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Step-parenting

Connect with other Mumsnetters here for step-parenting advice and support.

Looking for advice on a situation

25 replies

XStaysee · 27/07/2021 20:33

So recently my other half and his ex had the final court date in regards to thier daughter and it's been agreed that she's staying with us which is fantastic. Now comes the tricky part.....starting contact again with her mum......it has been her choice to not contact him mum once she decided to live with us and her mum well.....i think in 12 months she called her once or maybe twice? And text roughly 3/4 times. I honestly don't know what kind of mother can drive away thier daughter and then not try to contact?

Anyway....

As you can guess, we've had to deal with years of issues her mum has caused, she has revealed that she wanted to kill herself many times when in her mothers care, including once climbing out her window and wanting to fall out and kill herself. She was locked out of the house for family to smoke stuff, told to just stay in her room.....I mean the list goes on.

Since being with us she is alot happier but her biggest issue is telling tales and blaming others, so like she took money from a friends brothers money jar and when caught she blaimed the friend, now we know kids can say things but my step daughter was straight faced and stuck to her story yet her friend was in floods of tears and so upset and he knew her mum from years ago to know this kid wasnt lieing and the brother even saw her do it and told him to keep quiet yet she stuck to her story. The father also told us on this same visit she sat in the road as cars came, he had to pull her from the road....she denied it, he was lieing she said, she also refused to come home from the park where they were playing football as it reminded her of her grandads death a year to the day who got knocked down as they played football.....she denied saying this but why would adults who have known her since she was like 4 years old make up things like this?

She has also had conversations with older men on things such snapchat including conversations about sex/rape and other things which she blaimed on her friend.

She's just never wanting to admit, apologise or anything, even school have said that when she is pulled up on things she tries to sway the teachers into her way of thinking....like me and her dad have done all we can, got as much support in place as possible but we know now that starting back contact with her mum will bring everything back to the surface.....has anyone else had a step child in this position with the issues from ex and the tales and lieing? I mean it's damaging friendships, it's putting huge stress on her dad like massively he has really really struggled to cope so I am trying to support her and him but it's damn stressful as well as full time work.

[Edited by MNHQ to redact names]

OP posts:
pumpkinpie01 · 27/07/2021 21:04

I have never been in your situation but didn't want to read and run . She had had a very traumatic neglectful time , had ds he had any counselling?

breakfasty · 27/07/2021 21:10

I think counselling might help. She's had a lot on in her life.

XStaysee · 27/07/2021 21:14

She has counselling in school, has seen CAHMS and is due for one to one counselling once a space becomes available and we have had family counselling (the 3 of us) once a month for about 5 months now.

OP posts:
bogoffmda · 27/07/2021 21:16

She knows no different and her upbringing can not be over ridden quickly.
She needs counselling and patience .

Good that she is finally in a safe place where work can start to repair the damage done. As frustrating as it is - yelling and punishment is not going to work. She needs explanations and patience and to learnt o understand this type of behaviour is wrong and will not get the attention she obviously craves.

breakfasty · 27/07/2021 21:17

@XStaysee

She has counselling in school, has seen CAHMS and is due for one to one counselling once a space becomes available and we have had family counselling (the 3 of us) once a month for about 5 months now.
Thats good, do you feel it's helping? It's going to take a long time so be patient.
XStaysee · 27/07/2021 22:03

@bogoffmda it's been hard, there has been shouting sometimes but not that much, it's more been if she's raised her voice to her dad he does it to get things back under control but in our entire almost 7 year relationship he's only raised his voice maybe 5 times in that entire time, it takes alot haha

OP posts:
XStaysee · 27/07/2021 22:06

@breakfasty the family one? Not so much, she likes to say what they want to hear, not the truth and we know it, she's become distant on the sessions.

The school one she doesnt like as he keeps telling her to call her mum, when she gets wound up and tells him no she then gets told off for getting wound up, it's hard for her.

Camhs were fine, they recommended the one to one counselling but not through them, we are still waiting to get her a counsellor for that.

OP posts:
candlelightsatdawn · 28/07/2021 18:11

Therapy sounds like a good plan - it can take a while but worth it.

