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Stepdaughter selfish ?

114 replies

blossom2231 · 02/08/2023 13:48

Me & partner have a 5 month old baby. He has a 13 year old daughter from previous relationship.
He has 50/50 custody but most of them she either doesn't want to come to our house at all or she will stay 2 days maximum and demand to go back to her Moms. So out of a month, I'd say she stays with us about 7 days spread out.
We've just moved from our 2 bed into a 3 bed as the baby needs their own room now.
We have 2 very large rooms and the 3rd is tiny.
Partner has took it upon himself to let the teenage have the 2nd biggest room and our baby has to have the small room.
Am I being totally unreasonable but is this seriously unfair?!
Our baby lives here EVERYDAY. She will soon need space to place, space for actual furniture and toys/ play equipment.
The teenager is hardly here and she has NO belongings at ours. She refuses to keep things here, and just lives out of bags whilst here.
My partner says it's not up for discussion and it's also too late as she's been told she's got the big room now.
I'm really annoyed about it.
My mother says to bide my time because very soon he's going to be faced with the prospect of no space for baby's belongings and he won't like the fact all her toys will be in the living room, so just sit back and wait.
What do you think??

OP posts:
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pinkyredrose · 02/08/2023 14:37

Just swap the rooms round, tell your fella it's not up for discussion.

Is the house in both names?

DelphiniumBlue · 02/08/2023 14:40

I think your Mum is right.
I also think there's no point in causing upset now, your baby doesn't need a big room and won't for a long time.
What I would do is keep things expressly fluid. So yes, DSD can have the bigger room for now, obviously when guests come they will be using it , make sure there are twin beds, or a double in there. DD and DSD might like to have sleepovers together when DD is a bit older, or it may be that things need to be stored in there. It may need to be used as an office sometimes, maybe put a desk in there too.
You could let DSD help choose colour schemes, but she needs to be aware that if she has the bigger room, there are conditions on it. We had similar issues in our house in that there were not enough big rooms, and the DC with the biggest had to give it up for guests or share temporarily when necessary. It wasn't a problem. If DSD doesn't like it, she may prefer to pick the smaller room.

Softoprider · 02/08/2023 14:46

Imagine how this child will feel when she finds out you gave her a cupboard when she had already been given the bigger bedroom. Less inclined to visit than she does already I would have thought

holdupholdup · 02/08/2023 14:46

Silvered · 02/08/2023 14:26

She's 13. Selfishness is part of the growing up journey.

You are not 13, so what's your excuse? There is zero empathy for this kid in your posts.

Agree. I have a 14 year old daughter who can at times be a complete pain, but she's 14.. that's how 14 yr olds act at times.

When it comes to not wanting to leave her stuff at your house my SD is the same. I don't see the issue they are hers belongings why does it matter.

Your husband should have spoke with you beforehand but you are coming across like your step daughter should be treated as a guest in her dads home. She should be made to feel like your house is a second family home. That means not automatically being given a small room because she's there less. Your husband sounds like he is painfully aware that his daughter doesn't want to be with him as much so is finding any way possible (giving her a bigger room) to fix the relationship. That's understandable.

Russooooo · 02/08/2023 14:49

Your title is wrong. It shouldn’t be ‘Stepdaughter selfish?’; it should be ‘Husband spineless?’

You (or he) also seem to have confused ‘being soft’ (he gives her everything she wants) with ‘being a parent’, which is going to cause all kids of problems - for both children - in the future.

babybopella · 02/08/2023 14:50

He shouldn’t have told her she could have that room without discussing it with you, I’d be annoyed too. Also I think you’re right that your baby should have the big room. But unfortunately it’s done now. So I agree with your mum, and to be honest your baby won’t really play in thier room till they are about 3 anyway, once that time comes you should bring it up again. As by then step daughter will probably be round less.

aSofaNearYou · 02/08/2023 14:51

Softoprider · 02/08/2023 14:46

Imagine how this child will feel when she finds out you gave her a cupboard when she had already been given the bigger bedroom. Less inclined to visit than she does already I would have thought

If it's a cupboard to her, it's a cupboard to the younger child who will be there all the time. Do they not matter?

In reality, it's not a cupboard, it's a small bedroom. And the person who needs the larger one is the person who actually has the stuff to fill it.

Cruisingthewave · 02/08/2023 14:51

I couldn’t get past ‘the teenager’
she isn’t the teenager she is now the half sister of your baby and a fixed part of your nuclear family.

Admit it, you would rather she wasn’t at your house at all. Most people in your position would be keen to make her super welcome, and start with her ideas about decorating etc.

