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Struggling

88 replies

kids123456 · 11/05/2021 23:05

Hello,

Can anyone give me some guidance please. So I have been with my partner a year now, we live in separate houses, he's currently in a 2 bed flat since his second wife left and I have my house from when my ex left. He is buying a house this year and it'll be 4 bedrooms so his two children will have a room each and my kids will have W room to stay in too so they don't have to use his children's beds when we stay duen the week or make up makeshift beds on the floor with mattresses if his kids are there. They stay every Sunday and Monday.

To begin with I got in really well with them they are 7 and 9, never really a issue but now I am just noticing more. So for example they have their own sofa seperate from him so they can wiggle and do what they want yet if my kids go over they can use it if his kids aren't there but he doesn't really like it as it's 'the girls' sofa. So he's bought them bean bags and then when in the bigger house will look for perhaps another sofa, then it's chargers I can't use a phone charger W wise it's the girls charger even though it's when they aren't there. Everything has to be left in set places so toothbrushes over the taps, towels on a certain hook, their sofa however they left it. We are looking to move in together and I just find this mad. Aibu? They only eat 4 set meals donr like anything else I keep saying he really needs to get them to try new things and it helps their mum out but he doesn't so we always have the same things and it's getting boring. The eldest constantly kicks off if she doesn't get her own way or if I am holding his hand abs then makes sly digs, latest was this weekend my eldest child was kicking off so I was disciplining him and her response was 'if your nicer to your kids they would be better behaved' I was so angry. And he's been complaining as my 3 year is is struggling to eat with his mouth closed so now the daughter comments and refuses to eat her food abs it's like my son is trying. I love them to bits abs I know it's not their fault but how do I get my Partnee to see he needs to be firmer. Not give in and by takeaway as she got upset we took W picnic as we went to play golf. Doesn't help I do speak with his first wife (their mum a lot) as we do get on well abs she also finds it makes things difficult for her. He makes comments how he pays mummy all this money and she gets hers given ro her by the government and him and some work. All because he knows what I am entitled to abs he believes it's wrong we get what we get UC. Or it's just other digs his comes out with that they say to their mum. He thinks it doesn't cost much extra to have them 5 nights a week then the 2 he does so doesn't understand why we get given all this money as he puts it. I tried to show him how far it goes but he won't listen.

Don't really know what I want to get from this other than a rant ha just frustrating he comments that I drop my son to his dad yet the girls mum drop them off to him every Sunday. I am apparently not potty training my son quick enough but it's like your kids have major flaws too. Throwing tantrums as they don't get their own way, barely eat anything, stros abs doesn't go sleep when she's there so he can't talk on the phone to me. I do understand why their last step mum did find it hard. I suppose I feel so pushed to one side as he never really messages when they are there or if I do stay we can't even have sex and adult time irs just annoying

OP posts:
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babytops · 11/05/2021 23:19

In the nicest possible way- it's not worth it.

And I say this as a second wife with a now 11 year old stepson. Even with none of the strange stuff your partner is doing, or the horrible stuff he's saying to you - it's been hard.

He doesn't sound like a nice man and you can do better. I can't really think of any practical advice as he will not change.

Magda72 · 11/05/2021 23:25

I agree. I think he doesn't sound like a nice person at all & I would imagine his behaviour & the dynamic between him & his dc is the reason his second wife left.
I'm not trying to throw judgement on you op but 7 & 9 is quite young to have experienced your parents breaking up plus two other significant relationships in your dad's life.

kids123456 · 11/05/2021 23:31

I agree it's hard for them, unfortunately his first wife moved back down my way when he youngest was 6 months old abs they tried again but she wasn't happy so for the youngest she doesn't remember it and perhaps irs why she is the easier of the two. It's just bed times they take 2 hours of muxking about to sleep, the spend all day on iPad which I hate as I don't let mine as they just then don't communicate. His second wife I worked with as I worked with him but she had a few affairs and left so it could be to do with it all she never had kids though so I think she found it hard

