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Lnleach25's picture

Hi everyone, I was actually excited to find a step parent site to vent on!! Because anymore I feel like I'm about to lose my shit every day of the week. So I met my now husband 8 years ago on a dating site of all things, which I thought was a good thing because I didn't want to date a guy who had kids. I was 32 at the time, I knew I wanted kids but did NOT want to deal with one that had them already. BUT, then I met him and he had an 8 year old daughter and I thought, well how bad can it be? He was perfect for me and I thought, well he only has her every other weekend so it will be fine. Fast forward about five years and we got married. I got along great with his daughter and actually embraced her and tried to do fun things with her on my own, my family did too, my mom included her in a video she made for our wedding, everything. I always wanted one of my own but we had a miscarriage about a year after we got married. I was so upset but thought, well I have a stepdaughter so it won't be that bad if it never happens! Around that time though, she moved in with us full time because her mother is basically a drug addict we/I found out. Things changed completely after that. She was about 14 at the time. She's now 16 and I cannot stand her. Everything she does annoys me, just her precense makes me cringe in my own house actually. We've had issues with her behavior, found out she was hanging with bad kids, her boyfriend, who is a complete loser is the most important thing in her whole life and I can't even stand it. My husband got sick of the fighting with her about it, trying to keep her from him (my advice) and now just buries his head in the sand about it and still says she's doing great when anyone asks about her!! Ugh!! My family can't stand her now, like me, but I have to live with her every day. I've done so much for this kid, things I feel like I've never had to do and do I ever get a birthday card ( like she gets her dad) or let alone a Mother's Day card when I've literally been the one being her "mom" for many years now!!!! It's gotten to the point where I've told my husband, don't expect me to do anything extra for that kid anymore cause she doesn't appreciate anything!!!! Ugh. Sorry for the long rant but am I being completely ridiculous??

Comments

BethAnne's picture

Welcome. Many step parents that find this site decide that disengaging from parenting their step child is the only way to stay sane. So wanting to stop dong things for your sd is perfectly normal around here and not ridiculous at all. 

Lnleach25's picture

Omg. Disengaging has been my solution according to my mom and my best friends. They say that's what I have to do to keep my sanity and to stay "me". I've been painting, walking, taking baths, FaceTiming with my friends, doing my nails, anything to keep me calm and "happy" 

 

 

Kes's picture

Another disengager here - 17 yrs or so since I did it - my SDs are now 23 and 25, never regretted doing so.   Unlike you I never had a good relationship with my SDs - their mother saw to that - but there are many like you on this site that sweated blood for their SKIDs only to have it thrown back in their face at some later date.  You might want to read more in the disengaging section of the forum here. 

Rumplestiltskin's picture

She's 16? There's somewhat of a light at the end of the tunnel if you and your husband plan properly. I would devote my talks with DH to making launch plans for her future.

Lnleach25's picture

Oh I'm counting the days until she's 18 trust me!! I'm fully prepared to say there's the door and get my life back

justmakingthebest's picture

Will you husband support that?

DH and I have made expectations for post high school/18 crystal clear to our kids for years. 

Wicked stepmo.'s picture

Welcome to this site, it is a great place to vent. I came here for the same reasons.  I gave everything I had to give to my SKs and treated them like my own. It truly has been the most thankless experience of my life. I finally threw my hands up in the air especially with OSD and between completely disengaging and therapy with SO just try to manage getting through the next few years. 

Lnleach25's picture

I TOTALLY relate to the most thankless experience of my life. I never understood the word unappreciated more than now. 

Maxwell09's picture

Welcome; I would highly recommend you reflect on what you want from this relationship, does it align with what you have and if it doesn't is there a way to get where you want to be. A lot of posters will suggest you leave before you have a chlid to keep you attached to this situtation. These suggestions come from a good place as most of them come from people who have lived through it. Remeber you are not likely to be the fairy tale exception to the standard and really considere what they say to you.

Secondly, there are plenty of "teen" based posts here with a lot of comments and advice by  members like myself who have been here for a long time. Some people will give you the advice in a harsh way so if you read through the comments you can prepare for what might get thrown at you. I will be the first to say it, since I know its coming--You have a DH problem. Most tyranical stepchildren are a result of one of the following; a Disney parent (the fun-only parent), an aggressive parent (competitive with the ex), or one who ignores all problems because they think their child is the secondcoming OR too overwhelmed with their troublesome child to actually deal with their behavior. Identify what you are dealing with, look up suggestions in the comments around here that have worked for posters and see if you can use any of them.  

CLove's picture

I guess Ive been around long enough that the harshness comes across to me as a much needed smack. The rest I disregard. 

But yes - we are most of us well-intentioned.

Teens are difficult under the best of circumstances and a teen whose parents allow bad behavior is the pinnacle of the worst.

You must get your DH on the same page as you...