Greensleeves · 02/08/2023 15:00

It's completely normal within families - blended or otherwise - for a small baby to have the smallest room. Babies don't need a lot of space to spread out, nor do they need privacy. Their play is supervised and generally happens in the communal areas. Perhaps your husband wants his teenaged daughter to feel more welcome in his home, to be able to create her own space there and even invite her friends over?

Why are you so angry about this, really? Is it genuinely practical concerns about not having enough room for your baby's things? Or is it more of a deep-seated insecurity about your baby's status in relation to your husband's older child? Because it sounds an awful lot like the latter. If so, you need to talk to him about it properly. It's unfortunately not uncommon for a stepparent to see a stepchild as a weekend visitor who has to be tolerated until they're 18, while the non-resident parent sees them as a full member of the family who lives between two homes but is equally integral to both.

excelledyourself · 02/08/2023 15:01

I think she's selfish in general. She doesn't want to be here much as it is, and won't keep any belongings at ours. In my 7 years of being with her Dad, she doesn't want to keep anything here. He bought her all new things especially to keep here- pyjamas, toiletries, PlayStation , Alexa etc... she has taken them all to her Moms. Her room consists of a bed and an empty set of drawers and wardrobe with a tv.

No, still not seeing the 'selfish' aspect.

Would you rather she left them at yours not not getting used for 25 days a month?

aSofaNearYou · 02/08/2023 15:04

Greensleeves · 02/08/2023 15:00

It's completely normal within families - blended or otherwise - for a small baby to have the smallest room. Babies don't need a lot of space to spread out, nor do they need privacy. Their play is supervised and generally happens in the communal areas. Perhaps your husband wants his teenaged daughter to feel more welcome in his home, to be able to create her own space there and even invite her friends over?

Why are you so angry about this, really? Is it genuinely practical concerns about not having enough room for your baby's things? Or is it more of a deep-seated insecurity about your baby's status in relation to your husband's older child? Because it sounds an awful lot like the latter. If so, you need to talk to him about it properly. It's unfortunately not uncommon for a stepparent to see a stepchild as a weekend visitor who has to be tolerated until they're 18, while the non-resident parent sees them as a full member of the family who lives between two homes but is equally integral to both.

Would you seriously not be angry if your partner made a big decision like this without you and then said it was "not up for discussion"?

HamBone · 02/08/2023 15:05

Both my DC had the smallest bedroom when they were tiny and then they moved into larger rooms. Although DS later moved back into the small room as he finds it cosy!

Honestly, your DSD sounds as if she’s being a typical grumpy 13-year-old who wants her Dad’s attention. Young teens are often v. self-absorbed and she probably feels pushed out by your baby. Be kind to her and she’ll mature.

SemperIdem · 02/08/2023 15:06

234vhh · 02/08/2023 14:34

Abuse/sexual abuse - witnessed or experienced herself - other childhood trauma with capital or lower case t, breakdown of trust or feeling of safety for some reason. There’s loads of reasons she might not want to stay with her dad and she might not even be able to talk to herself about them yet, let alone anyone else.

Have you seriously just casually posted that the op’s partner might have sexually abused his child?

lucylucyapplejuicy · 02/08/2023 15:07

Baby doesn't need the bigger room for a good while my DS3 is s in the box room as he only goes in his room to sleep etc.

CwmYoy · 02/08/2023 15:08

Tell him no discussion needed. The baby gets the big room and his daughter will have to lump it. Ridiculous man.

10oclock · 02/08/2023 15:14

Given the scenario and all what you have said, it makes more sense for the baby to have the big room and you can use it for all of their things. You can make it a nice project with your stepdaughter to decorate the small room together. It’s exciting having a baby and I can understand you want to decorate and be all sorted for it.

Your partner is totally wrong for putting his foot down and making this decision without you, re-open the conversation.

Another option is to decorate the big room for the baby and also have a bed (a day bed or a sofa bed might be an idea) in there so you can get it ready when she does want to stay.

How small is the small room?

wordler · 02/08/2023 15:14

The baby doesn’t need the bigger space for at least another 3-4 years.

Teenagers however do value privacy and a room to hang out in and have their friends in.

Have a set of shelves or a cupboard where some of the baby’s things can be stored in the bigger room.

Put twin beds in the teen’s room so it can also be used as a guest bedroom.

Make the smaller room into a very pretty nursery.

In four years time when teen is looking to go to university swap them over and let the teen redecorate the smaller room to her liking.

Greensleeves · 02/08/2023 15:16

aSofaNearYou · 02/08/2023 15:04

Would you seriously not be angry if your partner made a big decision like this without you and then said it was "not up for discussion"?

