At a loss.

constantlyheartbrokenstepmom's picture

My step daughter is having a baby girl in April and I am excited but scared, worried, and sad that I will not get to see her much. We only see the step daugter my husband's daughter a few times a year. We hear from her sporadiclly. I text her often if I did not I probably would not hear from her much at all. When she started dating the guy she is married too they were in highschool they had only been dating for 4 months before she went to college, the point being he has never really gotten to  know us very well. After she had been gone for a year to college and came back home to finish her degree we financially was in a place we could no longer cover her car note and car insurance we tried for months to get in touch with her Mom to get help and no on would get back to us. I on the other hand was driving a 12 year car that was dying on the interestate with me. We finally had to go get her car and sell it. After that she refused to have anything to do with us. That went on for off and on about 4 years. Then slowly we started having small visits. However for me, it has been a painful journey, I am afraid to say anything that will send her running. I have begun to be more upfront and ask questions. However her husband has never really came around. He comes over, and says he loves us but there is this underlying current. He is graduating college in May and everytime I ask him about has he got confirmation he says he does not know, Yesterday however it became clear he did know when and he was keeping it to himself. That's one thing I have no idea what to do about, do I confront him and say I know you do not want us to come. Or leave it alone. He did not want us to come to the wedding because we may make a scene. We have never made a scense in public, EVER. I still don't know what that was about. The next issue is the baby, my step daughter said she was going to let us keep her, but will that really happen? I do not want to order or buy baby gear, crib, high chair bath, all the things we will need to keep her and then something happens or they just never let her come over. I have been so sad and irritable the last few days. During the time that Step Daughter shut us out they became very close with her mom and step dad. In fact she had him walk her down the aisle and said he was more of dad to her than her real dad. We went to the wedding and tears were in my dh eyes when her step dad walked down the aisle. I know most people will say cut ties but it is hard when you love someone. 

Comments

CLove's picture

This sounds really hard. When someones child uses them for ATM or whatever they need, but has no desire for a relationship, its like a death. And you go through grieving period.

Its obvious from what you posted that you need to grieve the loss of the relationship you wished and hoped to have. I would leave the SIL alone and if he doesnt want you there, well thats one less thing you have to purchase for ungrateful person.

That must have been so hard. I wonder why the SD did that to her father?

JRI's picture

You sound like a kind-hearted person with a lot of love to give.  But, to protect your heart, I would disengage and expect nothing.  Who knows how tbey will treat you and your DH.

I would ask no questions about graduation, wedding or baby.  You'll know soon enough.  Don't buy baby equipment.  When the baby is tiny, you dont really need anything other than what they'll normally bring (bottles, diapers).   If you see they're bringing baby over more, you can buy the other items.  Unless finances are no problem, I'd go to a children's resale shop in an upscale area and get equipment there.  From my experience, the grandBM gets the grandbaby more than the grandad.  And, some people use access to the baby to punish the stepparents.

As the child gets older, people have less access to free babysitting so you might see the child more then.  Good luck.

notarelative's picture

Please temper your expectations. Unless no one else can babysit, do not expect to see this child often. If SSIL did not want you at the wedding, do not expect to be invited to his graduation. Don't ask. If you want to know the date, to keep it open in case you are invited, look on the college website. It should be listed on the academic calendar.

Don't buy anything for your home. With a tiny infant, you won't need more than what the parents bring. As the child ages, if you see him/her often, you can pick up a few second hand items. Yard sales are great sources. Thrift stores have lots of gently used toddler toys.

Based on what you have written about the past, the odds of you babysitting frequently are not good. Expect less, and be pleasantly surprised if it occurs. 

Rags's picture

Not emotionally, not financially, nor intellectually.

It is a waste.

Period. Dot.

Do not give them any space in your head. The more you prepare and chase them, the more power to manipulate and disappoint you that gives them.

Write them off. Do not get excited. If they engage, great, But that has to be entirely on them.

As for baby gear. If they do end up 'letting' you watch the GSkid, runt o GoowWIll and buy what you need. Or.... just go buy a portable play pen (aka, crib, palette, etc...) and a high chair that clips to the table.  Nothing more.  Why go all in for an entire baby bedroom suite, high chair, etc.....?  This minimizes your financial loss, your emotional baggage when they disappointe you, and prevents you from overly exposing yourself to the risk of them ..... being them.

Past behavior is the best indicator of future behavior. You know what they will do. So ... take care of  yourself.

Lower your excitement and expectations so you won't be disappointed.