OP posts:
kids123456 · 11/05/2021 23:34

He was so good with my kids to begin with, I was never hone much for my youngest It was my ex who was more so there is a lot f work I have had to do with my youngest this last year. When his children aren't around he can be genuinely really nice and buying 4bed instead of 3 so my kids would have a room, but then he made me feel unreasonable as I said I'd we moved in full time I would like the bigger room for my kids as they live their full time abs he was funny about it x

OP posts:
lydia2021 · 11/05/2021 23:46

Life is too short.... put your kids first and their happiness. If you split later.. you and your kids will be looking for a new home. I guarantee it...he will prob say his kids must eat first due to your sons eating with mouth open. It does not sound like a sorted blended family. He is undermining you and your kids. Stay in your own home and live in a stable home life for your kids. Men come and go, kids are forever. Dont fuck your kids future up with this idiotic controlling man.

Guavafish · 12/05/2021 03:51

I would suggest you don’t move in! Keep your own place and give your kids a home with mum. If you move in... things will get worse. You will not blend well. What until the kids are older.

I think you should back off about his parenting style with regards to food etc, it’s difficult to change those habits. Also communicate better by asking him not to comment on your finances/UC.

sassbott · 12/05/2021 07:21

Stay in your two bed flat. This sounds absolutely hideous. You surely cannot think it is healthy for your children to move into a home where they cannot touch things/ sit on things/ the older children are taking sly digs.

Can I ask - what does this guy bring to the table that you’re even considering allowing your children to be treated this way? If someone told me my children couldn’t sit on the sofa their kids sat on? I’d respect and accept it but my kids and I would also be leaving that house and returning to one where they can sit ok any sofa they wish (mine).

chocolatesaltyballs22 · 12/05/2021 07:29

I'd be worried about the fact that he's already been divorced twice tbh. And his behaviour over his kids things sounds very odd. Your kids can't sit on a sofa because it's his girls?! Very weird.

user648482729 · 12/05/2021 07:38

So what are his good points? I can’t quite get my head around your kids not being allowed on a sofa that no one is on and having to sit on bean bags! If you move in together then it’ll be that it’s “his house” and he’ll make all the decisions and you’ll be stuck.
I also wouldn’t be with anyone who thinks it’s ok to criticise their DCs mum in front of their DC; it makes it even worse that he’s having a dig at you when he does that too.

blissfulllife · 12/05/2021 07:39

My ex allowed his wife to treat our children much like you're allowing this man to treat yours. Not allowed to touch her kids things, her kids had to be prioritised over his constantly. Her kids had to have loads more spent on them, had no boundaries but our kids had to follow rules and she constantly pulled them up on behaviour. It was a confusing time for them. Even though they were married and lived together and had 4 bedrooms she insisted on her children having a room each and our children slept on blow up beds downstairs. She had three girls, wouldn't of hurt two to share so her step kids felt welcome no?. Anyway last straw was her having new furniture and making my son sleep on the dining room floor so he didn't mess her living room up!. That's the road you're going down. I only allowed any of this as mine were teenagers and had to make their own choice to stay with dad. Trust me after the dining room floor incident none stayed again. Lots of resentment against their dad still for putting them through that and not sticking up for them.

MzHz · 12/05/2021 07:41

RUN

FOR

THE

HILLS!

MzHz · 12/05/2021 07:43

For the love of all things holy don’t move in with him, leave him and his kids to themselves and you and your little ones will be a lot happier
YOU must KNOW this isn’t right? How could you think any of this is normal?

Bin him. He’s trash.

EsmeeMerlin · 12/05/2021 08:02

So dump him. Seriously there should not be this many problems only 1 year into a relationship. It’s not worth it.

nimbuscloud · 12/05/2021 08:07

Please do not do this to your children. Or his children for that matter.

ThatIsMyPotato · 12/05/2021 08:20

It's only been a year. Don't rush into moving in. In fact I would end it personally as I wouldn't want my kids living somewhere they couldn't sit on a sofa etc. The children need more than a year of infrequent contact to get comfortable with each other.

UhtredRagnarson · 12/05/2021 08:23

Run like the wind!!

kids123456 · 12/05/2021 08:34

We will be staying more potnetionally at his house when it goes through and I will keep my house, his is the flat.

