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How does one disengage?

Valeria's picture

I am wondering about the specifics of disengaging from one of my adult step daughters. She is 33. I have been married to her dad for 12 years. She is the kind of person I would not be around at all if I had a choice. I know disengaging does not mean ignoring, but I am not sure how to be part of the family scene and to disengage from just her, especially when DH often asks for my opinion. Is it as simple as just not offering an opinion and telling myself it doesn't matter if it doesn't affect me? Examples would be appreciated.

SadFairy's picture

I don't have an example of how to disengage from an adult Skid, but I have an example of disengaging in my home.

My SS does the absolute least possible amount of work he can get away with. He does not clean up after himself, despite my insistence that there should be a consequence for being so inconsiderate of the other people he lives with. My DH is too soft on him, and let him get away with murder until it directly affects him. Then my SS will make an effort long enough for my H to lose interest, and he goes right back to being his usual lazy inconsiderate self. DH will not address the behavior, but I am not going to clean up after a completely capable teenager.

My H broke his toe a few months back. One night, his son had performed his usual filth spreading ritual in the living room and kitchen. I did not mention his son specifically, but informed DH that the condition of the house was deplorable, and I had not contributed to the mess in any way so I would not be cleaning it.

His son was home, but DH just didn't want to inconvenience him by asking him to take a break from the internet and pick up after himself. So I left the room, and my H then hobbled around on his broken toe, picking up after his son. My H received the message that if he was not going to correct bad behavior, I would not be enabling his son to be lazy.

When disengaging, it's more than convincing yourself the action doesn't matter if it doesn't affect you. You have to actively make sure the action does not affect you. If he asks for your opinion on a specific situation, I guess it would depend on the actual question he's asking you, but in general, I would put the question back on him using phrases like:

"I'm sure you know what your doing."
"That's between you and her mother."
"You should do whatever you think is best."
"That's a tough one, but I have faith in you and I'm sure you'll make the right decision."

peacemaker's picture

...I think the negative drama they all share is a toxic type of bond that keeps them all prisoners of their very own man-made delusions...A very unhealthy soul tie....that I am not a part of because I did not help create the brokeness in their lives...It was a pre=existing condition when I arrived...I really don't think they know who they are without it...It has literally become who they are, as a family...and most people I know make their decisions based on their identity/ and their personal core beliefs...it's deep seeded, and without an accurate remedy...they remain prisoners of their own toxic thinking, it becomes a core belief...(Their reality)...although it is self created, and probably based on pain-inflicted experiences from their unhealthy family unit...

I think many of the issues I read about on this site, are all symptoms of a WAY deeper problem...They are all the same ( to some degree) when you get down to it...For the life of me I have been searching what the deeper root issue is....I know the one common denominator we all have is that we have chosen to marry divorced men who have pre-existing children/with many unresolved issues ...therefore, creating all these SYMPTOMS... you can't keep beating your head up against a SELF-INFLICTED symptom, and expect things to get better...because if the root issue is not dealt with...another symptom pops up...( wearing a different mask)...and the cycle begins to repeat itself over and over... where as a stepmom, you feel trapped on a merry-go-round, with these people... that you cannot get off from unless you totally disengage...Well I have disengaged (after 25 years) because, as adults now... none of them seem be working on their own issues...What the real issues are....So, I figured, if I pulled myself out completely....they would have to eventually, at the very least turn their hate toward someone else...Well I had a huge epiphany, and I now realize I will NEVER EVER return to the merry-go-round, ever-again...nor am I going to waste any more of this precious life God gave me...just sitting there watching them go round and round getting nowhere...It's like watching a bad rerun of the movie Groundhog day... over and over and over...People that have something fundamentally wrong/ and the process of dealing with it has proven a complete disaster... built into them because of their toxic experiences as a result of being a dysfunctional family unit before I arrived...The Merry go round re-experience of a process reoccurring, that produces harmful emotional and relational results/that allow no one the opportunity to move forward or get off the ride all together...the only one preventing you from disengaging is you...just jump off and change your focus as to not give the toxic process any attention whatsoever...