I think that the lying needs to be corrected because she's clearly had a lot going on and not had the boundaries in her mums care. If you know she's lying over a subject, tell her you love her but because of that lie x will happen (loss of privilege ect) and follow through each time.

Sounds like she's got a safe spot but now needs the boundaries that she never had. Seems to me like she's testing you to see how much you love her.

Really hard. Watch her like a hawk, sounds like her mum never cared enough to do that and now she's vulnerable to all sorts.

XStaysee · 28/07/2021 22:30

@candlelightsatdawn

Therapy sounds like a good plan - it can take a while but worth it.

I think that the lying needs to be corrected because she's clearly had a lot going on and not had the boundaries in her mums care. If you know she's lying over a subject, tell her you love her but because of that lie x will happen (loss of privilege ect) and follow through each time.

Sounds like she's got a safe spot but now needs the boundaries that she never had. Seems to me like she's testing you to see how much you love her.

Really hard. Watch her like a hawk, sounds like her mum never cared enough to do that and now she's vulnerable to all sorts.

Well we spoke with the family counsellor today and we brought up the lieing and tales and our theories but my step daughter denied anything was wrong and she isnt lieing or telling tales....yet the counsellor daid your dad, step mum and school teachers can't all be wrong....she also said her friend does the same and gets into trouble for it, so when asked if she's not seeing what she does as the same, she said no.....she also thinks it's a phase so she is sorta knowing she's doing it but also not? It's confusing.

She has admitted she feels safe here and can rely on many people, but she doesnt seem to be ready yet to say everything thats happened....one of my theories is something awful happened to her back home hence why she is talking rape and having shall we say, very adult conversations.....so part of me wonders did something happen to her and this is her letting it out so to speak? It's just a theory of mine.

OP posts:
candlelightsatdawn · 29/07/2021 10:12

@XStaysee if something like that did happen then I feel for you and very much for your DSD. V v sorry. Lying is a form of trying to retain control. Rape is very much about the control of another and the victim loses all control. It's not a excuse for the behaviour but it is certainly a good dammed reason.

I would recommend talking your daughter to learn about horses or horse therapy - that's a thing back where I'm from not sure if it is here ? (riding lessons maybe ?) learning about their care means exercise a level of control for their benefit and the owners. It shows that it has to be a partnership and it teaches independence and empathy rolled into one.

Horses are funny creatures they have a second sense on people, especially children.

I had a horse called Rocky who was a big boy and strong but for all his strength, soft as anything around kids. He could have dragged the kids around but he was very gentle. He used to be a therapy horse for kids who have suffered neglect and non nerotypical behaviour. He worked wonders with them. Boundaries where also taught with the kids because they didn't want to turn or upset the horse.

Honestly have a look !

Keep boundaries firm but fair, this one will test you to see how much you love her. Love her through the boundary pushing and keep pointing out why the lying will be detrimental socially and otherwise.

Reluctantstepmom · 30/07/2021 08:13

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clickychicky · 30/07/2021 08:43

@Reluctantstepmom you might want to start your own thread. But you're not a horrible person, kids just aren't for you. I'm surprised you've decided to be a stepmum so presumably it wasn't always that way? Teenagers are tricky.

Youseethethingis · 30/07/2021 09:27

@Reluctantstepmom
You've just admitted you're trying to bully a 15 year old child out of her own home, even though she's down nothing at all wrong.
Most people would feel pretty horrible about that.
I don't think this is is the right relationship for you at all. If you are this miserable then you are not alone in your misery.

clickychicky · 30/07/2021 09:33

I go out of my way to make her feel unwelcome. actually.. just read this bit. I think you need to rethink your relationship. This behaviour is not on.

