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Step-parenting

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Partner leaves his children in house all day with me whilst he's at work; feel this is unreasonable

262 replies

Malloddie · 07/01/2008 21:44

Maybe I'm being unreasonable on this but perhaps someone might be able to see it from a different point of view. I am at home with two young children of my own, both under age 3. My DP has two older children who stay with us every alternate week for 5 days (always over a weekend). If the older children happen to be on holiday from school whilst he is at work, they are left in the house all day whilst I'm there. To be fair, he doesn't expect me to cook for them (I've put my foot down on this!) but they do come and go with their friends throughout the day slamming doors etc. Today, during a rare quiet moment I was writing an email when one of them asked me what I was doing! I am finding that I am staying out of the house when I know they are here and usually spend the whole day roaming around IKEA where I know we can play and be fed! This has been going on for about two years and there are times when I wish they would just disappear from our lives. I've had an incidence when DSD sat between myself and another mother on the sofa when my youngest was born asking questions all the time; I really wanted to be left alone to chat to this other mother who had a baby exactly the same age; I was furious! I have confronted my DP about his children staying in their mother's house (which is just across the road!)whilst he's not here but he won't agree as he doesn't want to have them any less. His x has even asked can she take the kids more but he said he wanted things to stay as they are (even though he is not here!). I now resent his kids more than ever; especially as one has a 'special needs' problem and takes to pacing up and down the floorboards on a regular basis. My youngest son has been a handful since he was born as he's very 'active' and hardly sleeps day or nite so naturally I am very tired most of the time. My other child is only 16 months older than him! I feel my dp is totally unreasonable expecting me to act as 'nursemaid' although they are old enough to look after themselves somewhat. Can anyone help with any suggestions??? We are hoping to move out of the area (to the other side of town) later this year so hopefully that will make a difference; maybe they won't come as often. I feel this has more to do with my DP and his x rather than the anybody else!

OP posts:
Malloddie · 08/01/2008 00:00

Precisely Elizabeth...Sandcastles, I wasn't consulted in any way b4hand. I have spoken to my DP and he says that I don't need to do anything as they can look after themselves and that I am not needed to be there at all. For whoever critised the IKEA trips...they are for ME...if you read my earlier postings, I said I felt worn out with 4 kids around...surely, I am allowed to get out of the house on my own with only two on occasion!

OP posts:
Elizabetth · 08/01/2008 00:00

They don't need to be in her care though, they've got a mother who wants to take care of them.

ingles2 · 08/01/2008 00:00

Don't get me wrong partypiece I do agree with what you're saying,..but there has to be a good reason why OP feels like this surely?

catsmother · 08/01/2008 00:01

Reading between the lines I think the OP's biggest issue, despite how she's phrased it, is with her DP, as opposed to the children themselves.

I really don't know what to think here and of course I find the thought of not feeding 2 out of 4 children cruel, but, despite getting together with a man who had children, I think there is a big difference between accepting they will be in and out of your life for xx nights a week or whatever, and maybe ... at a later date ... suddenly being expected, perhaps without any prior consultation, to become their full time carer during school holidays.

I don't know how the current arrangement has come about, whether or not it was discussed and agreed with ALL the adults involved but if the OP's DP has effectively given her no choice in the matter, then I too would be feeling very put upon and trapped. This is NOT "wrong", nor is it an indication you are an evil witch who needs to be burnt at the stake ..... after all, the OP may have made her choice to be with her DP based on a particular set of circumstances, only to find that he then moves the goalposts spectacularly after she's given up work, had children with him and so on. If his older kids had previously been with a childminder for example, the OP may have (not totally unreasonably) thought that would continue. Alternatively, had she known that it was likely she'd also be required to look after her skids if she had kids of her own with this man, she may have decided that it was more than she'd want to cope with (as is her right) - 4 kids are a handful that not everyone wants to take on.

I am only speculating at this point, because I don't know how all this has come about, but putting forward another possible point of view ............ (I can't imagine that anyone would go, fully aware into a new relationship, knowing that if they ever had children, they would also then be expected to look after 2 more, and complain about it after the event).

I do feel very strongly that the children are foremost the responsibility of their actual parents however, and it is up to them to ensure that they are safely and appropriately cared for in the best environment possible .... whether that be with a (willing) stepparent, or a childminder, or at a holiday club. It isn't right to simply assume that as the OP has 2, then another 2 won't make any difference ....... we all have our breaking points, and different tolerance levels.

However, for the moment, while they are there, then of course she should try her upmost to make them feel as comfortable as possible. I'm hoping that some of the stuff she's said has come out wrongly as a result of tiredness and frustration as opposed to a desire to be genuinely hurtful or cruel. Equally, while they're in her care though, they must abide by house rules and again, this is where her DP should be helping to ensure that they do. No-one, a stepparent or a childminder, should be held to ransom by children doing things their way all the time, particularly if that impacts upon the rest of the household.

My advice to the OP would be to thrash all this out with her DP because the current situation doesn't seem to be benefiting anyone except the 2 actual parents and somehow, that does seem unfair. If the OP is desperately unhappy, then whether anyone here thinks that's right or wrong, that unhappiness is going to be conveyed to ALL the children concerned one way or another .... and what's important (so no child suffers) is that the source of that unhappiness is addressed.

I also get the impression, again reading between the lines (though some of it is a bit confusing about who's working or not) that the OP's DP is insisting on "his" children being in "his" home when he's not there, which seems pretty pointless if there are occasions when they could be with their mother. If there's an element of point scoring going on between the Op's DP and his ex, with the kids caught in the middle, then again, I can understand why she'd feel resentful stuck in the middle of their battles.

