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Step-parenting

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overly clingy 20 year old daughter

23 replies

EllaB68 · 05/01/2026 17:28

This is my first post on here but I am desperate for help. My partner has a 20 year old daughter who , after spending Xmas with them , I have realised is really pushing boundaries, turning point for me was being sat at the long family table and witnessed her stroking .patting her father's thigh under the table and to my horror been seen by another relative whos look was one of questionable behaviour. This was reciprocated. I understand the need for physical connection, security etc but ...
there is history here as she doesnt have a good relationship with her estranged mother, she seeks attention all the time with eating/ illness, sadness etc until she gets the sympathy she sought.She has a victim mentality and also has borderline eating disorder but again attention is key. History - mother and grandmother both have anorexic/ body dysmorphia tendencies and father, rightly or wrongly dealt with the mothers poor eating habits in a way that suggested he made her eat in front of the children to promote family table habits when she was struggling to manage her eating but also praises healthy eating and a slim physique. all very complex but ...
we have been together a year and she more recently has started to dress in her father tops, shuns shopping for new clothes, feigns illness for attention, when we are together finds every opportunity to sit next to him, drape herself over him, grasp his hand so its not free to hold and as soon as we go to bed she will text from her room with nightmare issues etc. I can see how this looks and jealousy is clear but the body language of a couple should not be the same as body language of father/ daughter and I am unsure if he really sees it as others seem to. I am trying so hard to try and think of a way to approach this and was reaching out for any help.
Hoping for advice

OP posts:
whatwouldlilacerullodo · 05/01/2026 17:31

Run for the hills!

Amonthinthecountry · 05/01/2026 17:32

I think I’d bail on this one.

ohyesohyesoh · 05/01/2026 17:36

do you live together ? If not , step away now.

NettleTea · 05/01/2026 17:39

I would say a very troubled 20 year old rather than attention seeking. Anorexia is horribly difficult to treat and manage.

when you say 'father and mother' in your post, are you talking about the step daughters parents, or the mother's parents.

There are strong links to OCD and autism with anorexia - its about control more than healthy eating, and often linked to abuse. Its an awful, awful disease, and TBH I would not blame you for bailing now. Forcing some kind of ultimatum is likely to backfire really badly and given the really high morbidity, Id be more tempted to withdraw

I can understand that it can be difficult but you need to decide if you are in for the long haul and you dont say if she is getting any professional support.

MadamCholetsbonnet · 05/01/2026 17:41

Assuming this is real. RUN!!!!! 🤮

AnneLovesGilbert · 05/01/2026 17:41

Don’t do this to yourself. Please, get away now. Don’t choose angst and drama and massively fucked up family dynamics. Find a man with an easier life.

BillieWiper · 05/01/2026 17:43

Well if you think your partner is capable of wishing to have a sexual relationship with his own daughter I don't understand why you'd stay with him for one second?

And presumably the daughter could've been abused from a young age? Rather than framing her as some sort of seductress who's a threat. You should be concerned for her welfare. And contact the police potentially about him.

Lightsandrainbows · 05/01/2026 17:48

She has anorexia, she’s been around multiple generations of disordered eating and thinking her whole life. It’s interesting you assume it’s primarily attention seeking for your DSD.

Primarily though I’m interested that you phrase this behaviour with her dad as something she’s doing, and gloss over very quickly that it is reciprocated

Aluna · 05/01/2026 17:57

Your DP is involved in this behaviour so why are you attributing it all to the DD?

A parent is responsible for setting and maintaining boundaries, if that hasn’t been done, that’s on him.

BillieWiper · 05/01/2026 17:59

Lightsandrainbows · 05/01/2026 17:48

She has anorexia, she’s been around multiple generations of disordered eating and thinking her whole life. It’s interesting you assume it’s primarily attention seeking for your DSD.

Primarily though I’m interested that you phrase this behaviour with her dad as something she’s doing, and gloss over very quickly that it is reciprocated

Yeah. Anorexia is life threatening. It makes no odds if outsiders think it's 'attention seeking' or not. It still kills more people than any other psychiatric illness.

grinchmcgrinchface · 05/01/2026 18:00

She was stroking her dads leg?! 🤢 Sorry but I would be asking wtf.

geoger · 05/01/2026 18:06

The DD is very unwell. Is she in therapy/treatment program? Does she work/study?
Anorexia is very serious and impacts every aspect of the persons life and those around them. I wouldn’t call it attention seeking.
Given the situation I think
you should leave the relationship. It’s unhealthy and the dd will always come first

somanychristmaslights · 05/01/2026 18:10

This is really weird. She was stroking his leg and he did nothing about it?? Massive red flags draping all over the place in that household.

Mancity08 · 05/01/2026 18:37

Run , honestly you know it doesn’t sit well with you in more ways than one .
He’s cordoning what’s she’s doing !
stroking his leg, sitting next to him etc
she obviously had BIG issues. She sounds like she had mh issues which fits with anorexia
35 is too young to be getting into this mix if problems

redfishcat · 05/01/2026 19:05

Run. Now. Get going

bigboykitty · 05/01/2026 23:08

"witnessed her stroking .patting her father's thigh under the table and to my horror been seen by another relative whos look was one of questionable behaviour. This was reciprocated."

What does this mean? It's not clear.

Apart from that, you've been together for a year and you live together? That's too soon when there's a child involved. You seem to maybe dislike your boyfriend's daughter and judge her behaviour. IMO she's very distressed and has a really significant trauma and attachment history. I'm not sure if you're also implying that there is abuse/incest between her and her father? In any case, in view of everything you've said about him, he has very poor boundaries indeed. I would step right away from the relationship. There's so much to go wrong.

CharlotteLightandDark · 05/01/2026 23:15

ED or not stroking your own dad’s thigh under the table is weird af. I don’t think I could feel ok about this at all.

surprisebaby12 · 05/01/2026 23:21

The most problematic part is that you’re attacking the daughter for a dynamic created by or exacerbated by her father. Major red flags. Goodness knows why you want to be with him given his behaviour here and to his ex

OriginalUsername2 · 05/01/2026 23:23

Someone needs to tell her how that’s coming across. Giving her the benefit of the doubt, as she sounds very troubled, perhaps she’s seen people give affection that way and is mimicking it without understanding that it’s sexual?

Holliegee · 05/01/2026 23:43

Pushing boundaries,attention seeking, nightmares?
I think she’s a really troubled soul who relies upon her Dad very heavily for security and comfort, although she’s 20 she clearly still needs ‘extra’ - maybe you coming into the picture has pulled the rug from under her feet, maybe her stroking his leg feels weird to you because you make it feel weird.
the relative who raised eyebrows should have said something, as family if I see something that causes a physical reaction I’d have to say it.
Anorexia and mental health problems are absolute dire - I’m sure you’d have thought it weird for my son at 21 to walk with me to the local 24 hour supermarket at 1:30 am holding my hand - but, I was in the middle of a nervous breakdown and could barely leave the house and that’s how he coaxed me out - even typing it out now makes me feel sad.
Maybe before you use the expressions you’ve used in your post you should speak to your partner, her Dad and ask how this s working and how you can help or be part of it.

bridezillaincoming · 06/01/2026 22:16

Fuck that Op

Windday · 04/02/2026 20:12

Move on fast.

Sohelpmegod25 · 04/02/2026 20:17

bridezillaincoming · 06/01/2026 22:16

Fuck that Op

Exactly this
what a weird set up
you dont need to be part of this

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