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Step-parenting

Connect with other Mumsnetters here for step-parenting advice and support.

Stepping back from step parenting

42 replies

MamaCool24 · 31/01/2024 10:16

Hi all, I'm an over giver. I've been helping my boyfriend parent his daughter. She's 6 and he works full time and she lives with him full time. They stay with me every weekend. Her mother sees her a few times a week after socialworkspeak to her. But I realise I do too much. I've been reading information about stepping back and not getting involved with any conflict between him and his ex, unless he asks me for advice. His ex is highly manipulative and is always looking for conflict. She copied the presents I bought her daughter for Christmas. I didn't mind. I actually felt pity for her for being so pathetic. But it's irritating her constant texts to him, complaining about what he's doing wrong. She's always finding a reason for drama as she's high conflict. I have two teenage children and I'm amicable with their dad. Any advice from you all on how to step back? This is my first post.

OP posts:
madderthanahatter · 31/01/2024 12:19

You sound more like a respite worker than having a partner. Why are you giving him a 'night off?'. Why do you feel they should spend the whole weekend at yours? You have said numerous times you feel sorry for him, you've never said you love him. Be careful that you aren't subconsciously trying to be the 'saviour' here.

TheShellBeach · 31/01/2024 12:22

I was wondering how long you've been in the man's life, and his DD's?

MamaCool24 · 31/01/2024 13:04

GingerIsBest · 31/01/2024 12:02

I think you should stop seeing this as a "parenting" issue that you need to step back from, and swap to thinking of it as no longer enabling your DP. Letting him have a night out - great. No problem and I think that's lovely. Baking and bedtime stories - brilliant, keep doing that. If she is rude to you or in your house, absolutely, pull her up.

BUT, where the problem seems to be is in the fact that your DP is being passive. He wants to talk and rant and agonise over his ex, but that doesn't actually help the situation. It sounds like she is the type who likes the emotion and drama and that feeds her need for emotional reactions so strongly recommend he grey rock her and step back. If he can't, refuse to get further involved in discussing it beyond the basics.

If he's not stepping up and doing the parenting/ practical things for his DD on your weekends together, tell him that he needs to be more proactive. That's not about parenting, it's about being a partner. If there is a persistent, long-term issue with her behaviour -sleep or whatever - then sure, discuss with him what solutions might look like but make it clear you expect HIM to take the lead on those.

Agree, he needs to give his daughter more boundaries.

OP posts:
MamaCool24 · 31/01/2024 13:07

Illpickthatup · 31/01/2024 12:18

Ok, so what I'm getting from what you've posted. Your partner has full custody and they spend time at yours on weekends. The ex is high conflict and bombards him with messages. You've tried to be supportive and provide solutions which either he doesn't take or don't work.

In terms of the ex bombarding him with messages, can he not just block her? If he has to, either set up a separate email account which he only checks intermittently or use a parenting app. How is contact with the mum arranged? It sounds like this is through social work? Is there a set schedule?

If the girl is in your house you absolutely have every right to set rules and expectations. If you DP has a problem with them then he needs to stop bringing her to your house. If he doesn't like any solutions you offer then he needs to stop coming to you with problems.

He blocks when messages are abusive or non-stop. Contact is via social services. There's a court order in place for that for the daughter's protection. I wasn't sure if I was over stepping to tell her off when she's naughty in my house.

OP posts:
MamaCool24 · 31/01/2024 13:10

madderthanahatter · 31/01/2024 12:19

You sound more like a respite worker than having a partner. Why are you giving him a 'night off?'. Why do you feel they should spend the whole weekend at yours? You have said numerous times you feel sorry for him, you've never said you love him. Be careful that you aren't subconsciously trying to be the 'saviour' here.

Yes, I sometimes am. Because of the situation. They're here as it's the only time we see each other. 1 or 2 nights at the weekend. I love them both. But agree I probably have tried to be the saviour. That's what I need to step back from.

OP posts:
Illpickthatup · 31/01/2024 13:18

MamaCool24 · 31/01/2024 13:07

He blocks when messages are abusive or non-stop. Contact is via social services. There's a court order in place for that for the daughter's protection. I wasn't sure if I was over stepping to tell her off when she's naughty in my house.

If one of my DSDs friends was at my house and misbehaving I'd tell her off. I don't think it's overstepping at all and it would be helpful if your DP backed you up.

MamaCool24 · 31/01/2024 13:22

Illpickthatup · 31/01/2024 13:18

If one of my DSDs friends was at my house and misbehaving I'd tell her off. I don't think it's overstepping at all and it would be helpful if your DP backed you up.

Thanks. He does back me up but I then overthink. He's very soft on her, he knows this. Says he feels he's tried to make up for the situation with her mum. So he's protective but lacks boundaries. He treats her younger than she is. He's told me she's come on massively because of me. I know this already but it's a tricky line to walk.

OP posts:
MamaCool24 · 31/01/2024 13:22

What are DSD etc, what do allthe initials mean? Dear step daughter?

OP posts:
TheShellBeach · 31/01/2024 13:44

MamaCool24 · 31/01/2024 13:22

What are DSD etc, what do allthe initials mean? Dear step daughter?

Yes.

Illpickthatup · 31/01/2024 14:03

MamaCool24 · 31/01/2024 13:22

Thanks. He does back me up but I then overthink. He's very soft on her, he knows this. Says he feels he's tried to make up for the situation with her mum. So he's protective but lacks boundaries. He treats her younger than she is. He's told me she's come on massively because of me. I know this already but it's a tricky line to walk.

Children actually thrive on boundaries and routines. They feel more secure when they know where they stand. It's especially important when her mum is so unstable. The best thing he could do for her is stop being so soft.

