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Step-parenting

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Should I speak to my partner about his spoiled kids and particularly son's behaviour

61 replies

Pamalam · 08/03/2025 13:02

Hi, I would love some input on this as I'm really unsure how to proceed.

I (40f) have been in a relationship with my partner (45m) for a year and a half, before this I was alone for 8years. I have 4 children, 20, 17, 13 and 11 who are with me full time. He has 2 aged 11 and 9 who he has 2 nights midweek and every other weekend.

Theres a couple of problems I am having and I'm unsure how to address these or if I should even mention it at all.

Firstly, his kids are extremely spoiled, both from him and their mother. They demand and expect things and will 9/10 always get their way, only exception is if my oh doesn't have the money for whatever it is - then the kids will huff over it and complain, cry etc. he has said himself that they are spoilt, but he sees that as the amount of stuff that they have rather than how it affects their behaviour, if that makes sense. He doesn't seem to acknowledge their manipulation tactics or respond to their tantrums. His 11yo is rude and shouts demands at him through the house, my oh laughs it off and does whatever he's told. My kids talk between themselves about how his kids are spoiled, there's no jealousy there, more so they find it irritating to be around.

The next, and probably greater issue if I'm honest, is the behaviour of his son. Since we have met his behaviour has been a concern to me, specifically his language and way he behaves/talks. For example making r#pe jokes, being racist , using the N word, violently hurting his younger sister, calling her and my youngest b#tches, putting inappropriate content on the TV etc. I've spoken to my partner about this over the time we have been together, but he's never done anything about it than say "hey don't do that". I've considered that this behaviour could have been coming from a place of insecurity and that his son was trying to maybe appear cool/show off to my older children, or establish himself as being somewhat older than he is. I put it down to being exposed to content he shouldn't be (both kids are constantly on tictok) and thought that this would settle down over time/his dad would nip it in the bud. But nothing has changed. Although under all that there is a sweet and affectionate boy, he does genuinely believe he is superior to everyone and I am finding him difficult to be around. My children don't enjoy being around him to the point they don't want to go if he's there and they don't want him to come to ours. I've said to my partner before that my kids don't want to come because of his language and behaviour, and he said he's spoken to him about it but then next time we are there it's just the same. At first my kids were shocked and offended, now they are just tired and bored and becoming resentful.

I don't know how involved I should be with this, obviously I don't want things to continue as they are, but Im also aware that if it's not handled properly it could come across as a personal attack on his kids, which would understandably most likely be a deal breaker for him. Is this behaviour a deal-breaker, should I be walking away? After all, it's not ok for my daughter to be called a b#+ch, what kind of example is that setting for how she should expect to be treated...

Any advice gratefully received xx

OP posts:
Ferrazzuoli · 08/03/2025 14:38

If my 11yo DD was being called a bitch or hearing rape jokes in her home then that would be an absolute deal breaker for me. You don't need to split up with your partner if you don't want to, but you need to keep your DC away from his.

HundredMilesAnHour · 08/03/2025 14:47

Rape jokes are unacceptable. Racism is unacceptable. Even one of these is horrific, let alone both, let alone the violence to his sister etc.

I would have expected any decent person to have read the riot act immediately. And then some! But for this to continue and for the father to still effectively do nothing is beyond a dealbreaker. What sort of person is he?!! Someone who doesn’t take this as seriously is not someone I would associate with, let alone allow in my home or near my children.

This isn’t criticism of you @Pamalam but this so-called man is no man to value or respect or to spend time with. You deserve better. Your children deserve better. The women of this world deserve better.

stayathomer · 08/03/2025 14:52

Op don’t do that as opposed to ‘you can’t say stuff like that, it’s disgusting, people who say those kind of things are the lowest of the low and you’ll end up in jail’ etc etc means he doesn’t think they’re horrific. Ergo you are both very very different people and your children are now being exposed to opinions that could really affect them

TinyGiraffe23 · 08/03/2025 14:58

The very next time this child makes a rape joke or a racist remark, tell him that you don’t spend time with people who talk in that way and he needs to leave. Or leave their house. Model to your daughter and the boy’s father how to respond to this behaviour. It really doesn’t matter if it’s a dealbreaker to your partner. Draw a line.

28Fluctuations · 08/03/2025 15:01

If you don't live together, there is never a reason for your dc to see his. There is never a reason for you to see his dc.

Just cut all contact absolutely between his dc and yours. Tell him why. He's raising a racist, sexist porn addict. That's his business, but you can stay far away from it.

Enjoy your relationship with dp when you can be together without dc.

JenniferBooth · 08/03/2025 15:05

I dont know about anyone else but a doormat ineffectual cant be bothered man is not a turn on

So if it were me i would not be able to "just date him" If i had experienced all this my fanny would close up quite frankly

TinyGiraffe23 · 08/03/2025 15:09

Ferrazzuoli · 08/03/2025 14:38

If my 11yo DD was being called a bitch or hearing rape jokes in her home then that would be an absolute deal breaker for me. You don't need to split up with your partner if you don't want to, but you need to keep your DC away from his.