You really, really need to have an honest talk with your DP and if he is "jumping" to his ex's demands, and this is to your detriment, then you need to put your foot down.

ingles2 · 08/01/2008 00:02

the mother probably does want to take care of them but DP probably can't afford to pay any more money, so her income is neccessary

TellusMater · 08/01/2008 00:02

Talk to him again.

He is being neglectful both of his children and of his relationship with you IMO.

Would they really leave a 10 year old alone for the whole day if you weren't there?

paulayatesbiggestfan · 08/01/2008 00:06

ten years old is not that young to be home alone
our primary school requests that children do not leave school un attended until year 4
a large % of british kids age 10 are left alone or come home to an empty house - fact

Quattrocento · 08/01/2008 00:07

I hear ya serenity.

But I've got a new image in my mind now, of a woman haunted (think thin, gaunt, hair hanging down in wisps, Mrs Rochester to the life) unable to function, having two extra children for 18-24 days a year being an impossible additional burden, taking refuge in Ikea, hiding until it's safe to come home and special-needs-boy has stopped that unbearable unbearable pacing and slamming, pacing and slamming ...

Oh this is all nonsense. It's not true. If it is true then she's being horrible to defenceless children, who will be traumatised for the rest of their lives because of her behaviour.

sandcastles · 08/01/2008 00:08

Then if you really weren't consulted you need to tell your dp that you are not happy that they are around & that you feel they need more than you can give them.

They need to be cared for, they are too young to fend for themselves, whoever thinks differently.

It really is a situation of all your own making [by yours I mean you, dp & the ex] that needs to be sorted so these children have better care than you are giving.

partypiece · 08/01/2008 00:08

She isn't a full time carer though! She has them for three days every other week during the school holidays only until her dp comes home. And she leaves them alone! That's not a full time carer by any stretch of the imagination. And how is the mother supposed to look after them if she works full time too? Mind you, if I had any inkling that my children weren't even allowed to eat with their wicked stepmother and half-siblings, I would be working part time, socking it to their father for more maintenance and going to court to reduce contact drastically.

TellusMater · 08/01/2008 00:09

I came home to an empty house at 10 as well. No problem. But I didn't spend whole weeks of the holiday alone.

soapbox · 08/01/2008 00:10

Paula - I really cannot imagine leaving my nearly 10 YO at home alone. I feel very sad if that it is the case that this is normal however, I know no one who would do this.

Elizabetth · 08/01/2008 00:10

You know, the OP's DP knows she doesn't feed them, he probably knows she doesn't want them around either, so who is really responsible for this situation given that even after all that he still insists that the children stay at his house even when he's not there?

susiecutiemincepies · 08/01/2008 00:10

i'm glad some constructive advise is coming your way now Mallodie. ( despite the fact you've ignored all my posts ) Sorry I could not give much constructive advise on this, i've no experience of older step children ( yet... ) i'm sure when I do have DH son in or life, I will also come across problems and issues.

However, the one thing I KNOW to be sure is that I will have my DH support, and help at ALL times... something I really think you are not getting.

I truly hope you are able to get some resolution to your situation and things work out better for you ALL.

Quattrocento · 08/01/2008 00:11

STUFF AND NONSENSE

NOONE HAS TO BE UNKIND TO CHILDREN

EVER

partypiece · 08/01/2008 00:11

Well, he clearly made a huge 'mistake' when he hooked up with the OP. Or he didn't care what kind of person he was with.
They sound an extremely nasty, totally negligent pair, to be honest.

susiecutiemincepies · 08/01/2008 00:13

typo. In our* not or, life.

at least i thought there was some constructive comments being posted... seems not

Quattrocento · 08/01/2008 00:15

You were constructive Susie.

I wavered between extreme indignation and taking the p**s.

ingles2 · 08/01/2008 00:15

Ok,...I really must go to bed or I won't be in any fit state for my own kids tomorrow
BUT I will say that I don't think Malloddie is telling us the whole truth, there must be financial / contact reasons or something why she has to look after these kids. I can't believe she is as ignorant in this whole situation as she is making out. I think she must be a bit overwhelmed with emotion about the whole thing. Can I suggest you look over this again in the cold light of day then talk to your gp and dp

sandcastles · 08/01/2008 00:15

Elizabeth, they are all responsible in my opinion.

They all let the situation continue, they all take their part in neglecting the elder 2 children through ignorance or otherwise.

As a mother I would not let my children be in this environment.

nodder · 08/01/2008 00:16

IMO the op and her partner are not a negligent duo, but part of a negligent trio. Both the Parents and the OP, should IMO have the social services called on them, the neglect of the children is shocking and reprehensible.
Another thing I find bizarre is how the children's ages have changed, they started of nearly 11 and 14, and they have now ended up as 10 and 13.

susiecutiemincepies · 08/01/2008 00:17

I agree Quattro. of course you are right. its also her DP and his ex responsibility though. They are leaving their children with a woman with 2 small children who sounds depressed and unable to cope. Surely, it is up to them to be sorting htis out and not expecting her to just get on with it... cowering in ikea or otherwise?

No- one should have to get to the point that they are so unhappy, that they have to leave their own comfy home and spend the WHOLE DAY in IKEA, VOLUNTARILY???? surely not??? she MUST be depressed?

LittleBella · 08/01/2008 00:17

Sandcastles, as a mother, you might not have any choice if a court ordered you to send your children into that environment.

sandcastles · 08/01/2008 00:18

LB, true...but if that is the case, couldn't steps be made to sort it?

susiecutiemincepies · 08/01/2008 00:20

nodder, sorry to be pedantic, but, she said they were almost 11 and 14. so, could be almost 11 and almost 14.