MamaCool24 · 31/01/2024 14:04

TheShellBeach · 31/01/2024 13:44

Yes.

Thanks

OP posts:
TheShellBeach · 31/01/2024 14:06

MamaCool24 · 31/01/2024 14:04

Thanks

Sorry! I didn't mean to be so abrupt. I'm doing about ten things at the moment.

MamaCool24 · 31/01/2024 14:06

Illpickthatup · 31/01/2024 14:03

Children actually thrive on boundaries and routines. They feel more secure when they know where they stand. It's especially important when her mum is so unstable. The best thing he could do for her is stop being so soft.

I completed agree. I've told him this. He's getting better. My kids needed boundaries and still do. It's walking the line of me putting them in place when it's his job.

OP posts:
madderthanahatter · 31/01/2024 19:31

And OP be mindful that your own children need weekend time with you too.

MzHz · 03/02/2024 09:28

is this the best you think you can do in life @MamaCool24

put up with a clearly difficult ex who will be hell bent on destroying whatever she can to get back at your DP?

you have a choice, you don’t have to blight your life with her. Find someone who has a better set up. Stop trying to save and fix everyone/everything.

look after yourself and your kids.

Stepmumptsd · 14/02/2024 18:31

I stepped back after about 18 months of trying to be the best step mum ever. Like you OP I had this choice because DP and I do not live together.

Like you OP I got drawn into spending every weekend with my DP when he had his kids. And all of his school holiday time too.

This was, quite frankly, very convenient for him because he could not initially cope with them well on his own. He got 50-50 after a long court battle but previously he was focused on his career while his ex wife stayed at home. He did bedtimes and 'helping' but I see no evidence he had been a 50-50 husband.

Anyway, he needed my help and for what I thought was the children's sake (actually it was codependency) i did step in. I went to his house or he came to mine when he had his kids. I taught DP a lot of parenting techniques. I found him a good nanny for weekdays so he could still actually go and do his demanding job. At his home, I babysat and did half of his housework.

And guess what? Just like you OP, we then got into the phase of conflict and boundary violations and jealousy from the ex wife. After a year or so of me having a great relationship with DP's kids they suddenly went from calling me 'second mum' to shouting 'you are NOT MY MUM' if I asked them to eg pick up a towel from the floor. They said weird stuff like 'you just want to take daddy away from us.' I asked them who told them this. 'Mum says you will!' Battle lines had been drawn, with these poor children's minds locked and loaded as the weapons.

This was unfortunate but actually, and it may be in your case OP, when the ex wife started acting out I got a really good catalyst for stepping back. I was able to finally reflect on WTH I had got myself into (none of us know, do we?) and I had a good reason to tell DP why I was heading at least partly out the door.

I said look this is getting very difficult so I have re-assessed what I want from this relationship. He took it badly at first because he had been getting everything he wanted, but he realised quite quickly that I had a point. He accepted it and I am proud of him for that.

My main realisation was that DP - and I really want all kind helpful women in relationships with committed single dads to hear this - is only, and only ever going to be, my boyfriend. So I will not give like a wife.

He will always put his kids above me. He lives an hour away from me so he can be close to their school. If one of them begs him to go to their recorder recital on mum's day, our plans are toast. If mum is sick and needs childcare, he goes. If one or both of the children decides to live with him until they are 30, he will let them.

I can hang around his house all I like. But we cannot plan to live together, or even to raise a dog together. The ex wife got the progression from dating to setting up home together to having children to raise together. I will never have this.

So I detached gradually, tapering back my time with DPs kids so as not to abruptly disrupt the children. We do still see DP and his kids regularly, but not all weekend/all holiday, its not a blended scene and I am no longer his pretend cosplay wife as and when he needs. We go to his house but he does all of his housework and all of his parenting. He is getting better at it and when he stumbles I don't catch him anymore. To me, it is like visiting a relative or a friend.

In return, I put my life, energy, sanity and of course my own child above him. I have to. I value my independence.

I still deeply regret jumping into my helping role so quickly. I got nothing from it really. I actually lost money over it by overspending - DPs kids unlike mine seem to be very expensive to entertain - and I almost lost my mind.

If you feel you are over-helping OP you most likely are. If you feel you are losing out, think about who is benefiting and whether that is fair. Test how your DP may react if you make things more fair, as this will be your verdict on his character.

I hope sharing my experience helps in some way.

Stepmumptsd · 14/02/2024 18:47

MamaCool24 · 31/01/2024 13:22

Thanks. He does back me up but I then overthink. He's very soft on her, he knows this. Says he feels he's tried to make up for the situation with her mum. So he's protective but lacks boundaries. He treats her younger than she is. He's told me she's come on massively because of me. I know this already but it's a tricky line to walk.

The 'you've really helped my children' and 'they've done so well because of you' are catnip to a codependent helpful girlfriend.

I've been there and fallen for it hard.

I identify as codependent and have learned that I was fulfilling my own needs to be the rescuer in the drama triangle by always rushing in to 'help' my DP with his ever so hard life and and his challenging kids and his high conflict ex. All he ever had to do to get me to be his emotional nursemaid and wife-when-it-suited-him was to tell me how great and helpful I was. So if you feel a rush of pleasure when you're told how helpful you are, examine that.

I have gone sober, as it were, by detaching and leaving all his parenting and ex wife drama to him. I force myself to say 'oh that sounds hard' and change the subject. This is very hard to do. I needed therapy to get to the place to do it. When I see my DP struggling with his own kids who I did not raise and am not responsible for, I let him stumble and pick himself up but it is like being an alcoholic at a drinks party. I so want to get stuck in but I force myself not to.

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