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Step-parenting

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26yold step son living on my sofa and it's driving me insane

38 replies

Witsend79 · 08/01/2024 20:56

Me and my partner Been together for nearly 7 years. He moved into my 2 bed with me and my 2 daughters. My eldest 23 has moved out and has her own children now, my youngest just turned 20 and started full time work and saving for car etc.
Partners 26 year old son moved in after his mother kicked him out as she wanted more money. I agreed he could move in with us to save. I didn't stupidly put a timeframe on this..he has been with us for 6 months. We told him that he didnt have to pay rent but had to save money and pay for his own food just as my daughter does. He works...a job I helped him do the application for...he travels there via a car that I paid half towards and the tax for 2 years...not a mention of a thank you for the tax..I had to help him set up a new direct debit for him to take over payment for the tax or I would of kept paying it as he never mentioned it.
He works early and late shifts. When on earlies he comes back and sleeps hours before waking and getting on laptop (gaming) for hours rarely eats...rarely buys food just sweets and crap. When on lates he stays in bed most of the day till he needs to go work. He was sleeping on the couch and I complained to his dad that I couldn't do anything as the living room is the only communal space with kitchen off it in our tiny 2 bed house. So he told his son to be up in the morning my 10am. This happened for a while and then only when his dad was about...I mentioned this to his dad and he bought him a camp bed...now he sleeps when he wants with life going on around and me having to shuffle passed the camp bed to get to the kitchen during the day or late afternoon. His dad says nothing....when I said to him discreetly...you sleep alot his dad defends him by saying that he used to come home and sleep when he worked early shifts too years ago!
I can't say anything to step son his dad says he is sensitive!!. Not so sensitive when I asked him 5 times Christmas day to finish his game as I wanted to set table for Christmas Dinner and he got up and raised his voice with the strop as I had interrupted his game. He doesn't talk to me ...I find it disrespectful..his dad s excuse is "he doesn't speak to me either" but he does I hear him, just when I'm not there. Everytime he needs a towel for the shower for example he will ask his dad I will be next to his dad..yet, he can't ask me direct even though his dad has to ask me if there are clean towels!
He is like a man child ..he has been asked to put his washing in a washing bag and he has been told 10 times but still hasn't got it!!! He continues to leave his dirty clothes in a pile stuffed down the side of my dining room table...he has sort of owned this area as that's where he sits to paly his gaming laptop.
He doesn't help...I can empty dishwasher clean the sink and he will still leave a plate and cup in the sink unwashed.
His work boots smell, he has been told to put slippers on or change his socks when he comes in but hits like he forgets everything he is told ....but still puts his feet on the coffee table and on the sofa .
I can't say anything as I will be picking on him. And quite honestly how many times do you make a simple request to an adult before they get the message and do it...he gets the hump if hes asked to do anything I dont touch any of it anymore...it builds up now or my partner will do it for him. If i ask why, he will get defensive. So I just deal with it and its made me resentful!
My partner has taken to comparing him to my daughter who has just turned 20...she asks my for nothing, she has nit had a car from me and is able to manage her own savings...I am not expecting to move out just yet, and, this has been her home from birth. There is nearly 7 years difference!
Step son was not saving as agreed (he was meant to give his dad money each week to save) so, he agreed to getting him a laptop on finance as stepson couldn't get the finance himself as long as he paid that and gave his saving money....this has peeved me as now this is all he does and he doesn't leave the house now because of it , and, it's extra money that he could of had saved ..my partner thinks it's helping him but I think it's treating a 26 year old like a child.
I've told my partner that I give step son a year to move out... he has agreed. But I can see our relationship going south in that time. He is subconciously allowing his son to be disrespectful, his son shows know appreciation and he has no regard for social cues ...we have had no time to ourselves. I lost my mother only a couple of months ago and have not had the space to be myself to greive...on the day of her funeral after preparing step sons clothes and buying him some boots he fell asleep among the hassle and bustle of everyone getting ready to go and didn't bother coming...and said nothing to me on my return nor did his dad say anything to him (he hadn't been working, I honestly don't think he was asleep, I don't think he wanted to go but didn't say)
I'm just his dad's girlfriend...nothing else to him. I have stopped doing anything for him since how he spoke to me Christmas day. But feel partner has let all rules slide as well like washing pile and sleeping...I couldn't have anyone pop over to see me.
I am home all day as I am disabled with psoriatic arthritis and I struggle alot at the moment...just him offering a cup of tea or to take the rubbish out would be something but as long as his dad's gonna do for him and say nothing then he is never gonna use his an initiative I feel.
It's either gonna be a long year, I will break or my relationship will break...any advice appreciated

OP posts:
SausageAndEggSandwich · 08/01/2024 21:00

Advice?

You know what you need to do OP. Or he's going to be there in two, five, ten years time.

He treats you and your home with disrespect. End of. He's had enough chances, your partner treats him like he's a child and makes you feel like shit in your own home. Frankly no wonder him mum kicked him out. Time for you to do the same.

Floofydawg · 08/01/2024 21:01

How have you even let this go on for 6 months?? Get him out.

TheABC · 08/01/2024 21:03

A year is too long. This is your house and your refuge. A twenty-six year old nan should be able to find a room to rent elsewhere with privacy and a proper bedroom. At the moment he is getting everything funded and lives rent-free. As such, he should have enough cash for a rental deposit. Give notice and ask him to go. If your partner objects, he is welcome to find a new home with sufficient room for his son.

MeridianB · 08/01/2024 21:04

Sorry OP, you were mad to let someone come into your house and crash in the living room for more than one night. It sounds like your partner and his son are doing exactly what they want and neither respect you or anything you do for them.

