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Step-parenting

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

Step daughter makes me feel so unhappy in my own home

353 replies

Futurebride · 27/02/2024 00:08

I'm not really asking for advice but not sure what else to try to make things better. Sorry this goes on a bit.

My SD age 13 won't acknowledge me and its got worse since I married her fantastic dad. I've known her for 7 years, she was always cold toward me but I thought in time things would improve. Eventually they did a little, but since the wedding things have deteriorated. SDs mum is jealous and intentionally unhelpful and works against us - we have standards and are trying to bring SD up to be a respectful, balanced person but SDs Mum won't work with us on discipline (she thinks it's OK for SD to shout F Off in my face and says she doesn't care what goes on in our house) and won't remove privileges for really bad behaviour like we do, so we are seen as the bad guys.

SD is increasingly difficult (knowing her mum will back her up). She won't acknowledge me or talk to me. She leaves the room purposely saying goodbye Dad, goodbye Dog, but not me. She increasingly harps on about the times before I was in her life. She says the sky is green if I say it is blue. I cook her favourite food then she refuses to eat it. She is refusing to do anything her Dad asks her to and is rude. In addition, we have the usual teenage battles of too much phone time, only coming out her room to eat, refusing to engage in household activities when we give her the choice of what to do together, refusing to clean her room etc. She has vaped at 12, smoked joint and now just had sex at 13.

Her attitude is so awful toward me and her Dad that the atmosphere is now awful in my own home. She genuinely believes she can do what she wants in life. We have suggested she perhaps spends more time with her Mum but she doesn't want to (as she has a friend near our house). I have an older daughter so I know about teenagers but SD is is on a different level. We have never criticised her mum in front of her. I have only once tried to intervene in discipline when she was screaming at her Dad and that went very wrong. In 7 years I have always bit my tongue on her manners and behaviour and try to address them through her Dad. He has been good in trying to address her behaviour and they used to have a close relationship as he has spent so much time doing outdoorsy things with her, but now he is at a loss what to do, esp with the promiscuity this week. SD is already having counseling at our suggestion as she wont talk to us. I have always been kind to her and not get involved with discipline, but it has got a lot worse not helped by the fact her Mum says her Dad doesn't want to know her since he got married! (We are dealing with a jealous witch) We are therefore dealing with 2 children and just don't know how to make things better for all of us. She is with us every other week but I now feel like I don't want to be here when SD is , yet it is my house.

OP posts:
Whattodo112222 · 27/02/2024 08:57

I agree with the pp about the nacho method. Not your child, not your problem. She clearly doesn't respect you let alone like you. She doesn't appreciate you looking out for her best interests so I'd just stop.

Firmly tell your husband to assert some boundaries and that if she wants to see him he can do it outside of the house until she's ready to change her behaviour.

I wouldn't tolerate being told to fuck off in my own home.

You need to remove yourself from this parental role you've put yourself in.

2chocolateoranges · 27/02/2024 08:58

Youcannotbeseriousreally · 27/02/2024 08:06

Step kid or not there is no way I would tolerate this behaviour in my home. Firm no from me. I’d be telling my husband that if he wanted to see her that’s fine but he could do it elsewhere.

completely unacceptable.

I totally agree, I wouldn’t put up with that behaviour from my own child never mind a step child. Dh needs to have a chat with her saying what the family boundaries are and what behaviour is expected and if she can’t respect the people who live in her home then she doesn’t get to it and dh will see her outside of the family home.

behaviour like that is NOT acceptable.

however I think the issue is bigger than her dad being remarried and think it’s down to mums lack of guidance and boundaries. This is not normal behaviour of a 13 year old.

Startingagainandagain · 27/02/2024 09:00

'My own home'

I am always puzzled when people who marry someone with kids from previous relationships don't grasp that any family home is also going to be the stepchildren's home if there is shared custody.

She is not a guest in your home. Any house where her father lives is always going to have to be her home too.

She was a young child when the marriage broke up and of course it was bound to affect her, especially if you were the 'other woman', you can't expect some of that resentment not to linger.

Frankly discipling her is not your job either: her father and her mother need to step up and this who you should be focusing on.

If you really can no longer be a step mother in these circumstances then reconsider the relationship.

NameChangeAgain0224 · 27/02/2024 09:01

Youcannotbeseriousreally · 27/02/2024 08:41

Again. Absolutely ridiculous ITS THE OPS HOUSE FFS.

Well I guess it’s a case of what OP’s priorities are….

  1. Things carrying on as they are and life being utterly, utterly miserable.

  2. Staying away from the SD and demonstrating to both of them that she will not tolerate such behaviour.

I’d pick Option 2 and the happier, quieter life that comes with it over staying just to try and make a point.

SD is going nowhere as it’s her home too…..and therefore I would be.

