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Step-parenting

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

Im at an all time low

95 replies

MrsWashington · 24/10/2021 16:58

Reposted because I didn't realise there was a step parenting thread.

I really need some support with no judgment am I really at rock bottom.

My daughter is 13 years old and she is mine from a previous relationship.

The relationship between DD and DH is strained. DD attitude, mood swings, door slamming not keeping room tidy, answering back are becoming more and more frequent due to age.

My idea of discipline and DH idea are two different things. He shouts a lot. Not just at DD but at me too if we have a disagreement even though I have told him I do not like the way it makes me feel (nervous, anxious etc)

He claims it’s because he was brought up that way and keeps harping on about when we was growing up, if we behaved the way she does, we would have got smacked.

There have been a few incidents between them both and it came to a head were she was being a stroppy teenager after we took her and her friend out resulting in my husband shouting in the middle of a seaside town we are finished me and you to my daughter, you are nothing but a spoiled brat. He then continued onto say to me I think her Christmas spends should be limited and also went so far as stating she might not be able to come on the family holiday next year. It went too far and the end result is me having a conversation with him stating she's my daughter and I do not like the way you discipline her, I have asked him to back off and let me do it if she misbehaves.

This has all come to a head and he is basically saying it's wrong that in his own home he isn't allowed to discipline her. He states its wrong in his own home he isn't allowed to say anything.

My point being though, she had her friends round, her room ended up being messy, instead of addressing this when her friends had gone, he went into her room when her teenage friends were there saying tidy your room its a mess etc etc instead of asking her when her friends had gone, he doesn't ask he shouts. I pulled him up on this, I have been a teenage girl and would have been that embarrassed if my Dad had done that in front of my friends.

He states that if he asks her once she should do it straightaway. My view is that kids are kids and sometimes they don't jump on demand at the first asking. You do sometimes have to ask a couple of times.

Furthermore, the finance situation we have. We used to split the bills 50/50 which resulted in me being significantly worse off each month as I worked part time and had my daughter to pay for. His response was well its not my fault I earn more than you.

When I did end up getting some maintenance off my DD's dad (few and far between) he used to ask for half. He stated because he also pays to put a roof over her head and food in the fridge. So not only did he have more left each month than me, when I did get some maintenance he used to ask for half the amount.

We ended up getting a joint account were both incomes went in and bills came out.
I have become very conscious of what I spend on me and DD as he goes on the app asking me whats this you've spent (it was cleaning products for the house) he states he is like this because he had nothing growing up. But he never used to be like this.

He bought me an expensive winter jacket this It isn't enjoyable wearing it as it was expensive he has told me to look after it and not hang it on the coat hooks downstairs and to put it on a coat hanger in the wardrobe.

He bought my DD some Nike leggings she wanted and when she misbehaved he was stating look I've bought her them leggings and took her friend out and this is how she behaves.

Sorry for the long post I am just really struggling to see whats normal and whats not anymore. I struggle with anxiety disorder anyway (having treatment for a few years) I'm at an all time low.

OP posts:
SpaceshiptoMars · 24/10/2021 17:08

This guy is so prehistoric, his middle name is Saurus! Does he drag DD by the hair if she annoys him?Shock

You need more financial clout. Could you work fulltime? Also, introduce him to Nonviolent Communication (videos, youtube).

Puppermam · 24/10/2021 17:09

He's abusing you both.

excelledyourself · 24/10/2021 17:15

Get rid of him. He sounds bloody awful.

Your daughter is learning nothing worthwhile from her relationship with him, or yours.

nimbuscloud · 24/10/2021 17:19

Divorce him

whistleryukon · 24/10/2021 17:27

This is appalling. Get out, with your daughter, immediately. I don't know how you have stopped yourself from flying at him when he has treated your daughter the way that he has. And I cannot believe he was taking half of your maintenance.

Lindy2 · 24/10/2021 17:31

She sounds like a normal teenager to me.

Him going into her room when she had friends over is really off. Why on earth would he do that if not to just try and embarrass her or asset control over her. The financial situation is unfair too especially him thinking he's owed her child maintenance.

I'm really sorry OP but it doesn't sound like a good relationship for your daughter or you.

AliceMcK · 24/10/2021 17:35

You need to get this man out of your DDs life. She won’t thank you for staying with him when he treats her like this. If you choose to stay with an abusive man that’s your choice but you should not be inflicting him on your child.

VodselForDinner · 24/10/2021 17:36

This isn’t normal.

He abusing you, and you’re now raising your child in abusive household.