He can be really good with my kids when his aren't around he does really well with my older son and is very accepting as my youngest barely sees his dad so we don't get much time just the two of us. But we do just click in areas; same likes and when the kids are all in bed he's just comfortable to be around, he's helped me personally through so much this last year, he has always had people leave he ended up adopted as his parents left, the exes have left and he has said he is just trying to protect himself. I understand financially it's probably a kick in the teeth that he works full time, pays maintenance and stil expected to fund a house etc on a single wage and he still has the kids whilst for example his ex works barely any hours and gets given so much from government abs then is Costantly asking him for more money everytime, and he's been on furlough so hasn't received a top up as doesn't qualify for UC.

The boys would have their own sofa if we moved in as the house he's looking at is not enough. I just don't know whether I perhaps am expecting too much too soon from him or whether kt will just get worse or what can I say to try and change it.

OP posts:
lunar1 · 12/05/2021 08:39

Don't kid yourself, if you do this, it's for you and you only. It won't make a happy childhood for your boys.

ThatIsMyPotato · 12/05/2021 08:42

I understand financially it's probably a kick in the teeth that he works full time, pays maintenance and stil expected to fund a house etc on a single wage and he still has the kids whilst for example his ex works barely any hours and gets given so much from government abs then is Costantly asking him for more money everytime, and he's been on furlough so hasn't received a top up as doesn't qualify for UC

This all has absolutely nothing to do with the way he is treating your children compared to his.

There is nothing you can do to try and change it.

ThatIsMyPotato · 12/05/2021 08:44

He can be really good with my kids when his aren't around and? When his kids are around he isn't. How is that any good for anyone? It sounds like his eldest isn't ready for someone to move in either.

UhtredRagnarson · 12/05/2021 08:47

he has always had people leave he ended up adopted as his parents left, the exes have left and he has said he is just trying to protect himself. I understand financially it's probably a kick in the teeth that he works full time, pays maintenance and stil expected to fund a house etc on a single wage and he still has the kids whilst for example his ex works barely any hours and gets given so much from government abs then is Costantly asking him for more money everytime

Oh stop! Would you ever listen to yourself. You’re selling yourself his lines.

Spandang · 12/05/2021 08:52

The boys would have their own sofa if we moved in as the house he's looking at is not enough. I just don't know whether I perhaps am expecting too much too soon from him or whether kt will just get worse or what can I say to try and change it.

They shouldn’t have to have their own sofa. They should be allowed on a sofa. Why can’t you see that that’s wrong?

You’re going to be entangled with a man who will always treat you and your children as second class citizens. His daughter knows it, that’s why she’s treating you like you’re beneath her and she’s getting away with it.

If you want it to change, you have to change. You have to pipe up. You have to say actually the kids can sit on the sofa and you have to see what his response is. You have to use the phone charger and say ‘it’s a phone charger, so what?’.

You are not taking up your space and your place in his home, in his family and in his life and frankly the longer you allow that to happen the worse it will be. And only when you take up that space and he says ‘you can’t do that, it’s my house rah rah rah’ will you see what an awful person he is.

Spandang · 12/05/2021 08:57

he has always had people leave he ended up adopted as his parents left, the exes have left
Lots of people leave other people and they learn to trust new people.

I understand financially it's probably a kick in the teeth that he works full time, pays maintenance and stil expected to fund a house etc on a single wage and he still has the kids whilst for example his ex works barely any hours and gets given so much from government abs then is Costantly asking him for more money

Great. Why doesn’t he take 50% responsibility for his kids under a shared care order and then pay no maintenance? If he thinks it’s that easy or cheap to have kids why doesn’t he actually own his responsibilities?

kids123456 · 12/05/2021 08:59

He is good with my kids but puts his main attention on his children when they are there. Sorry for the confusion.

Thanks guys you have all helped, I think a discussion is definilty needed

OP posts:
ThatIsMyPotato · 12/05/2021 09:16

I know it probably sounds a minor thing but the sofa thing sends a really strong message to your kids that they will always be second best when his kids are there. It is fine to prioritise your own kids but not over day to day arrangements like where they sit! They are being treated like 2nd class in what should be their own home.

I hope your discussion is that it's over or at the very least that things need to change and you don't move in for a year or two

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