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Step-parenting

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I’m starting to dislike my step daughter

201 replies

Ashlea22 · 21/01/2022 02:36

Warning long post!!

So me and my partner have been together 7 years, he has 2 (11.13) from previous relationship (split when both children were under 2) we also have 3 together. We have the girls 50/50 split with their mum and since the day I met them, his eldest has taken a dislike to me.

I am in my late 20s much younger than their mum, so I’m unsure if that’s perhaps part of the problem. She’s obsessed with her dad that’s only way to say it, but he’s literally the best thing since sliced bread to her and can’t do any wrong. So originally I assumed you know, evil step mum taking dad away narrative is normal maybe for young kids?

Her behaviour towards me I’ve put up with it for so long now, I feel like I can’t! She screams at me constantly, I mean screams! In my face in front of my family, friends it doesn’t matter who. Its always been this way, I stopped tidying for her room because she would go mental that I touched her things.

She will come in the door il say hiya or ask her how she is, immediately she will start screaming at me so now I say nothing at all, if I sit in front of the car beside her dad she’ll refuse to get into car start shouting and crying till I move. If I sit next to her dad she’ll physically try to push me out the seat and starts an argument, over past few years she’s started to swear at me.

Bad words like I’ve never called anyone half the things she calls me daily, I regularly get called a bitch, asshole, witch, horrible, I get told to fuck off, or worse once to go die. She has slammed doors actually on me, pushed me, once she slapped my back as I was leaving her room, she puts horrible tik toks up about me, she tells people I abuse the pets and her, that I don’t feed her(we actually almost weigh the same so when she is pushing me she is strong).

She says I ignore her, that she doesn’t get anything, she says the most horrific things about me and to me, she has called me a retard because I have an impairment. She’ll tell her mum these stories that are just lies about things that I’ve done or said she must think I’m a monster!

She also said horrific things about her mums new boyfriend what he was supposedly doing, that I had to talk to her mum/dad because I was so worried about it. later she said I made it all up, Her sister had heard her telling me so thankfully told them I was saying the truth. She says things like she wishes her dad would cheat on me so I’d leave.

on the contrast her sister spends more time with me than her dad (not saying she’s a saint all time just a typical kid who has moments) but she looks forward to seeing me spending time with me etc.

Example 12th birthday I spent hundreds of pounds and hours doing up her room, so when she went to secondary it would be nice. She picked everything she wanted, she told me how she wanted it and I did it exactly like that. When she seen it for first time she took a huge tantrum screaming, swearing I was so upset.

For her 13th she insisted she didn’t want a party then morning of her birthday she changed her mind. I spend the rest of the day running around getting stuff for her friends, the cake she wanted, decorating, food etc only for her to lock herself in the bathroom and tell me to fuck off when I asked her what was wrong.

She is really mean to her all siblings, she will physically hurt them even being 5 and 3,3. She threatens them, screams at them If I ever try to give her into trouble for something, it results in world war 3.

It feels like I’m being bullied that sounds so stupid but it does. It’s so confusing because she’ll come tell me things she wouldn’t even tell her mum, she take takes my clothes, make up, she’ll ask me about boys etc one minute then next I’m evil again. I think she genuinely believes that she has a bad life.

All birthday Christmas presents/parties I do it comes from me and she knows that so will tell me what she wants, then call me a bitch later that night. All days out/holidays are me, I always do stuff for the kids, I try really hard for them all of them. I would never get one with out the other. I feel like I’m the only one that find it actually really wrong that a child is even allowed to talk to someone like that!

I’m not saying I’m perfect because I’m not, I was young when I met them I probably made loads of mistakes which is why this has happened. I’m in a house of 5 kids so there are many times over the years when I have just snapped, been grumpy or I have lost it and stormed out because I’m sick of it. Everyone says to me they’d of left by now how do I put up with it, that the worst thing I done to her was just be with her father.

What upsets me most is my kids have started to copy the way she treats me and they have started swearing at me to get what they want ,says I’m horrible, a bad mum that they hate me too.

I’ve tried and tried so many times to talk to my partner about it, even though he agrees she shouldn’t be doing that nothings done apart from a shouting match between him/her. It will normally end in an argument between me and him, I’m literally at the point of leaving only thing that worries me is her behaviour towards the kids.

