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Relationship ended. Step daughter hates me

(62 Posts)
Bird40 Thu 29-Sept-22 14:05:44

I'm desperately in love with my partner (ex as of yesterday ?)
Together almost 3 years. both have kids. live in separate houses but with planning application in at his .

I have never felt so in love (I'm in my 40's) or so comfortable or happy with anyone.

His daughter has been difficult for day one
As expected at 13/14. I could list some awful situations but picking out 3 off top of my head she poisoned something that belonged to me with bleach, breaks things I've brought over for her (weirdly any drink we have when out always falls over or the glass breaks, and she told my daughter who was 8, that she had a life threatening illness that we had been told not to discuss ?)
She lies, and one of the worst was her accusing me of standing over her intimidating her. I asked her for more detail as wanted to clarify when this was and then of course would apologise...but there wasn't really a time in the past months that we had been in the same room. I was baffled.
This specifically worried me as I'm in a profession where an accusation like this could cause career issues. She would know this.
After a particularly difficult few hours with her, I quietly stopped going over to my partners house. It was easier without the conflift and also it is her home.

Her dad is scared of her. There is also a slightly uncofmy dynamic in that she tries to act like a mini wife . I actually understand this as her mum is not around
.it's a very difficult situation for her.
At 16 she is not a young lady and incredibly mixed up.
I found her some counseling but she had a few and convinced them she was fine and didn't need support.

Locally, friends mum's keep their children away from her. I actually (genuinely )feel sorry for her) she is very troubled and it doesn't appear that anyone can help her

She is difficult to like and I am very aware that this must be utterly miserable for her.
She can also, be incredibly charming ...tall, elegant and interesting but she works a room finding someone vulnerable, either drunk or naive and will try to separate them from the group. It's difficult to explain but I've seen it happen pretty much everytime I am with her. To start with I thought maybe she was shy and felt more comfortable with one person but it invariably ends with drama, big rows, other parents sending her home etc etc.

Gradually over the last few months I realised that my time with my ex was being squeezed away. She always, without fail (I think because of attachment issues) phones her dad within 45 mins of us being together. A child absolutely should have free access to a parent but when it was happening when we were in bed together..I had to gently say it was making feel uncomfortable.
He has tried to bring in some boundaries and we then used to only see eachother when kids weren't around.

I also, importantly never asked him to stay over when she was home. I have tried to minimise any reason for her to be threatened by me or the kdis presence.
She must have picked up on this and now and for last 12 months won't let her dad know where she is staying (she has family dotted around locally but notably grandparents and her mum) so come 7.30 on a Friday night I still won't know if I'm seeing my partner. I know I Brought that one myself but it's got to the point I feel like I'm having an affair. I can't, because of limits I've put in place to prevent coming into contact with her, Actually maintain a normal relationship with my partner.

Thursday we had a row. It was my fault. I know that. However I thought I'd leave it quiet a bit as tbh fed up talking issues over. There is always something...usually related to his daughter. I left it just messaging a morning and a bit in the day and a good night. Nothing like the contact we usually have. I know bit childish of me but I'm quite stressed with my work, I'm a single mum myself with no family within 100miles... actually I'd like a partner that I can meet for a cuppa without his 16year pod daughter throwing a tantrum.

I have done an awful thing and told him I can't stand her or her behavior.
I also told him if anyone had said that about one of my kids, that I'd be showing them the door. I would!!
It's not really her fault. The parenting is.
I blame myself for not having more confidence, day one, to say her behaviour wasn't ok. Also maybe I shld have kept entirely out of it...thing is very difficult as he constantly spills into the snatched hours we have togther.

I can't envisage a life where it is dominated by his daughter. I have such a lovely life with my two children. How can I bring chaos to my children's life which is what happens whenever she is there.

Last night my partner, now ex said he was crying in bed and had lost the love of his life. I feel the same but don't know how to remedy it. I think for both sets of children's sake it's better we are apart but I am heartbroken
Thoughts appreciated?

Shropshirelass Wed 28-Dec-22 14:16:06

You haven’t done anything wrong and I think right to step back. You are never going to win with this horrible teenager. She will grow up and leave home one day, hopefully soon. Maybe you can hide your time until then, there’s no rush, you have plenty of time. The worst thing would be to find yourself in such a dreadful situation further down the line that you had to get out of. Keep your own space for your own sanity and life will find a way. Good luck.

