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Step-parenting

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Step daughter hates my pregnancy

57 replies

Toughroadahead · 27/01/2022 20:02

I am 14 weeks pregnant. My step daughter is 13. We told her last week that I was having a baby and since then she is refusing to come back to live here. She is now saying she feels uncomfortable living here and is refusing to engage really with my OH.
This is really hard for my OH but also selfishly for me. I have so much anxiety about the future and bringing the baby up in this environment and I don't know what to do to sort it.

Any advice on how to deal with her and the situation?

OP posts:
OnlyAFleshWound · 01/02/2022 19:37

What is 'BM'?

CumbrianLakes · 06/04/2022 00:20

@Toughroadahead how have things developed since you wrote this post? I’m going through exactly the same thing and it’s really tough to navigate. Hope things have improved for you all.

LoveSpringDaffs · 06/04/2022 00:43

@pinkyredrose

Tell her to grow up! She needs to realise that other people have lives
She's 14 Growing up is exactly what she IS doing!! FFS.

@Toughroadahead. Congratulations on your pregnancy🌸, I gather it was unplanned- maybe that's partly why you're so worried?. I understand you feeling anxious being pregnant right now, everything feels so 'all over the place' with pandemics, wars,cost of living, but people have had babies in dreadful times & that's life (literally) it'll all work out ((Hug))

As for SD, you say she won't come back to live... so where is she now?? Choosing to stay at her mums?

What are the other kids doing? (Same mum?)

I think her reaction is completely normal for a young teen whether step or not. Is she okn(safe) at her mums?
If she is & her mum won't make her go back to yours then all you can do really is wait it out. Her Dad should call her, send texts, maybe hugest going out for dinner (could just be McD's) prove to her that while he's going to be a Dad again, she's just as important to him as ever & he won't live her any less.

It's been a tough time during Covid for kids her age, grown ups are worried about Ukraine, fuel prices, general price increases and kids aren't immune from all the stress around them.

I presume she has a bedroom at yours? Does she share or is it just hers? Could you see if she wants to decorate it differently? (It doesn't have to cost a fortune) maybe she needs some reassurance her space will still be hers, can you give her some reassurance about that?

Any chance she's worrying about other things changing? Activities/having friends over etc.

You and her Dad need to talk to her & keep talking to her. If she doesn't want to stay can you pick her up just for the evening & go out for dinner or make pizza at home. Out is just easier to talk as no other kids around and you have to sit at the same table, not disappear into separate rooms.

There's no miracle cure, but it will all work
Out x

malificent7 · 06/04/2022 06:33

Many kids act up on this news...not just half siblings.

RealRaymondReddington · 06/04/2022 06:42

Poor girl, when you are 13 the last thing you need is your Dad having a new baby with his new wife. However, that is life and probably once baby is here she will start to come to terms with it. Perhaps you both could get her involved in sorting bedrooms out etc ready for the future so she sees she isn't any less a part of his life. Maybe her room and future nursery and choose paint together etc? Something that reinforces that it is still her home, which she will share with a new brother/sister.

tempester28 · 06/04/2022 06:56

It is early days if you are 14 weeks - give her some time to adjust.

Does she normally live with you and has moved out?

newbiename · 06/04/2022 07:13

@OnlyAFleshWound

What is 'BM'?
Birth mother
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