(Worth noting she confided in me that she was depressed a few years back, which is why I think I’ve sort of took it on the chin most time with her outbursts. I tried to get her mum and dad to get her into counselling, made doctors appointments, anxiety treatment, I’m only one who kept pushing for her to get help. I feel sorry for her if she feels like that as I’ve had mental health issues, I love her but she’s making me dislike her. if that makes sense, which is a horrible thing to say and makes me sad even writing it)

OP posts:
Potatopotate · 21/01/2022 13:49

@TooMuchPaper

If you split your shared children with him will presumably have contact with him. Without you there to mitigate the worst behaviour.
This would be my concern.

A serious talk with DP about his parenting and tell him he must take responsibility asap or risk breaking up the family, then disengaging from SD and focusing on your own children, setting strong boundaries and never allowing her to see them unsupervised. Assuming you are happy with DP, this would be my initial plan.

cooldarkroom · 21/01/2022 14:12

You need to leave immediately, before the behaviour of your own kids degenerates further.
The child has been allowed to become a monster, her father should have dealt with this immediately, she is manipulative, only nice is she wants something, lying, violent, & swears at you..
You must get your kids & leave.

MummyGummy · 21/01/2022 14:46

So the dad went for 50:50, but sounds like you’re the one who’s ended up doing all the childcare. He’s blatantly done it so he doesn’t have to pay child support then found a young, naive women to push them off onto.

You’d be better off without him and his DD, and without a women to look after them, there’s no way he’ll want 50:50 custody of 5 children.

As for worrying about contact, keep a record of any abuse/injuries she inflicts on your children, text/email the mum (so there’s a record), let school know etc so that contact has to be supervised or she can’t visit at the same time as her till her behaviour is managed.

FlibbertyGiblets · 21/01/2022 15:31

You have made yourself and your children so financially vulnerable, you have no independent income, you are effectively dependent on your partner for housing and money. Not good.
What would the solution to your situation look like?

sofakingcool · 21/01/2022 16:02

Wow OP how awful. I'd be ashamed if my DS had behaved like that to his Step mum (and she was horrible..!)

Does her Mum know? Although makes you wonder where she's getting this language from..

I don't really know what to advise, it's easy to say leave isn't it? Not that easy though Sad

blyn72 · 21/01/2022 17:22

@LadyPropane

Wow. Honestly, I'd leave. No one deserves to live like this.
I agree with that but leaving is not easy, we don't know if the home is his, hers or joint. It takes time to organise. An alternative would be for him to have to leave their home.

Whatever is decided, it needs to be sorted out as soon as possible. The op cannot go on in the current situation, it's unfair.

mummytotwoboys0600 · 21/01/2022 17:26

Tbh I would tell your husband she's not welcome in your home until she starts treating you with some respect! She needs to learn how to treat people and needs to be punished!

NowEvenBetter · 21/01/2022 18:28

OP doesn’t have a husband though, and the house probably isn’t hers either. She’s in a dreadful situation, with this deadbeat boyfriend.

Mummyoflittledragon · 21/01/2022 18:45

do you not realise you’re being abused?

The more I think about this the more I agree. You’re much younger than your ‘d’p. You’ve been manoeuvred into the position of being totally financially and emotionally dependent on a man, who sees your role to care for his children and who has done his utmost to keep you subjugated, abused by his dd, bare foot and pregnant so that you cannot easily escape.

Dollyparton3 · 21/01/2022 20:08

OP I was treated horrendously by my SD and last year it got very serious (Cybercrime).

My DH immediately stood up to it and very clearly sent out a message that said the both me and him would not tolerate anyone threatening our well-being, safety and the security of our home.

It's taken nearly a year for him to be able to see her, and that is never ever going to be on the turf of our home unless she very sincerely apologises for everything that she's done with genuine empathy and understanding of the impact on mine and her relationship.

He now gets regular flying monkeys sent out to him through relatives, our SS and social media where she plays the injured party although her take on it now is that everyone "just needs to get over themselves and get on with it". He's absolutely and resolutely on OUR side with this.