IMHO of course,

Had I been your DH at the SD's wedding, would have stood up when she and StepDad were walking down the isle and taken her other arm.  I would nave not said a word. I would have just done it, then I would have kissed my daughter and returned to my seat.  IWNGAF about what anyone thought or said about it.

You cannot tolerate this kind of toxic crap from asshole people.  I get your pain. But... stop tortunring yourself and putting yourself at their emotional victim beck and call.

Nea

ESMOD's picture

They have made their preference clear.. I think you need to dial your expectations WAY back.  I would not buy one piece of baby gear.. I know it is hurtful.. but it seems like she feels her dad let her down with the whole car thing.. and probably feels he should have done more.. and resents him now.. BM surely planted plenty of those seeds.

So.. it is what it is.. if she wants to be in your lives.. it will happen.. but you cannot MAKE it happen.  Ultimately.. the baby is not your grandkid anyway.. it's your DH's.. and if he wants to push it.. he can try.. but all you can really do is quietly support him.

justmakingthebest's picture

I would just dial things back. Let them come to you.

As for buying things, if you do, keep it simple. Maybe a bouncy seat from a consignment shop for now and the baby can sleep in that if they do allow you to babysit. If you find they ask a 2nd time, you can get something else. Shop consignment and save the money. 

I have young nephews (7 weeks and 16 months) I keep highchair booster seat, a jumperoo and bouncy seat. I was given the jumperoo. I bought the others from a used shop and think I have $30 in it. The babies tend to sleep snuggled with me or in the bouncy. You really don't need a lot for them for a while. The older one's parents bring a bag of toys when he comes to play. 

My point is, don't go crazy until you see how this is going to play out. 

2Tired4Drama's picture

Your name (constantlyheartbroken) is an indicator that you are expecting too much from your SD and her husband, and their soon-to-be-born baby.

You are indeed a tender hearted soul and think that if YOU love someone they will (eventually) love you, too.  They won't. The world simply doesn't work that way and especially the stepkid world.  

It sounds like you are overwhelming/smothering your SD and to be honest, most young people in her age demographic don't want their own parents texting them often, let alone a stepmother.  So stop texting her - she probably doesn't like it. Likewise, the SSIL has made it clear he doesn't want you to attend his graduation so stop pushing it.  Don't ask him any questions or confront him. Those kinds of questions are undoubtedly uncomfortable for everyone so stop doing it.  

Understand that this couple does not care to have a close relationship with either you or your DH.  It is awful, it is indeed heartbreaking but it is true. You cannot control them and you cannot control who they have affection for.  It is obvious SD is closer to her own mother and stepfather and you and DH are outliers.  So be it. The only thing that can change is what your expectations of them are - which should be nothing, or minimal at best.  

SD is not your daughter and that baby will not be your grandchild, no matter how much you may "love" her and want to be a grandmother.  You are creating your own heartbreak by expecting it to be that way. This is especially true when it is a stepdaughter having a baby - her own mother is going to be the primary grandmother. It is even more true in your case since you do not have a good relationship with SD.  Likewise, I would expect that BM's husband will be in the primary role as grandfather since SD seems to be much closer to him so your DH should expect to take a back-burner.

I say all this because we are in a similar situation. SD is very close to her mother and her husband, and rarely keep in contact with my SO.  I keep out of it and do the bare minimum.

I don't mean to be abrupt but I see you are in a position to be very, very hurt and I don't want that to happen to you.  You need to start thinking of your SD like she is someone you once used to work with - a person you can be friendly and cordial with once in awhile whenever you may see her, but not someone you have a close relationship with.  When the baby is born send a small token gift (like you would to a former coworker) and then learn to disengage.  There is a section here on STalk which focuses on how to disengage from Step situations that will not get any better. 

Sadly, you are in that position - this is not a situation that will get any better. 

ESMOD's picture

This message is the kindest thing to tell someone.  

We are setting ourselves up to be hurt if we pin our hopes for happiness on other people.. especially in the steplife dynamic.  It could be similar to my DH's EX who punishes her girls for "liking" their dad or me.  At times.. it was hurtful that the girls couldnt be more expressive.. or chose to please mom (primary).. but it was their way of protecting themselves. 

If OP has a desire to be a nurturing force.. she may need to seek that validation elsewhere.. maybe  she and her DH would be interested in foster care?  or programs where people volunteer in a grandparent capacity to kids that have little family support?  or she might be fulfilled volunteering with animals.. at a shelter or rescue.. get some real appreciation from organizations that need volunteers... forge connections with people that are not blood family?