If my 11 year old daughter was being exposed to rape jokes, racially offensive language or being called a bitch anywhere I would be raising the roof. If I had sons who were using that kind of language and viewing Andrew Tate material they would have a basic Nokia for emergency calls. This man is not parenting his children at the most basic level and that is enough to call it a day.

TinyGiraffe23 · 08/03/2025 15:10

JenniferBooth · 08/03/2025 15:05

I dont know about anyone else but a doormat ineffectual cant be bothered man is not a turn on

So if it were me i would not be able to "just date him" If i had experienced all this my fanny would close up quite frankly

Me too, I wouldn’t be interested in this man.

Velmy · 08/03/2025 15:13

Hopefully your partner's racist kid will drop the N word within earshot of some black kids before too long. He'll soon get taught the lessons his father seems incapable or unwilling to teach him.

Endofyear · 08/03/2025 15:22

I would have no respect for a man who doesn't parent effectively. Your partner sounds pathetic and ineffectual, why are you not furious with him? He and the child's mother are doing their son a huge disservice by allowing his vile behaviour. He will become a horrible adult that they don't like and it will be their fault.

I'm afraid the poor parenting would be a deal breaker for me. I'd walk away now.

Chachacha25 · 08/03/2025 15:31

You should definitely be saying something to your partner and to the boy at the time. If he/they don’t respond, then that would be the end of that for me.

Disgusting and unacceptable and if his own family aren’t pulling him up on it, then what hope has the lad got? I would definitely not let my own children have to put up with it.

I would have said (bit late for you now I think,) ‘You say that one more time and you leave/we leave and don’t come back’ and mean it.

Your partner can do the discussion with him.

Chachacha25 · 08/03/2025 15:34

I‘m sure your own children are lovely but you don’t want them normalising this behaviour or becoming desensitised to it (sounds like they are already from your description of their reaction.) Why should they have to?

dapsnotplimsolls · 08/03/2025 15:38

Don't go there when his kids are there. Simple.

harriethoyle · 08/03/2025 15:41

Why on earth are you exposing your children to this?! Just stop letting his children stay at yours…

ByQuaintAzureWasp · 08/03/2025 15:42

Just don't be at his house when the kids are there. Remove yourself and your children from the situation.

excelledyourself · 08/03/2025 15:42

He should be coming down on that behaviour like a ton of bricks.

His poor daughter, living with two males who don't respect her.

I wouldn't want to know him.

DeffoNeedANameChange · 08/03/2025 15:44

You have to put your children ahead of some guy you've known for 18 months. Walk away.

TinyGiraffe23 · 08/03/2025 15:53

I just couldn’t be attracted to such a wetwipe.

zoemum2006 · 08/03/2025 15:55

Any man that let his children use the N word would be an automatic NO for me. No ifs, buts or maybes. Absolutely vile, bottom feeding grossness that I wouldn't want to associate with.

RockyRogue1001 · 08/03/2025 16:11

I don't disagree with pp, but

I've considered that this behaviour could have been coming from a place of insecurity

@Pamalam, my recommendation both for your well being and for discussions with your DP is to focus on the feelings behind rather than the words DSS is saying.
If your partner's willing to hear that his kid might have something going on and work on that, that might solve your problem.
If your DP isn't willing to consider that his DS might be unhappy and work to resolve this, then you have to ask yourself if this is someone you want to be with

Ilovelurchers · 08/03/2025 17:44

zoemum2006 · 08/03/2025 15:55

Any man that let his children use the N word would be an automatic NO for me. No ifs, buts or maybes. Absolutely vile, bottom feeding grossness that I wouldn't want to associate with.

This. Most of the replies haven't focused on the racism, but this is absolutely disgusting - and any remotely decent person would come down extremely hard on their child for expressing racist views, use of the N word etc.

His verbal abuse of his sister and your daughter is similarly disgusting - if his dad doesn't react with outrage and horror, then he is partially culpable here in my opinion.

For this reason, I would not keep seeing this man. I mean, first of all I would address it with him and see what he had to say. But I can't think what explanation he could give that would be even slightly ameliorating. Unless his son has a disability or extreme mental health issues, he is of an age where he should be quite capable of grasping how utterly unacceptable this behaviour is - and it's his dad's job to teach him that. (Alongside the mom - but you presumably don't know how she responds, and you can't control that).

Good luck OP. It's sad, but at least he is showing you who he is.

autisticbookworm · 08/03/2025 23:12

I would walk away. Your children shouldn't be subjected this they are not benefiting here. Yes you can keep them separate but only if the relationship doesn't progress and if it's not going to progress then what's the point?

I also agree with others your dp may not share his sons views but he's colluding in them which is appalling parenting.

RachelLikesTea · 08/03/2025 23:30

Not sure how you can see a future in this relationship. I know I couldn’t.

YipYapYop · 09/03/2025 08:14

Truly disgusting behaviour from stepson and quite worrying that dad's saying Andrew Tate sounds alright.

I'd say show DP some of the vids of what Andrew Tate says about abusing women.

If he's not totally disgusted and addressing this immediately, I'd leave.

Really horrible that the girls are having to live with this. This boy needs some serious guidance, boundaries and probably some good role models. And tbh to have his internet access limited to appropriate content.

Isometimeswonder · 09/03/2025 08:21

Another woman who cares more about her relationship than the damage being done to her kids.

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