TheInfusionist · 27/02/2024 09:02

Jeez, this is a child. Nasty stepdaughter, a bad apple, what? It's a kid who's crying out for help in the only way that teenagers know how.

OP, why do you keep talking about discipline and removing privileges? Take a step back, be polite and friendly, and maybe just try to be friends with the poor kid.

Justwrong68 · 27/02/2024 09:03

Reugny · 27/02/2024 08:36

There is no need for family counselling, however you need to change your own attitude.

There are plenty of step-children who know their separated parents have different rules in their homes, and what is tolerated in home isn't in the other. And her age is no excuse - in fact she should behave better since she has known you for a long time.

Firstly stop running after your step-daughter. Stop cooking her favourite meals and cleaning up after her. Leave it for her dad to do and do your own thing if she turns up. He needs to actively parent her and not expect you to do anything. Just because you are female doesn't mean you are a skivvy.

Secondly and most importantly talk to your husband.Tell him that he needs to deal with his child rudeness, otherwise his child is not welcome to come into your house. He can see her elsewhere until she learns basic manners. Then make sure you mean it so don't be afraid to chuck them both out.

I get this way of thinking. The old evil step mother trope is dead in the water. You're not her mum, you're her dad's lover. My kid is also 13, I can't imagine the idea of moving someone in and expecting him to get on with it. He's traumatised enough by the break up, even after five years.

Soontobe60 · 27/02/2024 09:04

CheekyHobson · 27/02/2024 00:36

Presumably she is suffering from having a horrific lack of support and healthy boundaries at her mother’s house if she is out smoking drugs and sleeping with boys. Negative or sexual attention is probably the only kind of attention she feels she can reliably get. I think it’s telling she doesn’t actually want to spend more time at her mother’s place.

Franky I think focusing on discipline (or making one-on-one time with her some kind of life lesson by doing outdoorsy activities if she’s not super-into them herself — better to drive her to the mall to hang out with her friends and chat in the car on the way there if that’s what she likes to do… then take her for a coffee afterwards) isn’t doing you any favours at this point. You need to focus on creating a safe, unconditionally validating, mutually trusting space for her, and worry about your own boundaries rather than trying to get her to behave a certain way. All your attempts to “instil discipline” will likely just come off as being controlling.

So if she tells you the sky is green, you say, “Oh you think so? Why’s that?” Not sarcastically. Interested.

If she screams “Fuck off” in your face, you don’t tell her not to speak to you like that or she’ll be grounded, you say, “I can see you’re really upset. I don’t like being screamed at but happy to talk more when you’re calm.”

You need to build a real relationship, and that means meeting her where she is at, even if that’s a very long way from where you wish she was.

Edited

Excellent advice!

Soontobe60 · 27/02/2024 09:05

Youcannotbeseriousreally · 27/02/2024 08:06

Step kid or not there is no way I would tolerate this behaviour in my home. Firm no from me. I’d be telling my husband that if he wanted to see her that’s fine but he could do it elsewhere.

completely unacceptable.

Great way to treat a disturbed child

KatesLipGloss · 27/02/2024 09:05

Youcannotbeseriousreally · 27/02/2024 08:53

Nope sorry. It’s the OPs house first and foremost. Please stop with the bullshit that SD is more important than the Op. she is not.

OP is married - the house is now the marital home

So all the occupants belong there.

DSD is clearly having major issues at the moment, and it is mainly for her parents to work on this. But her DMum is largely absent and not a positive presence, so it's mainly down to her DDad. A SM of many years standing would often be part of that, but of course does not have to be.

So I think the best OP can do is minimise her exposure to the things she cannot put up with, and support her DH as he deals with it.

Having teens can be really challenging - and it's not uncommon for one to be straightforward and one in to every form of trouble going. Your DH might need outside support in finding effective strategies to help him tackle the issues.

Youcannotbeseriousreally · 27/02/2024 09:08

Some of you lot are totally batshit crazy. And also, why are some of you even on the step parent board? To judge? To try and be superior. Honestly. Not every child is troubled, some are just plain naughty. Get over yourselves and let the Op stand up for herself against this absolutely dreadful behaviour.

MattDamon · 27/02/2024 09:13

Youcannotbeseriousreally · 27/02/2024 08:53

Nope sorry. It’s the OPs house first and foremost. Please stop with the bullshit that SD is more important than the Op. she is not.

Nope, not sorry, it's all of their 'home'. Please stop with the bullshit that stepchildren don't actually live in both homes. Beyond cruel.

OP has a serious issue and deserves support, but it is SD and Father's house, too.

Youcannotbeseriousreally · 27/02/2024 09:15

MattDamon · 27/02/2024 09:13

Nope, not sorry, it's all of their 'home'. Please stop with the bullshit that stepchildren don't actually live in both homes. Beyond cruel.

OP has a serious issue and deserves support, but it is SD and Father's house, too.

