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YOU NEED TO STEP UP AND BE A STEP PARENT

Tigerlily7's picture

.... I've cried all afternoon, coming here to the blog in hopes you all can help steer me/relate or lift me up. 

This is BM's weekend, our town is doing fireworks today because we got rained out twice. The SK's wanted to see fireworks, BM is supposed to pick them up at 6pm. She called DH to see if I wanted to meet her in town tonight, said that her ride to get the kids does not want to go to town twice as they cannot afford the gas. 
My husband works so he wont be at the event. 

I don't want to be anywhere near the BM, I have done good at avoiding her lately. This was the first time she had called the kids this year and it was over this situation. I told my husband that I did not want to be around her that I would continue to help dropping them off and picking them up but it was better for me mentally/emotionally to keep my distance. This is the same BM who lied on me in court and blames me and husband for her past mistakes and reasons why she hasn't stepped to the plate for her children. 

It was not the BM who hurt me today but... my husband... I expressed my discord about not wanting to celebrate with the BM and her family. I would help best i could with my sks but should not be expected to do that. .

He yelled at me and said that "YOU NEED TO LEARN HOW TO COPARENT FOR THESES KIDS, and STEP UP AND BE A STEPPARENT"

I have helped raised my SK's since they were both 4 and 2. They are now 10 and 8. BM literally only gets them EOWE, does not work or contribute... but i have and I did. I am the one who takes them to doctors, dentist and school activities/events. I am the one who wipes away their tears, puts up with their moods, teaches them, cares for them and picks up their mess. I've been back and forth through my home today and trying to keep my distance from him and the Sk's...

where did I go wrong? 

I am in therapy, my cousellor does not get back from vacation until next weekend. 
Things were going great with me and husband... but this put him in a totally different light for me.
but i am the type of person who sits and blames myself and tries to find out what i have done wrong... I don't speak up to or call him/them out.. i have always just masked my opinion/emotion or expressed myself in anger and an unbeneficial way. 

HELP. Sad

Comments

notsurehowtodeal's picture

The only thing you have done wrong is to have done too much for too long for an ungrateful spouse. I cannot believe he told you that you need to step-up when you have been parenting those kids more than either of their parents. As far as tonight, if you want to drop them off, do it - but do not stay and hang out with BM and her family. Why in the world would your DH think you should do that? And honestly, if you don't want to take them - then don't. BM can figure it out or DH can find a way to get them there.

Do not blame yourself for what your DH said. He is way out of line. As a step-parent you are under no obligation to interact and "co-parent" with BM - that is completely the responsibility of your DH. You have done nothing but try and help all involved in this mess.

Tigerlily7's picture

I can't believe it either, im still in shock over it. Especially after everything that I have been through with the BM and her family and everything they have put his own children through. 

I am thinking seriously about taking myself and my 2 children out this evening and letting him deal with his children on his own for once. I am at a loss, i truly am. 

notsurehowtodeal's picture

Do it! Some space apart will do you good. And I would start considering some form of disengagement. Let him spend time on his own with kids.

simifan's picture

You have gone well above and beyond. These are not your children. You do not have to co-parent, not even with him. You do not have to do a blessed thing for these kids. Anything you do for them, you do out of love, respect & a genuine desire to help your spouse. I would let him know he has severely wounded you & these are not your children and not your responsibility.

Perhaps, your DH needs to be taught what not stepping up is. I would go full on strike. Babysit - nope not my kid. Drop offs - nope not my kid. Feed them - nope not my kid. Extras - nope not my kid. Shopping - nope not my kid. 

That man owes you a serious apology, a nice gift to make up for his faux pas, and some serious gratitude for everything you do.  

 

lieutenant_dad's picture

All you "did wrong" was set a boundary and made DH have to handle a situation that he doesn't want to handle.

If you can't tell, that's not actually something you did wrong, nor is it a YOU problem. It is BM's responsiblity to get the kids and have that all arranged. If she can't do her part, then it falls on your DH to come up with a solution.

You've set your boundary and said what you'll do. He doesn't get to stomp all over that because he has misplaced his anger onto you.