It breaks my heart that he now diligently drives out of his way every fortnight to meet her somewhere for a catch up and how much it boils his piss that he has to do that but he does it. But he will never EVER take the side of her bullying behaviour when he knows that I've done nothing but put myself out for her for years and had it lashed back in my face.

If your partner won't do the same for you I'd think about working on plan b I'm afraid.

needmorefruit · 21/01/2022 20:11

This is absolutely bonkers. This is NOT your fault, it is your DP's fault and how convenient to blame you. Fuck that. How many % time of his 50% does he actually spend with girls?

  1. I would have a frank conversation with DP as a first point telling him you're done and won't be tolerating abuse in your own home. He needs to protect you and the rest of the family and if he isn't going to do it you will need to step up and protect your 3 children.
  2. You don't look after DP's daughters when he is not there. If he can't be there girls need to stay at their mum's. Once you stop doing that you might see his 50% decreasing drastically.
  3. You take a huge step back and minimise contact with the eldest when she is there and let dad do all the parenting

You are too good, putting other's wants above yours to please them.
She treats you poor, then she doesn't get anything from you. No and No.

Brilliant post by @Grandville saying:

So you started a relationship with an older man who barely parented his own children and took on that work for him. You gave up your house and job. You had three more children and are an unmarried SAHM. You are being abused quite badly and have been this whole time. He is self-employed so could easily fiddle maintenence payments if he wished.

You have made some very foolish choices I'm afraid and have very little in the way of security or protection.

I would strongly advise finding a job as your first action. You should then be able to take steps towards leaving with more than the clothes on your back.

Ashlea22 · 21/01/2022 20:13

Marriage was never a big thing to me I wanted them to be comfortable with the idea. I draw the line at his children dictating if I was allowed to have my own children they actually weren’t that bothered by it. She gets more upset by me moving her school bag off the floor than when her dad told her I was pregnant and twins came so it wasn’t the intention to have 3. I was probably stupid to have kids when 1 stepdaughter didn’t like me but I loved my partner and I wanted to be a mum @BitcherOfBlakiven

OP posts:
Ashlea22 · 21/01/2022 20:19

Home isn’t mine this is his home, I did have a job but when twins came he wanted to be self employed and said we couldn’t afford childcare cost so I quit. I do the accounts of his business and do all the PR social media side, I manage the bookings etc, he gives me £20 out of every £100 he makes. I then get £80 a month from child benefits so I just save, I don’t have any friends anymore due to never being able see them because I always had the kids. It didn’t feel like abuse what he was doing I have an abusive ex and my current partner didn’t seem like him at all. I thought he was a good dad as that’s how he appeared when I met him, and he does tell her to stop it if he sees it but if I asked him to go speak to her once he’s came home from work he wouldn’t.

OP posts:
mummytotwoboys0600 · 21/01/2022 20:26

@Ashlea22

Home isn’t mine this is his home, I did have a job but when twins came he wanted to be self employed and said we couldn’t afford childcare cost so I quit. I do the accounts of his business and do all the PR social media side, I manage the bookings etc, he gives me £20 out of every £100 he makes. I then get £80 a month from child benefits so I just save, I don’t have any friends anymore due to never being able see them because I always had the kids. It didn’t feel like abuse what he was doing I have an abusive ex and my current partner didn’t seem like him at all. I thought he was a good dad as that’s how he appeared when I met him, and he does tell her to stop it if he sees it but if I asked him to go speak to her once he’s came home from work he wouldn’t.
Can you speak to your partner and tell him how you feel and how your being made to feel by his Children? If they don't like you then so be it, but they don't need to be rude and abuse you. I think the daughter that is like that has anger issues and needs help. No normal children would behave this way, surely?
Kanaloa · 22/01/2022 00:06

Judging by your updates you have so so many problems than this very challenging child. You have a husband who (by the sounds of it) pressured you to give up work and provide round the clock childcare so he could start his dream business, complains when you won’t extend that free childcare to his abusive daughter, refuses to do any effective parenting, and has managed to isolate you from any support.