You’ve made an assumption here. If the Op was sensible she’d still fully own her house. I hope she still does. No one was living in my house without all my assets totally protected.

Wholettherabbitsout · 27/02/2024 09:15

MaloneMeadow · 27/02/2024 08:52

Having sex isn’t attention seeking, what planet are you on?

Um, of course having sex is attention seeking behavior - it’s just not seeking attention from parents. Sexual relationships involve partners paying each other huge amounts of attention. It’s not a jump at all to think that a young teen choosing to have sex while still quite emotionally immature is doing it because they crave the attention they get from their sexual partner. It can be a big problem because it can make young teens very vulnerable to exploitation or abusive relationships especially if they are seeking out older partners rather than same age peers.

MattDamon · 27/02/2024 09:17

Youcannotbeseriousreally · 27/02/2024 09:15

You’ve made an assumption here. If the Op was sensible she’d still fully own her house. I hope she still does. No one was living in my house without all my assets totally protected.

There's been no assumption. They all live there, it's their home. Who owns it is only relevant if OP chooses to end the relationship.

Youcannotbeseriousreally · 27/02/2024 09:19

MattDamon · 27/02/2024 09:17

There's been no assumption. They all live there, it's their home. Who owns it is only relevant if OP chooses to end the relationship.

It’s relevant when people suggest OP leaves to give them space.

I mean unless the SD is paying the mortgage. Otherwise it’s an absolutely ludicrous suggestion.

Autienotnaughtie · 27/02/2024 09:25

This is your dh fault. If his dd wasnt ready/happy to build a relationship with you then he shouldn't have escalated the relationship to suit himself.

There's an unhappy 13 year old child who's rebelling and making poor choices. Her dad insists she has to live with someone she doesn't like and his suggestion to change that was to spend less time with her. So essentially choosing you over his dd. Then there's her mother who is weaponising her and not putting boundaries in place.

With regards to discipline, wouldn't expect her to discipline at her house for stuff that is happening at yours but she needs to discipline at hers as needed.

Your dh needs to start putting his dd first it would be better for you to live separately and start from scratch with rebuilding her trust. Although I appreciate it's not that easy. Failing that I would give her a lot of space when she's there and aim for a bit of quality time together. And dh gets lots of one to one time with her. And I absolutely wouldn't have kids together at this point

JingsMahBucket · 27/02/2024 09:26

@Youcannotbeseriousreally I love how all your posts completely match your username. 😂😂😂

Youcannotbeseriousreally · 27/02/2024 09:26

JingsMahBucket · 27/02/2024 09:26

@Youcannotbeseriousreally I love how all your posts completely match your username. 😂😂😂

Agree. It’s unbelievable the absolute bullshit you lot are spouting here.

Autienotnaughtie · 27/02/2024 09:27

XFiler · 27/02/2024 08:54

It’s the op’s house and I’d be telling him to have her elsewhere.

Is it op's house? Or is it op's and her dhs?

MaloneMeadow · 27/02/2024 09:27

Youcannotbeseriousreally · 27/02/2024 08:53

Nope sorry. It’s the OPs house first and foremost. Please stop with the bullshit that SD is more important than the Op. she is not.

I will happily argue that a struggling child needs to come first in this relationship. If OP doesn’t like it or doesn’t want to deal with it then she shouldn’t have married her DH knowing that he has a daughter

Youcannotbeseriousreally · 27/02/2024 09:29

MaloneMeadow · 27/02/2024 09:27

I will happily argue that a struggling child needs to come first in this relationship. If OP doesn’t like it or doesn’t want to deal with it then she shouldn’t have married her DH knowing that he has a daughter

🙄

JingsMahBucket · 27/02/2024 09:32

Youcannotbeseriousreally · 27/02/2024 09:26

Agree. It’s unbelievable the absolute bullshit you lot are spouting here.

@Youcannotbeseriousreally not me! I agree with you! 😂

Youcannotbeseriousreally · 27/02/2024 09:34

JingsMahBucket · 27/02/2024 09:32

@Youcannotbeseriousreally not me! I agree with you! 😂

Yes sorry I went back to edit but had left it too late!

I mean the royal *you. Obvs 🤣

SplitFountainPen · 27/02/2024 09:37

Keep being kind and supportive, and remember it's not her fault the damage her mums parenting has had on her.
Knowing she has unconditional love from you both will hopefully give her somewhere safe to turn to when she's matured enough to make better decisions.
Focus on the long term goal rather than short term.

Pennyforyour · 27/02/2024 09:40

Disengage!!! Stop trying so hard with her, you’re rewarding her appalling behaviour. When she’s there, do your own thing.

I feel for you, it must be awful feeling so uncomfortable in your own home. Not sure I could accept someone into my home that couldn’t behave with basic manners/courtesy.

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