BlueBelle Wed 28-Dec-22 15:04:35

But you also haven’t read the thread much onward the decisions been made she’s not going on with the love affair

OnwardandUpward Wed 28-Dec-22 15:08:07

BlueBelle

But you also haven’t read the thread much onward the decisions been made she’s not going on with the love affair

I admitted that on my post at Wed 28-Dec-22 14:11:26 Bluebelle when I said Well done, time makes all things clear, or something.

happycatholicwife1 Wed 28-Dec-22 19:35:01

Sorry. Now he's out of a job for A YEAR. Run, do not walk. I don't think I've heard you say one thing that has made me think there was any future here. I have dealt with a stepdaughter like that. Men sometimes have a hard time drawing a line with the child when there's been a divorce, especially when the mother has problems like those you describe. However, after a lot of effort trying to make things work out, my DH told her basically that we were finished. Mind you, she is in her 50s and still was trying to cause problems for us. We never allowed that to happen, but that's not to say there weren't some tough times. We have had to dismiss her from our lives because she has a lot of problems. She goes from being very nice to being very poisonous. I'm not sure your boyfriend has the intestinal fortitude to make this turn out right and, frankly, if he is deteriorating and he already has a problem he cannot manage, why do you want him? Your children will remember this and an awful lot hinges on how much you are there for them. I wish you a wise decision and good luck.

welbeck Wed 28-Dec-22 23:50:41

your children may remember you as giving your time and attention to these people during these years rather than to them.
you seem to want to rescue people. unhealthy.
beware.
value and give attention to your own children while you still can.

Bird40 Fri 30-Dec-22 11:21:00

Thanks everyone. I always have spent the majority of the time with my own children, alone so as not to cause issues to any of the children, haven't forced 'blended family'time on any of them and have only ever provided nice comments or brief interactions/ simple gifts at Christmas etc for his kids.
My children are really lovely and deserve a mum that's focussed on them which they get, although admittedly they must have noticed when I was unhappy and a bit distracted.

My relationship was, I thought, the icing on the cake of a fairly full life.
Looking back, the only thing I would have done differently was to make it clear from several weeks in, that the time I spend with my partner is and should have been a completely normal, adult choice, not to be messed with by teenage children.
Boundaries
If I met another person and was even thinking about a relationship, I would be watching family Interactions very closely as it doesn't change x

25Avalon Fri 30-Dec-22 11:31:52

Good luck and best wishes for the future Bird40

OnwardandUpward Fri 30-Dec-22 11:36:47

Good luck for the future Bird40.

I was on my own with my kids for a while after an abusive relationship. I got involved with one man and quickly realised he was controlling- so I ended it.

I decided early on not to go for any one with kids. I know it's selfish of me, but I wanted a good stepdad for my kids because their dad is abusive. I met a man who had no kids but who was an uncle and loved kids. We had hoped to have a child together, but we later found that he had a genetic condition that's serious and could have been passed on. He's especially close to my youngest. I hope you meet someone nice and maybe who doesn't have kids at all so you can always come number one. flowers

HeavenLeigh Fri 30-Dec-22 11:56:30

I would walk away Bird40 reading through all your posts you sound absolutely lovely caring etc, I’m not sure he’s that nice actually depressed or not, making unkind comment about your microbladed eyebrows, you have done your best regarding this daughter of his, he sounds a weak man to me regarding his daughter, and I don’t feel things are going to improve with her, major issues here, I’d concentrate on your lovely children, I think you deserve more

Allsorts Fri 30-Dec-22 15:45:57

I would not be answering her calls 45 minutes later, phone would be on silent. My children would come first as yours are. I would not take any criticism about what he perceives wrong with me, just tell him to find someone else. Don’t let anyone put you down to make them feel better. You can do better on your own.

OnwardandUpward Fri 30-Dec-22 23:29:39

Commenting on your facial features in a negative way is a red flag.

My ex did this until he made me feel ugly. He also made sure to do it in front of our kids every time he visited them. Men like these can't add anything to you. They will always take from you, until they have brought you down as low as they feel.