Your response to him needs to be: "DH, I already HAVE stepped up. The person who hasn't is BM. I told you what I'm willing and not willing to do. Do not blame me for BM's piss poor parenting and your own embarrassment for having procreated with her. I'm not doing this tonight or any night."

grannyd's picture

Dammit, Ani, you'll have to stand in line! Tigerlily, Hon, my blood pressure is heading for the stratosphere, reading about your husband’s flagrant lack of gratitude and his blindness to your selfless dedication regarding his children. GRRRRRR!

You are clearly an 'empath extraordinaire', the very personality type preferred by users like your husband. Time for a ‘come to Jesus’ dialog with Mr. Unreasonable; clearly, he needs to learn the difference between an obligation and a favor.

 

CLove's picture

Recently I have been creating and enforcing boundaries. People dont like it. They push back. Thats what he is doing here. You are now having boundaries and he is pushing back. He is gaslighting you, it seems. You have been over functioning and now the expectations have been set...its hard at first but he will hopefully think about what he said and realize that you are not their parents.

ESMOD's picture

That was crappy considering how much you do for him.  I guess he was frustrated because he had no way of facilitating anything and he was probably more mad at the situation vs "you".

I didn't love seeing BM.. she also caused a lot of trouble for us and expense!  But, I would occasionally pick the girls up from her house if it was more convenient (It would be on the way of my 2 hour commute.. and my DH worked on the water.. and often couldn't be home until later.. and it was an hour away from BM.. when it was 2 minutes more for me to do it).

I am not exactly sure what she is asking.. is she asking you to drop them with her early?  hang out with her?  or is she asking to get the kids after the fireworks?  

My line in the sand would be not "hanging out" with BM.. but I would go to a walmart parking lot and let the kids go to her car.. I would make sure they were very "ready" to get out and go over to her quickly.. I would stay in the car windows rolled up.. and be gone once she had "chain of custody"..

Tigerlily7's picture

I am not exactly sure what she is asking.. is she asking you to drop them with her early?  hang out with her?  or is she asking to get the kids after the fireworks?  
 

 

no she wants me to keep them until 9pm instead of 6pm and bring them to area and watch fireworks then she claims she will take them with her for the remainder of her weekend. 

 

Sorry 2

Bee_kay's picture

Your DH owes you an apology. It is not your responsibility to facilitate drop offs and pick ups with the BM. It's the BM's and DH's responsibility to figure out how to get her children to point A and point B.

This situation is not an emergency. The children won't be at risk if they don't see fireworks. The BM can pay the person gas money to make another trip to town. It seems like her idea of problem solving is put the problem on you. 
 

Hold on to your boundaries. You did nothing wrong. 

Harry's picture

First let BM pick up the kids at 6 pm.  Then what happens, happens. Not your problem.  You are off SK watching at 6 pm. Let DH and BM handle the rest of it.  Stop cooking and drops off picks ups.  Those kids have two parents you are not one of them.  Let DH co parent all he wants to.  Buy the way did he file for CS.  ??  BM dose not get get out of paying card becsuse she doesn't want to work.   Time to stand up for yourself.  He cares about BM more then you 

Tigerlily7's picture

Judge did not order her to pay CS during their last custody hearing, When I confronted him about asking for CS with the state office he said that they would not make her pay because she does not work and has 6 other children. 

I feel exactly what you said here at the end... like he cares about what she feels and thinks and goes through leaps and bounds for her but not his wife.

thinkthrice's picture

They would make a GUY pay CS if he wasn't working and had 6 other children. ..

dragonfly878's picture

"I didn't sleep with BM and reproduce- the only ones responsible for co-parenting are you and her. I am not responsible for cleaning up your mess."

Harry's picture

You are always wrong. Your SO will tell you are wrong and there loser EX will tell you are wrong.  The two who screw up there family are right. 

QueenofIndifference's picture

You aren't in the wrong at all. In fact, I say you go above and beyond. You are a better person than I am, dear. 