Reluctantstepmom · 30/07/2021 11:15

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Youseethethingis · 30/07/2021 11:20

If you ignore her and go out of your way to make her feel unwelcome in her home, that is bullying.
Sorry if you don't like to think of yourself that way but that's what it is.

clickychicky · 30/07/2021 11:22

You go out your way to make your partner's child unwelcome. That's different to being indifferent but civil.

clickychicky · 30/07/2021 11:23

Can you imagine living somewhere where you are ignored and actively made to feel unwelcome? That's psychological abuse.

candlelightsatdawn · 30/07/2021 11:44

I'm all for the pile on to reluctantstepmum
because that's not ok behaviour, and I understand difficult teenagers

But can we not let this thread get hijacked from the OP having read what she's been through with her SD people might get confused and start on at the OP. Just a polite message so people don't confuse the two

@Reluctantstepmom you want to start your own thread. Rock on. It won't go well I can assure you. One thing having distance between your SC and your life, it's quite another to purposely make a child's life miserable

Youseethethingis · 30/07/2021 11:49

@candlelightsatdawn
Absolutely right, just felt that needed to be said bluntly and quickly. Nothing further to add.

clickychicky · 30/07/2021 12:30

Yes apologies OP.

XStaysee · 30/07/2021 23:18

[quote candlelightsatdawn]@XStaysee if something like that did happen then I feel for you and very much for your DSD. V v sorry. Lying is a form of trying to retain control. Rape is very much about the control of another and the victim loses all control. It's not a excuse for the behaviour but it is certainly a good dammed reason.

I would recommend talking your daughter to learn about horses or horse therapy - that's a thing back where I'm from not sure if it is here ? (riding lessons maybe ?) learning about their care means exercise a level of control for their benefit and the owners. It shows that it has to be a partnership and it teaches independence and empathy rolled into one.

Horses are funny creatures they have a second sense on people, especially children.

I had a horse called Rocky who was a big boy and strong but for all his strength, soft as anything around kids. He could have dragged the kids around but he was very gentle. He used to be a therapy horse for kids who have suffered neglect and non nerotypical behaviour. He worked wonders with them. Boundaries where also taught with the kids because they didn't want to turn or upset the horse.

Honestly have a look !

Keep boundaries firm but fair, this one will test you to see how much you love her. Love her through the boundary pushing and keep pointing out why the lying will be detrimental socially and otherwise.
[/quote]
I know an older brother attempted stuff years ago and she has shared a room with her sister when she's had boyfriends over and.....as sickening as it is to say....her mum and her mums partner (another woman) used to kiss my step daughter goodnight which is all well and good but they used too stick thier tongues out when they did it.

She tried it with me once and I just recoiled back and was like "what? No no no" so as she was saying bye to us and I walked out to the front door in shock about to say something, she did it to her dad and hell no she didn't......we didn't blaim her or tell her off but in no uncertain terms said it was to stop NOW and when reported to social her social worker spoke with the mum and partner who said it was "just a game" and they'd stop it.

We all agreed if it was the other way around and he did it, he'd be doing time.

OP posts:
Reluctantstepmom · 30/07/2021 23:19

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candlelightsatdawn · 31/07/2021 14:23

@XStaysee this made me feel a bit sick reading this. Man or women you don't do this to a child 😭

I'm so sorry your dealing with this and your poor SD she deserves better from her mum 😭😭 of all people.
Definitely look into animal therapy I did you not it really does help esp of the child has right become unable to trust adults.

@Reluctantstepmom stop trying to fight on another's post. Create your own and people will definitely respond...

XStaysee · 31/07/2021 14:46

[quote candlelightsatdawn]@XStaysee this made me feel a bit sick reading this. Man or women you don't do this to a child 😭

I'm so sorry your dealing with this and your poor SD she deserves better from her mum 😭😭 of all people.
Definitely look into animal therapy I did you not it really does help esp of the child has right become unable to trust adults.

@Reluctantstepmom stop trying to fight on another's post. Create your own and people will definitely respond... [/quote]
Yeah needless to say it's been alot to have happened in the approx 7 years we've been together, other step mum has threatened to smash her phone as she "mopped the floors wrong" which is just so wrong.

She has witnessed physical fights between her mum and step mum (yet they are still together) and just yeah.

I will look into animal therapy as she does like animals, went to my parents yesterday and one of the cats who isnt keen on being moved when he's sleeping to another spot, I moved him from outside where he was asleep on the swing seat and carried him through the house and plonked him on her lap and he just stayed there and like rolled over for belly rubs, he very rarely does that, he is a very placid cat and will put up with pretty much anything, except being disturbed from sleep and moved haha but he loved being with her and she's got high energy and the cats are used to just my parents and an easy calm life haha

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