sofakingcool · 22/01/2022 00:09

@Ashlea22

Home isn’t mine this is his home, I did have a job but when twins came he wanted to be self employed and said we couldn’t afford childcare cost so I quit. I do the accounts of his business and do all the PR social media side, I manage the bookings etc, he gives me £20 out of every £100 he makes. I then get £80 a month from child benefits so I just save, I don’t have any friends anymore due to never being able see them because I always had the kids. It didn’t feel like abuse what he was doing I have an abusive ex and my current partner didn’t seem like him at all. I thought he was a good dad as that’s how he appeared when I met him, and he does tell her to stop it if he sees it but if I asked him to go speak to her once he’s came home from work he wouldn’t.
That's so sad to read @Ashlea22 , you deserve better than this Thanks
youvegottenminuteslynn · 22/01/2022 00:24

You are living in an abusive household. That means your children are too. You need to put your children first by leaving this home and living with them in a stable, calm but fun and loving environment.

To stay in this one is to create a situation where they are likely to become abusive too or to accept abuse as they'll see it as normal.

You really need to put them first and leave this household.

Tattler2 · 22/01/2022 01:13

OP, has it occurred to you that the indifference that your partner demonstrates to the mental health of his daughter his the same level of indifference that he would or will show should you or your children begin to demonstrate symptoms of mental illness Have you ever considered that there may be a genetic issue involved that could make your own children possible candidates for similar problems?

This child deserves to receive the necessary and appropriate medical help indicated by her symptoms and behavior. Your children also deserve the right to live in a home where they and their siblings are given not only gifts, parties, and present, etc. They all deserve to receive proper and necessary medical care and to be safe from self harm and harm rendered by others.

It seems as though none of these children are being protected or provided with the necessary medical and behavioral resources to ensure their well-being and safety.

Please get help for both yourself and the children for whom you are responsible. Your partner demonstrates a level of indifference to the well being of his entire family. Your step daughter's mother is equally culpable.

LiG123 · 22/01/2022 02:00

I take it back- like daughter like father. Get your self sorted and get out of there ASAP.

He has you trapped ..... in his head!

Bogeyes · 22/01/2022 03:48

Is his daughter controlling the situation? Is she using your for her own warped entertainment? I have a niece who manipulates her mother and watches the outcome with glee? Very nasty and narcissistic.

Geppili · 22/01/2022 04:15

Jesus. He hasn't married you so that you do not have any claim on his assets. You have given up your job and he is paying peanuts and expecting you to do childcare. You need to leave.

Mummyoflittledragon · 22/01/2022 06:24

@Bogeyes

Is his daughter controlling the situation? Is she using your for her own warped entertainment? I have a niece who manipulates her mother and watches the outcome with glee? Very nasty and narcissistic.
She’s 13. She’s in desperate need of therapy, boundaries and very mixed up. This is ascribing some very adult emotions and reactions to a child. She is a long way from becoming a full blown adult psychopath.
MeridianB · 22/01/2022 08:04

This is one of the worst situations I’ve read on this board, OP. I really feel for you.

Initially I thought you should get out but as PP have said it’s hugely complicated by the fact he will then have unsupervised contact with your children around his dangerous daughter. Plus your precarious financial position.

I would tell him today that his DD needs to stop coming to the house and he should see her elsewhere for as long as it takes for her behaviour to be assessed and treated. If he can’t agree to this then I’d seek professional advice on your situation from a lawyer and the NSPCC.

In the meantime I would ensure you and your children are not alone with her at any time. Which is logistically a nightmare but may start to show DP how serious this is. How would he feel if you had a child from a previous relationship who had done these things to him while did nothing?

Protecting your children and yourself are priorities. Your DP and his ex need to protect their younger DD and finally step up for the older one.

Ploppy1322 · 22/01/2022 08:30

Hon can you call Women's Aid and talk through what's been happening, they'll be able to help xx www.womensaid.org.uk/

MrsBaublesDylan · 22/01/2022 08:44

This is awful. I'm sorry - your partner is abusive. This situation suits him because he is facilitating abuse. He is setting up his dd as an abuser and you as the victim.

In truth, you are both victims in this.

If nothing else, you must protect your children from being hit. It will damage them and you may have to live with the consequences all your life.

Definitely leave.

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