There is no way I’d have this manchild clogging up my living room another day. And if his dad kicks up a fuss then he can move out, too - they can get a place together!

Stop letting two men call the shots in your and your daughter’s home.

AmandaHoldensLips · 08/01/2024 21:06

Time to rip the plaster off.

There's no way of you doing this without it causing an explosion because both men in question are sticking their heads in the sand and refusing to face up to the elephant in the room.

Tell your partner his son has to move out. He's 26 for fuck sake. He has to man up and go live somewhere else. And put a time limit on it otherwise you'll be stuck with him.

tigerbear · 08/01/2024 21:11

I’d get rid of BOTH of them, DP and son!
Neither of them are showing the slightest bit of respect for you or your home.

2Old2Tango · 08/01/2024 21:15

I'd be asking both of them to go to be honest. The stepson is rude and disrespectful and your partner doesn't sound much better. Partner is weak and can't set boundaries for his own son, so is in turn disrespecting you too by allowing his son to behave in this way.

adriftinadenofvipers · 08/01/2024 21:16

Fuck the pair of them out!! Scroungers!!

Shinyandnew1 · 08/01/2024 21:18

I think they both need to go-think of the lovely clean quiet house you will have.

Riverlee · 08/01/2024 21:19

what a horrible situation.

i think you need to speak to dp and say you’ve rethought the situation, and it’s not working. He’s being disrespectful to you and the household as such.

As previous posters Have said, it will cause an explosion but be prepared for that.

look at sparerooms.com for house shares he can move into.

PinkEasterbunny · 08/01/2024 21:19

Riverlee · 08/01/2024 21:19

what a horrible situation.

i think you need to speak to dp and say you’ve rethought the situation, and it’s not working. He’s being disrespectful to you and the household as such.

As previous posters Have said, it will cause an explosion but be prepared for that.

look at sparerooms.com for house shares he can move into.

This

Riverlee · 08/01/2024 21:20

It’s almost tempting to sort alternative accomadation out for him to move into, but don’t be a guarantor, else you’ll end up. Paying rent going forward when he defaults.

romdowa · 08/01/2024 21:24

It's your house and it's time to act like it. Put your foot down and tell your dp his son needs to go and if he doesn't agree then he can go too. Your poor daughter working hard and seeing this lazy lump lying about .

Notsurehwhattdo · 08/01/2024 21:32

2 or 3 months to find somewhere else would be reasonable, a year is madness and I bet no effort will be made towards moving out until it's been 11.5 months and then you'll hear 'I can't move out, I'll have nowhere to go!'

Velvian · 08/01/2024 21:35

They both need to go. If you ask his son to leave, I would bet that your DP won't rest until your DD is out too, out of spite.

Enjoy your home with your DC.

Notsurehwhattdo · 08/01/2024 21:35

The house is plainly not big enough for the four of you if you are squeezing past a camp bed at all hours of the day and he's a filthy stinking waste of space to boot.

You allowed him to stay on the agreement he would be saving. He didn't. He's broken the agreement and so the arrangement is over. It's not working for you and it's your house. You let him stay as a favour to save and he's not even had the decency to do that, if he's up the creek without the paddle it's his own doing. You'd think he'd be tripping over himself to show his appreciation and help you out but he's not the least bit grateful is he.

MrsMarzetti · 08/01/2024 21:36

You don't need advice, you know what you need to do/ Put both of them out.

Bananalanacake · 08/01/2024 21:36

You can't call both of them scroungers, for all we know the DP could be paying his way

Velvian · 08/01/2024 21:38

DP sounds more trouble than he's worth, paying his way or not. I think OP would be happier if he paid his way elsewhere, with his son.

Jamjaris · 08/01/2024 21:42

I would tell dp that you can’t stand his son monopolising the living room, you can’t grieve or have friends over nor can your daughter and after the way his son was at Christmas you’ve reached the end of your tether.
Dp’s son is not going to grow up whilst his dad lets him be a child and if he is pissed off he can find alternative accommodation with his son.
This is your home, you’ve tried to accommodate his son but it can’t go on and I agree with another poster who said he will be there in ten years time.

determinedtomakethiswork · 08/01/2024 21:46

Get the pair of them out. It's your place. It's for you and your daughter and it's not for those cock lodging lazy fuckers who have moved in on you. Honestly, you should've got rid of them months ago. And don't even think of keeping the boyfriend on while getting rid of his son. He will make your life a misery. It's time for them both to get out.

caringcarer · 08/01/2024 21:50

I think in your situation I'd search for a room in a shared house. Show your dh. Ask him to use some of his sons savings for a deposit. I'd agree he can come over for a few hours once a week to see his Dad and for a meal. His Dad could also visit him in his room or meet him in a cafe. Once I'd found somewhere for him to go I'd insist he moved out. Don't give him an option. If he doesn't have enough money for deposit and rent in advance your DH can find this to get him to move out. I'd also be telling DH that you have tried to be accommodating to SS but that having stepson there for so long has actually been damaging to your MH and it can't go on.

Singleandproud · 08/01/2024 21:52

Give them a weeks notice and dad can help DS and put a roof over both their heads. If you want to continue dating so be it but I wouldn't when he has allowed his son to be a cocklodger

DisforDarkChocolate · 08/01/2024 21:53

Break the relationship and enjoy the space. You are being taken for a mug.

Ragwort · 08/01/2024 21:58

They both need to go, your DP sounds just as useless for enabling this situation. No decent man would allow his grown up DS to treat the woman he loves (& has kindly allowed him to share his home) like that.
Yes, the 26 year old is a waste of space but his father is enabling his behaviour ... kick them both out. Your DP has zero respect for you. And what message is this situation giving your poor DD having to share her mother and her home with these useless cocklodgers - not just one but two of them Shock.

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