I'm quite uninterested in subjecting myself to that abusive process now, and have communicated with my H how I feel...He is finally seeing it for what it is...They still try to put Him in a position of choosing between Me or them and their process, because it is all they know...after 25 plus years you would think they would get it...but...it goes back to their identity and their core beliefs.....they have now lowered themselves to the predictable move of pulling away the grandchildren. (A manipulative tactic taught to them by their BM) Well He has chosen...as we both leave the merry-go-round, hand in hand, running to try and catch a sunset or two...leaving all of them still on it spinning and spinning...as I look at him and say "How long do you think it will be before they notice we've left"? Then I catch myself and.... I think to myself...."That's not my problem anymore"....you can't help someone who won't let you...You can only work on yourself at getting free...and God helps me with staying Free...

»My only regret "what took me soooo long?".....Catch a sunset while you still have time...In other words.."Enjoy your husband and the season of life you are in... while you still can"... I release these people from all the pain and rejection they have shown me...Yes..I have forgiven..but I choose healthy boundaries now, and they will have to answer to God for their choices ...
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Silent River's picture

One of my adult SD's can be very rude, abrupt and out spoken in a hurtful sort of way. My DH has never enforced respect and takes it a step further by laughing and joking about it, but it is no joke to me. SD has shredded my cooking on numerous occasions. Her manner is hurtful but DH thinks it is funny and laughs with her. He normally likes my cooking, as does my BS and my family so while I may not be a gourmet cook, I am not a bad cook. Long story but I have reason to suspect she is doing it to me, specifically, and on purpose. She has always been a challenge even though I used to go out of my way to show her kindness, and I am in no way the reason DH and BM divorced (BM was remarried 7 years prior to me and her dad getting married). I think she is still mad at them but takes it out on me, displaced anger. Anyway, after trying for several years to be kind and supportive...I QUIT! Last summer she came for a few weeks. I was polite but did my own fun stuff without SD and DH to give me peace and minimize time with her. She tends to be a high drama attention junky so I gave her very little attention in a polite sort of way. As for meals, I informed DH that since he knows what his kids like to eat, he can do all the cooking while she visits! And I did not cook a single meal while she was here. We ended up eating out a lot! Great for me but maybe not so much for DH since he had to use his "blow money" to pay for it!! Smile
Key is, do not let their stuff become your stuff because it really is their stuff so let them have their stuff and you walk away. But don't stop there. Treat yourself to something you like for having the strength to get off their crazy train!

Valeria's picture

Thank you very much! I think I understand. I can see that it will take practice but it appears to be very worthwhile.

whatamess's picture

My disengagement is zero contact. They live literally less than 5 minutes from my house and it have not purposely seen them for a year. DH went over to Queen bee's house on Christmas Day to see them and his grandson after he and I had our Christmas here. I stayed here and napped. At night, we went out to dinner and the casino. My bday is also Christmas Day so that's a double whammy for me!

I don't ask about them; I show very little interest when he speaks about them; they are non entities in my life. Not easy and certainly not what I wanted but I had the best Christmas this year of all the 10+ years we've been together. They are horrible, truly toxic people who I am so happy to not have to deal with. Sometimes I wonder how long our marriage can survive this. I really don't know and it does worry me but I can't live the kind of life I want with them being an active part of it so I just look as his time with them as if he were hanging out with his friends...something I wouldn't want or expect to be a part of. It helps.

Pilgrim Soul's picture

Disengagement has been discussed many many times on this site. Enter it into the Search box in the upper left hand corner of the page, and 872 references will pop up. At least they did for me. You could spend a week going over them. Good luck! It's an acquired taste.

SugarSpice's picture

everyone disengages differently.

at a certain point...you just don't care anymore. you may wish to be disengaged, but still care about the situation. only when you don't care anymore are you truly disengaged. you will wake up one morning and the situation will not bother you anymore. its a great feeling.