineedaholidaynow · 10/01/2021 09:06

How long will he be away for?

Is it just homeschooling he has an issue with?

Mintyt · 10/01/2021 09:08

How is he in general with the 8y old.

naomi81 · 10/01/2021 09:13

Can 8yrs dad not help? Really feel for you, hope you have now finished work for maternity. Maybe ring the teacher and have a chat about your situation to calm your mind. Personally looking after a 2 year old and having to home school an 8 year old at the same time would be hard work 😓 Xx

funinthesun19 · 10/01/2021 09:31

Where is your son’s dad in all of this?

HNY2021 · 10/01/2021 09:41

I don’t expect my DP to homeschool my son, he’s not his son.

Don’t worry too much about it, he’ll catch up enjoy your new baby.

funinthesun19 · 10/01/2021 09:42

Personally looking after a 2 year old and having to home school an 8 year old at the same time would be hard work 😓

Oh I can confirm it is! I have a 2 year old and trying to look after her while homeschooling a 5 year old and a 9 year old. I cannot imagine what it would be like with a newborn too.

I think he really does need to help out here. This is a clear example of where the dynamics of being a stepdad is so completely different to being a stepmum. The op is in a very vulnerable position and cannot do absolutely everything. He needs to help his newborn and 2 year old indirectly, by helping the op’s 8 year old to do his work as this will ease the pressure on op.

If this was a stepmum being asked to do homeschooling I would be saying it’s not her problem. Because the man (the dad) will never be in that vulnerable position. She’d be likely to be the one juggling a newborn and a 2 year old already, never mind homeschooling a stepchild.

funinthesun19 · 10/01/2021 09:48

Op is there any chance your ds could be in school?

Onlinedilema · 10/01/2021 09:50

Hi op can you message the teacher and explain that you are about to give birth and are finding it very difficult to get your 8 year old to sit and do their work. This will at least let the teacher know, obviously they won't be able to offer any solution. Be kind to yourself. Tell your dp to look after the baby and toddler whilst you spend some time with your older child. Don't forget your 8 year old might be feeling resentful that you are having another baby too. What usually happens when your dp has to work away?

CC2021 · 10/01/2021 09:54

Where is your DS's Dad? Sorry but no way am I getting involved in homeschooling my DSD. She doesn't listen, won't sit still, argues, refuses to do it. As a stepmum, there is only so much I can do. I don't blame him for not wanting to force him to do it.

SimonJT · 10/01/2021 10:02

Surely generally he should be responsible for the two year old and you should be for the eight year old as the eight year old isn’t his child. When the baby is here surely he will care for the baby and two year old so you can focus on homeschooling until your partner is back at work.

An eight year old can largely look after themselves, if their school work isn’t perfect nothing bad will happen. You also can’t effectively care for a two year old and effectively homeschool, so in that scenario I would want the two year old to be prioritised and I would want some strict ground rules to be applied to the eight year old, if they do not have additional needs at eight they are capable of sitting and listening well for 20-30 minutes at a time.

What plan do you have in place for the eight year olds homeschooling when your partner is back at work?

My partner homeschooled my five year old for two days this week, this isn’t a suitable longterm solution so from next week I have made alternative arrangements. I didn’t at all expect him to do those two days no did I expect him to offer.

SpongebobNoPants · 10/01/2021 10:26

I’m sorry you’re having such a hard time OP.

But I get the feeling there is a big backstory to this?
Be honest with yourself...
What is the relationship like between DP and your son?
Is your son respectful, kind and well behaved generally with your DP? Or is he rude, challenging, doesn’t listen to him etc?

If it’s the latter then I 100% support your partner in stepping away from trying to homeschool him. An 8 yr old shouldn’t be too hard to engage with an encourage to do their work so is there something more going on?

I wouldn’t homeschool my SCs and would probably avoid the topic like your DP has. Let’s get it into perspective... he hasn’t been mean to your child or said anything unkind to either you or him, but he clearly doesn’t want or feel comfortable taking on the responsibility for homeschooling him. And that’s ok because he’s your child, not his.

There will be a reason for this, you need to be honest with yourself and really think about how your son interacts with your DP.

Get your DP to take more responsibility for your 2yo. If you’re busy homeschooling and a newborn then your DP can be responsible for feeding and entertaining your joint toddler.

I think asking a stepparent to homeschool their SC is unreasonable to be honest. Unless they normally have a fantastic relationship and your child is easy to teach then I think it’s unfair to delegate that task to him.

Where is your son’s dad in all of this? Why isn’t he stepping up to help out?

SendHelp30 · 10/01/2021 10:31

I’ve just re read the OP as I seem to of completely missed the part where her partner isn’t her sons dad 🙈

SpongebobNoPants · 10/01/2021 10:33

Just wanted to add that I have 2 DCs I’m homeschooling whilst working a full time job but I wouldn’t ask DP to help because they’re not his children. I just have to juggle it all.

Sometimes they get all their schoolwork done, sometimes they don’t and we play catch up another day. As long as your DS keeps up with his maths and reading that’ll be enough to suffice.

Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Lots of parents are struggling with homeschooling and the teachers/schools are very sympathetic towards situations like yours.

Your DS is only in yr4, he’s got plenty of time to catch up before SATS in yr6.
Cut yourself and your family some slack. Everyone’s mental health is important too.

SpongebobNoPants · 10/01/2021 10:36

@MattWanksock
Your DP is being unreasonable. We can't pick and choose which aspects of parenting he does and doesn't do
Actually he can because he isn’t the child’s parent. I certainly pick and choose what aspects of parenting I want to get involved in with regards to my SCs. I’m not their parents, my role is purely on a voluntary basis.

He is however obliged to parent the 2yo and newborn when he/she arrives.

Azerothi · 10/01/2021 10:43

Your boyfriend isn't your child's father or indeed stepfather. Is your child's own father on the scene? Could he not help you or is he shirking those responsibilities?

Why do you think it is your boyfriend's responsibility to home school your child and not his own father?

chipsandpeas · 10/01/2021 10:47

@SendHelp30

I’ve just re read the OP as I seem to of completely missed the part where her partner isn’t her sons dad 🙈
she refers to the 2yr old as ours and the 8yr old as mine

so thats why posters are assuming

MattWanksock · 10/01/2021 10:51

@SpongebobNoPants I'm not a step parent so my point may be invalid. I don't think it's reasonable to have children with someone who has a child and they are treated any differently to each other depending on who the dad is

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