Do you have the resources to leave? Do you have family or friends you can speak to?

PaddleBoardingMomma · 24/10/2021 17:40

I'd be a moody awful teenager too if I was forced to live with a wanker like that.

paisley256 · 24/10/2021 17:41

I couldn't finish the end of your post it made me too frustrated and I'm not living your life. He's awful, please don't jeopardise your relationship with your daughter for this abuser.

MrsWashington · 24/10/2021 17:41

@Lindy2

She sounds like a normal teenager to me.

Him going into her room when she had friends over is really off. Why on earth would he do that if not to just try and embarrass her or asset control over her. The financial situation is unfair too especially him thinking he's owed her child maintenance.

I'm really sorry OP but it doesn't sound like a good relationship for your daughter or you.

Exactly!!! This was my point and argument with him afterwards why on earth would you go in her room whilst her friends were there and tell her off for her room?

I stated if you wanted her to tidy her room ask her but ask her when she's not with her friends, it's embarrassing.

He states he is sick of being told off by me Everytime he asks her to do something. My point is you dont ask you raise your voice and also secondly, I never here you converse with her unless its telling her off.

She is a normal moody grumpy hormonal teenager but this is just the start as shes only just entered her teens.

His opinion now is we should split up because it's absolutely ridiculous he cannot discipline her in is own home as I have told him to back off and let me do it.

He states I'm too soft and beed to come down harder on her and she rungs rings round me.

OP posts:
IDontDrinkTea · 24/10/2021 17:46

Holy hell. Don’t teach your daughter it’s acceptable to be treated like that by someone who’s meant to love you. Get out of there before he Can abuse you more

RaisedByPangolins · 24/10/2021 17:46

Yeah my DP would be out of here like a shot if he spoke to my DCs that way. Yes in his home he should be able to appropriately bring her up if she’s being rude or ask her to help. But no, he shouldn’t be allowed to shout or call her a brat, threaten to withdraw Xmas gifts or make her feel embarrassed in front of her friends.

Get rid of him. He’s a nasty bully and financially he’s possibly abusive or at the very least selfish. He’s adding nothing to your life as a partner here if he’s making you feel anxious and nervous when he’s angry that’s a bad sign. You may have experienced previous abuse to make you feel this way, but that’s all the more reason for him to be respectful of you and DD, not just say “well that’s how I was brought up”.

You know you and DD deserve better than this - whatever is holding you where you are, work around it - be that financial, emotional or practical - and get him out.

KidneyNewName · 24/10/2021 17:48

OP I am not a step parent but I often read on this board and feel quite sorry for step mums and dads who must find it so hard to navigate relationships with their step children.

I very rarely read a thread where I can't see both sides-even the ones where the step parent gets a pile on.

But... he is being absolutely awful to you and your daughter. Forget about the fact that he's her step dad, if he were her dad I would still be saying this is not healthy.

He said His opinion now is we should split up. This is the only thing you've written that he's said that I agree with

He is financially and emotionally abusive and I really hope you start to see this.

RainbowConnection1 · 24/10/2021 17:49

He sounds exactly like my step father. He really resented having a 'cuckoo' in his nest and showed me everyday how much he resented me.

It became worse when he wanted the family to emigrate to New Zealand and I refused to go (my Dad also refused to give permission). He even kicked off the night before my wedding because his family were only invited to the evening bit and couldn't see that was because I wasn't close to them at all. I had to call his parents Mr and Mrs Hissurname!

He and my mum divorced 10 years ago now and it was many years too late for me.

Please put your daughter first!

Tattler2 · 24/10/2021 17:50

OP, if you are going to try to remain in this relationship, you and your husband should get into Counseling as soon.as possible.

In my opinion, it is always a mistake to bring children into a relationship when you are incapable of providing for 100% of their financial support 100% of the time. When you do less than this you make not only yourself but also your children dependent upon your partner's generosity and largess. Loving an adult does not automatically make you willing to support that same adult when they are perfectly capable of supporting themself.

An adult who prefaces every conversation with what happened in his or her childhood is oftentimes an adult whose thought process has not evolved much beyond his or her childhood

Your daughter should be civil and polite to your husband but she will on occasion behave like a thoughtless teenager. There is less of an excuse for your husband to behave like a thoughtless adult.

What exactly are you getting from this relationship that makes the aggravation for all involved to be worth trying to sustain this relationship?

RaisedByPangolins · 24/10/2021 17:50

His opinion now is we should split up because it's absolutely ridiculous he cannot discipline her in is own home as I have told him to back off and let me do it.