No, you're absolutely right, I'd be furious at that attitude towards ANY decision. He shouldn't be doing anything unilaterally.

OP doesn't sound much more flexible; her view that the resident child should take precedence sounds pretty intractable too. Neither is OK. They need to talk to one another like adults.

ASGIRC · 02/08/2023 15:17

blossom2231 · 02/08/2023 14:15

Sorry, I wrote it all in a hurry. He gave her the bigger room and then later he told me she had asked for it. I know that's not her fault because he should have discussed with me first.
I think she's selfish in general. She doesn't want to be here much as it is, and won't keep any belongings at ours. In my 7 years of being with her Dad, she doesn't want to keep anything here. He bought her all new things especially to keep here- pyjamas, toiletries, PlayStation , Alexa etc... she has taken them all to her Moms. Her room consists of a bed and an empty set of drawers and wardrobe with a tv.
I have no idea why she doesn't want to be here. Her mother takes her nowhere. We take her out whenever she is here. She gets everything she asks for from her Dad.

Thats a really weird thing to gripe about...
I had exactly zero belonging at my dads house. Took a bag every other weekend, and then took it back to my moms. We saw each other during the week, every week, but no sleepovers, as it wasnt convinient for school.

I also preferred to be at my moms, particularly as I got older, as my friends lived closer, and if I was at my dads, I wasnt able to meet them/go to birthday parties.

She clearly doesnt place as much stock in where you take her as you do...

Anyway, your baby doesnt need a big room.
Accomodate for now, then review in a few years. Its not that deep!

AuntieJune · 02/08/2023 15:18

I'd be more worried about why she doesn't feel comfortable in your home than what room she has.

For now, your baby can have the smaller room - you could always play in the bigger room and remove toys afterwards.

Your baby will also be a self-centred 13 year old in due course. By then you might be glad of a caring older half-sister who has a good relationship with her.

Thesearmsofmine · 02/08/2023 15:19

I agree with your mum about hiding your time in a few years time SD will be older and have her own life and won’t be coming to stay. Baby is fine in a small room for now, they aren’t going to be spending time in there apart from to sleep, realistically they will play etc downstairs where they are supervised for a while yet so that’s where their toys will be.

Your SD really isn’t the issue here, if she is selfish then so what? Most 13 year olds are a bit selfish because they are 13. Your DH is clearly trying to tempt her to spend more time there by giving her the bigger. I would be asking myself why she doesn’t want to stay, is it something simple like her friends being near mums house or is it a case where she knows she isn’t really wanted there by you.

Oliotya · 02/08/2023 15:26

A baby doesn't need a bedroom. My oldest is 7 and still hardly uses his room. This seriously isn't a battle I would choose to fight.

234vhh · 02/08/2023 15:38

SemperIdem · 02/08/2023 15:06

Have you seriously just casually posted that the op’s partner might have sexually abused his child?

My intended tone wasn’t casual, no. I was answering the OP’s inferred question as to having no idea why DSD didn’t want to stay with her father.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 02/08/2023 15:38

@blossom2231 - there is a book called Divas and Doorslammers, about how adolescence affects children. According to the author, Charlie Taylor, a child’s brain is actually retiring during adolescence - structural changes are happening. Whilst this is happening, they can, and often do, lose certain abilities - like the ability to see their own needs in balance with other people’s needs - which can make them seem selfish. They can’t see that they aren’t the centre of the universe, they can’t control their temper or their impulses, they lose a sense of proportion.

He describes this as a form of temporary brain damage - but the important word there is temporary, because he says that, once the retiring in their brains settles down, most or all of these abilities come back.

I am saying all this because even though it won’t change the way she acts, it may help you cope better if you understand that it isn’t all deliberate bad behaviour - a lot of it may be down to changes happening in her brain.

It will be useful information if your dc becomes a sullen, stroppy teen too. They may not - two of my dses got through the teenage years without too much drama - but then ds3 hit adolescence, and it all went to hell in a handcart. Much door slamming, yelling, anger and name calling - my mum said it was my just desserts because the other two had been relatively easy - but he did come out the other side, and is now a kind, well adjusted, thoughtful young man who we are very proud of.

Apologies for the essay - I hope it helps.

One thought - when your baby needs a bit more space, could the bigger bedroom become a mixed use room - a bedroom for your dsd, when she is there, but a playroom the rest of the time? Might your dh accept that as a compromise?

PrideNails · 02/08/2023 15:44

The fact that you titled this thread stepdaughter selfish says it all. No wonder she doesn't want to spend any time at her dad's place 🙄

Your baby is 5 months, they don't need a large room at the moment. Address it a few years down the line.

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