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Step-parenting

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Young adult stepchildren problems

37 replies

Poppy3282 · 14/02/2021 23:40

I'm not sure what I hope to achieve from this post, maybe to just try and get things off my chest, but I honestly feel at breaking point.

I have been married for 8 years, before we were married my husband saw his children every other weekend, everything was fine, we all got on well...

Once we were married I discovered the truth, his ex wife was a horrific mother and the children clearly could not stay with her.

Now, I totally understand why, but without any prior discussion I came home to the children both having been moved into our house.

It's been horrific, my depression and anxiety started shortly after, I am deeply unhappy, I feel nervous and uncomfortable in my own home.

The daughter is now 18 and a compulsive liar, pretending she's been attacked if anything happens she doesn't like, shes stolen money, shes smashed the house up, put herself through a glass door over being refused £20. She vanishes and then gets friends to message my husband saying shes been hurt or attacked or something awful has happened, then she turns back up with no injuries. Shes sold a phone while still being paid by us on a contract, shes accused her bf of awful things, but runs away if anyone tries to stop her seeing him. She threatens self harm, shes vicious and cruel.

The son is 20 and doesnt leave the house, he showers once a week and only after my husband forces him. I can smell him after he leaves a room. The only place he goes is to the corner shop to buy bags and bags of junk food, he quit college with the understanding he would get a job, that never happened. Like his sister he also lies non stop and over the most stupid, unimportant things. He stays up until 4am playing computer games and sleeps all day.

Both of them will just lie as their first reaction to anything. Neither will work. Neither will do anything to help around the house, which I know is nothing unusual for teens but I guess I was just raised very differently, and I've always helped my parents from a young age.

Neither will even acknowledge me if they walk into a room I'm in, but if I'm speaking I've caught them lurking outside the door listening to me.

They have both told their mother personal information about me which shes used to bombard me with abuse.

Obviously no one can at the moment but we moved away from my family, too far to just visit for a day, my family haven't been able to visit since the children moved in, over 4 years now, as their behaviour makes it impossible.

I don't speak anymore, I don't feel able to have private conversations in person or on the phone, I can't have a physical relationship with my husband.

I never get a single moment in the house alone, I don't feel comfortable just existing in my own home, I cant walk around in my pjs, I take my clothes into the bathroom when I shower so I can get dressed before leaving the room.

I feel like a shell of who I was before, and like leaving is the only option I have. I've been distancing myself more and more from my husband in an act of self preservation I guess, our marriage cant survive this much longer.

I don't want my husband to have no contact with his children, but although I keep referring to them as children... in fact neither are children anymore, they are adults.

Can I say at 20 enough is enough? Is that awful of me? I left home at 21 to travel

I just feel like I cant breathe, I miss who I was, I miss laughing, and partly I feel like I was mislead on what I was getting involved in.

OP posts:
RedMarauder · 15/02/2021 11:08

OP I noticed you called your step-children both liars who are unable to deal with consequences, but have you noticed that your husband exhibits the exactly same behaviour?

Anyway you need to leave.

aSofaNearYou · 15/02/2021 11:21

Your husband essentially tricked you into marrying him by not disclosing that all this was brewing. Now he won't talk to you about it and shouts. He does nothing about how badly this affects you.

I dont think you would be unreasonable to give him ultimatum and establish how he plans to handle their adult years, but honestly I would say you should leave this situation, and it would be what he deserves.

BirdyBee · 15/02/2021 11:24

Put yourself first and leave, it's no way to live.

Snowymcsnowsony · 15/02/2021 11:29

He has allowed this to happen. You aren't a priority in your own home. To anyone.
Make yourself important op..
Move out. File for divorce..
Sounds like you will break well before them mentally op..
No marriage is worth that.

AnneLovesGilbert · 15/02/2021 11:31

You’re right, you have to leave ASAP. Do you work? Have your own money? Is there anyone you could stay with while you make plans for somewhere else to live?

It sounds horrendous. Your mental health is in the gutter and that’s inevitable given the outrageous circumstances you’re trying to live in.

I’d try and draw a line in your head and focus on how to get out and what steps you need to take to make that happen. Do you have family or friends you can talk to who can help or support you? Even if you haven’t seen them for a while I hope you can open up and be honest about how shit things are you for. I’d certainly try and support a friend in your situation as much as I could Flowers

TorchesTorches · 15/02/2021 11:53

As others have said, the only viable option is to leave.

He did not minimize the situation to protect you, he did it to trap you. Nothing in his behaviour shows that he prioritises protecting you.

Make a plan. Go into each room in the house and work out what you need to take from that room. Passport, documents, money etc plus minimal clothes. Work out where you will live for a month. The most dangerous moment is when you leave, so have a plan fully in place that you can leave with what you need and quickly and unimpeded. Having set you up to be the house-slave he will not let you go easily. Can you stay with parents? Family? Say that someone is ill and you need to visit?

chocolatesaltyballs22 · 15/02/2021 16:51

I can only agree with what everyone else has already said. I couldn't live like this. Whose house is it? Is it an option for you to kick the three of them out?

VimFuego101 · 15/02/2021 17:17

You, personally, cannot do anything to change this. Only your husband can, and he's shown you he can't/ won't do anything.

Strictlysfinishednow · 15/02/2021 17:45

This sounds truly awful for you op. You really need to leave. They all sound so horrible. You deserve a life

yesitsmewithanewname · 15/02/2021 17:46

So sad to hear this, OP. Who owns the house? Awful to think your only option is to leave as it will no doubt have financial implications, but this sounds like your best option. The only thing I'd add is whether it's possible to formally document this (abuse) somehow, as you may need to be able to prove that you were forced out due to the situation, rather than having simply left by choice. Flowers

breatheslowandtrust · 15/02/2021 20:30

It sounds as if he kept quiet until you were married in the hope that you wouldn't walk away. He knew his ex wasn't coping and the children were being neglected, but did nothing about it until he was sure you would be there, presumably to pick up the wife work. I'd happily skip away from this man, who has contributed to his now psychologically disturbed children.

NotMyPremium · 17/02/2021 01:47

Sounds like your H deliberately pulled the wool over your eyes prior to marriage, then when he'd got that ring on your finger, moved them in without discussion. Even if their home life was as bad as he says, you don't move anyone in without a heads up to your spouse.

I think he knew what he was doing all along. I'd walk away from this shitshow as your MH is not worth it.

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