He’s right. You should split up, but not because he’s not allowed to discipline her, but because he doesn’t know what is appropriate when dealing with a teenage DSD.

FWIW I still don’t live with my DP after 10 years together because our parenting styles clash - I’m more strict than him and I know it would drive me mad having his DC do as they please and me not being able to ask them to help for fear of being labelled the evil SM. He spends time with my DCs but stays out of disciplining them as the couple of times he’s stepped in it hasn’t gone well! (Turns out he can be strict but only with my kids). So we keep separate houses and separate families. Wouldn’t wish a poorly blended family on anyone - adult or child - so I can totally see where your man is coming from but he’s dealing with it awfully.

KidneyNewName · 24/10/2021 17:53

And as PP said (and I always think this is a good measure)

If in 20 years time your DD came to you and said

'My DH shouts at me all the time'
'My DH is pretty horrible to your granddaughter'
'My DH takes half of your granddaughters maintenance'
'My DH insisted we split everything financially despite him earning more'
'My DH scrutinises my spending so much that I'm scared to buy myself or your granddaughter anything sizeable even though some of the money is mine'
'We walk on eggshells around him'
'My DH embarrasses your granddaughter by shouting at her in front of her friends'
'My DH doesn't see presents as true gifts and holds them over your granddaughter if she misbehaves'

I think you'd be mad as hell and advising she end the relationship immediately.

Notaroadrunner · 24/10/2021 17:55

You'd be better off divorcing him. He sounds horrible.

swanswallow · 24/10/2021 17:57

Your husband is abusing both you and your daughter. You need to leave the relationship whatever way you can, this isn't normal. Flowers

MrsWashington · 24/10/2021 17:59

@RaisedByPangolins

Yeah my DP would be out of here like a shot if he spoke to my DCs that way. Yes in his home he should be able to appropriately bring her up if she’s being rude or ask her to help. But no, he shouldn’t be allowed to shout or call her a brat, threaten to withdraw Xmas gifts or make her feel embarrassed in front of her friends.

Get rid of him. He’s a nasty bully and financially he’s possibly abusive or at the very least selfish. He’s adding nothing to your life as a partner here if he’s making you feel anxious and nervous when he’s angry that’s a bad sign. You may have experienced previous abuse to make you feel this way, but that’s all the more reason for him to be respectful of you and DD, not just say “well that’s how I was brought up”.

You know you and DD deserve better than this - whatever is holding you where you are, work around it - be that financial, emotional or practical - and get him out.

You have really hit the nail on the head here.

OP posts:
MrsWashington · 24/10/2021 18:02

@KidneyNewName

And as PP said (and I always think this is a good measure)

If in 20 years time your DD came to you and said

'My DH shouts at me all the time'
'My DH is pretty horrible to your granddaughter'
'My DH takes half of your granddaughters maintenance'
'My DH insisted we split everything financially despite him earning more'
'My DH scrutinises my spending so much that I'm scared to buy myself or your granddaughter anything sizeable even though some of the money is mine'
'We walk on eggshells around him'
'My DH embarrasses your granddaughter by shouting at her in front of her friends'
'My DH doesn't see presents as true gifts and holds them over your granddaughter if she misbehaves'

I think you'd be mad as hell and advising she end the relationship immediately.

When you have stated it like that it's absolutely terrible I know.

All he can see is that he thinks it's ridiculous he is not allowed to discipline someone in MY home as he stated. MY no mention of me or DD.

When I try and explain I wouldn't mind him asking her to tidy her room or reminding her not to speak to him the way she backchats sometimes but because he doesn't I will not let him discipline her.

He states in his words he 'gets told off' by me for telling her to do something.

He cannot see its not the asking her to do something its the way he does it.

OP posts:
HHSchultz · 24/10/2021 18:02

My God he takes the maintenance, that is a fucking disgrace! Please get rid of him you must put your daughter first. You will severely regret it if you don't.

MrsWashington · 24/10/2021 18:04

I suppose if I'm being entirely honest to everyone else he is such a nice kind person but they dont live with him and see him behind closed doors.

He doesn't speak to anyone else like this apart from his son (he's 17 now) when he was younger and I used to stick up for him too.

I suppose I thought because everyone else said he was nice and kind I felt like I was exaggerating. Its sad I know Sad

OP posts:
Mojoj · 24/10/2021 18:06

You know what you have to do. He's a mean, tight fisted bully who's only adding to your anxiety. You and your daughter deserve to be happy. Start making plans. And leave.