You do pick up and drop offs of these children? You take time out of your day to get them places they need to be? Then you say you are uncomfortable with this one thing and your husband blows up about it? That's unreasaonable of him, completely. If I were you, it would just be, 'I can't do it this time, sorry. Figure it out.'

I for one, do not pick up or drop off my SKs for ANYTHING. Absolutely NOTHING. We live 35-45 min one direction from where their school is, after school activities, BM house, etc. I expect my husband to deal with all transporation. I have my own life and it doesn't include ferrying his kids around, especially not if their BM is reluctant to do it. She puts them in all sorts of activities in their town and it isn't my fault if that interferes with DH work schedule; he must figure it out. Not me. 

If I were you, I would gently tell DH that you will not longer be in charge of getting them to dr apps or after school activities. He will soon realize what a lift you are doing...and if he doesn't...well, tough luck for him. 

SeeYouNever's picture

Ugh your husband is acting like an entitled jerk. The only thing you did wrong was not do what the bioparents asked of you. They treat you like an unpaid employee and get mad when you don't bend over backwards to make life easy for them? 

Why do they get to pass the obligations of parenthood off to your but if you do the same you're shamed for it? 

More than once I have been mad at my husband because he tried to hold me to a higher standard than he would hold himself it's so unfair. 

CajunMom's picture

They're  his kids. He made them. I don't care that his ex has six or sixty kids. She made those, too. Her responsibility. 

As Lt Dad said, you set a boundary and he's pissed. Oh well. Get over it. I'd start cutting off even more of what I do. 

grannyd's picture

Yo, CajunMom,

I'd be cutting off much more of what I'd be prepared to do,  if you know what I mean? Diablo

Rags's picture

Stop being his victim, his chore bitch, his defacto child care giver, and the Uber driver for his failed family spawn.

His choice of baby mama who does not drive and can't afford gas is not your problem.

No more of this crap.  No! is a complete sentence and a complete answer to any attempt he makes to guilt you into continuing to be his beck and call girl.

You can pack, raid the accounts, and leave with your therapist on vacation. Do it,

End this crap.

NOW!

Please. For  your own sake and sanity.

You are not the problem other than you tolerate this shit.

StepUltimate's picture

EVERYTHING Rags wrote. This is merely a hint - a preview - of the worsening entitled condemnation & disrespect your DH (=D*ckHead) has for you. It's all fun & "Partnership" until you set a boundary (no matter how reasonable or even previously agreed-to), then the rage & contempt piles on you. No matter how lovingly sacrificial you've proven yourself to be... it is NEVER ENOUGH and it is YOUR FAULT, etc. It's pure b.s. abuse. 

I am sorry you are experiencing this, my dear fellow empath. My similar story led to me divorcing that abusive, gaslighting, abusive & entitled energy vampire STBXH. I cannot live like that anymore!

(((HUGS)))

shamds's picture

Than the absent biomum and doesn't see whats wrong with that? Bio mum doesn't get a free pass because she chooses to be mostly absent

your husband needs to be refreshed on that for perspective 

what you are rightfully pissed off about is that you can't understand why you need to step up more than the bio parents who legally, financially and biologically are responsible for their own kids

Winterglow's picture

It's time you put on your bitch boots and let him have it, every lat detail of why he is a crappy, useless, ungrateful parent and husband and why he should be kissing your feet for the work you have put in trying to raise his kids in his place because he isn't capable of it. I would then walk out and leave him to figure out how to deal with this evening's situation and I'd go and start looking for a new place to live with my own children.

thinkthrice's picture

Shirking your parental responsibility,  giving the BM a  pass and dumping it all on SM!

Stick to your guns!

Movingonisbest's picture

Where did you go wrong? You should have never been playing mommy to his kids in the first place.  You can't work yourself into making someone love you. Clearly, he doesn't.  Where you went wrong again was not standing up for yourself when he belittled you. My guess is this isn't the first time he has blantly disrespected you like that. Where you can go right at is by telling him and Bm to take a hike. The nerve of him. It's not your fault he laid down with a total loser not once, but twice. Smh. Never, ever ever let someone take their poor choices in life out on you!