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No longer needed and pushed out

unpaidmaid's picture

My husband and I have been married 10 years. His kids were 8 and 9 when we married and starved for affection. My husband is very much wrapped up in his job and with good reason it's a very stressful job. We clicked instantly and I fell in love with these kids. We have had a great relationship and kids lived with us and everything was storybook. That should haves raised flags, but I was in my love bubble.
These kids ran to me when they were hurt not their dad or mom. They have sought my council and have loved me back. My husband and his ex were older when they had the kids so when I came in I had more energy and they both just kind of dumped them with me and I adored the kids so I let them.
The problem is that along with kissing the boo boos, being the affectionate parent I also had to handle the discipline. So I handled the groundings and restrictions, the teachers called me when there was a problem.
Fast forward 10 years they are teenagers and are acting like it, like we all did, but the problem is now I'm not giving them what they want, so I'm awful and unloving. My daughter is telling her father that I'm not being fair about curfew and other rules that I have and hubby is buying into it. Now I am being told that I have to back off MY DAUGHTER ( I earned the privilege of call her my daughter when I'm the only parent with her in the hospital and cleaning up her blood filled vomit * side note* she has Cystic Fibrosis and has had a double lung transplant doing fantastic physically, thank you God). I'm basically being told you have done great but they aren't little children anymore and we are ready to patents and of course the teenagers are fine with that because they can do what they want rather its right or wrong. Mt heart is broken and I feel hurt, used, and unloved. How should I handle this? How do I stop feeling hurt.

unpaidmaid's picture

Also should say that my step daughter, my youngest child, and my self all lived alone for almost a year when she went on transplant list so we could be closer to hospital. Hubby couldn't come because of work. Do when I say I have been the only active parent I really have. Oldest son is away at collage and didn't live with us by then.

Totalybogus's picture

Teenagers rebel, no matter who you are. Even boo-parents are hurt by them when they hit the teenage years. This is normal. What isn't normal, is your husband usurping your role as the parent. It really doesn't matter that they are not biologically yours. You raised them.

This is a marital problem. You need to have a talk with your DH. Tell him what you told us. Those kids live with you. I wouldn't back off. They need stability now more than ever. They are very lucky to have you in their lives.

onthefence2's picture

I agree 100%. The kid is acting like a normal teenager, Dad is the one screwing up here. You have earned the right to discipline. It's not like you just came on the scene.

Indigo's picture

Grieving the transitions in Life is normal. Our children, however they come into our life, are steadily growing away and growing apart.

Easylikesundaymornin's picture

You can only do so much !! I have FINALY learned my place in this step world ~ which is outcast.

I did the same for my SD what I would have done for my own. Was it strict ~ most definitely. When you push the envelope you get what you deserve. Tired of hearing all the excuses as to why SD does what she does. It has everything to do with how she was brought up by parents who continually justify her crappy behavior. She doesn't do it because her parents are divorced. She doesn't do it for any other reason then ~ she wants to do what she wants ~ when she wants. Could careless about the repercussions ~ it doesn't matter. DF used to hide her shitty behavior bc he didn't want his ex to go over board. Through the years I have been in their lives ~ he has realized that parenting with someone sho genuinely cares is a lot easier than the Narcassistic ex. The SD in turns ~ not hates ~ loathes me. And I am ok with that ~ I do not have to have her in my life ~ I chose not to have toxic people in my life. It doesn't make me a bad person ~ it makes me a sane person.

I do not dictate anything to my DF. He can have a relationship w his daughter without me.

unpaidmaid's picture

Your all very right, my head knows that. I just have to get my heart to fall in line. Sueu2 your freaking right lol I can't remember the last time I did anything for just me. I do have a five year old to take care of and he is all mine and no one can tell me to butt out of that. Thanks all

Easylikesundaymornin's picture

Absorb yourself in your son ~ you can't go wrong there. It's a win win situation.

I think by nature we as woman want to be nuturers but someone our efforts are not wanted ~ and that ok. Find someone who needs n appreciates you ~ your son !!!

Disneyfan's picture

You can't parent adults. Your SKs are 18 and 19 now. They should be in college (hopefully living on campus) and enjoying enjoying the next four years before real life kicks in. LOL

If the two adults are still living at home, (hopefully in college and/or working) and refuse to follow the house rules, show them the door.

Rags's picture

Time to bare mommies and daddies idiot asses to make sure that they both and both kids clearly understand that YOU are the only REAL parent they have had.

Tell CFSD that you will continue to parent, set boundaries, enforce consequences, regardless of what BM or DH say. SD lives in your home and is YOUR child under your discipline until she graduates from HS and launches to her own life. If the kids, even though they are 18&19, are in your home they abide by your rules.

I would give DH clarity that he sucked as a father when they were young, you parented the kids, and he can't claim to be a father now that the kids are balking at the rules of the house now that they are burgeoning adults.

"I'm basically being told you have done great but they aren't little children anymore and we are ready to be parents". :jawdrop: :O :sick:

First, there is no "we" between BM and DH. Their "we" ended a decade or more ago. The only we is between you and DH and that he would even remotely take the stance he apparently has tells me you need to hand him nuts on a platter and forcibly remove his head from his ass for him on this issue.

What the kids are attempting is reasonably normal for late teen kids. Talk to your CFSD and tell her that you will always be her mother, you will always have her best interests at heart, and her growing up is a change and a challenge for you too.

My guess is that a nice dinner between you and SD then you and SS or you and both Skids together to discuss the current situation and relationship between you as their mom and them as burgeoning adults will be a good step in addressing the situation.

IMHO of course.

Good luck.

unpaidmaid's picture

Well SD asked for a family meeting in regards to her living arrangements and hubby told me he didn't want me at meeting. I was very upset and told him I thought he was making a mistake because it would turn into bash the evil stepmother and it did. Long story short my bio son and I are moving out. She can't move out safely because of her health problems and the safest thing is for her to stay and me to go. It was my choice and the hubby told that SD said I was emotionally abusive and I was awful to her when he wasn't around. That is nonsense and the only arguments we have had DH has been around. I will not stay when I am accused of things like that. So I'm moving out and stepping back and going to try to pick up the pieces. My family supports me and thinks that this is best for me. They have had a problem with my taking on the kids and doing so much on my own. My hubby has not been all that upset about me moving out so that makes me feel like its probably time anywhere. We have grown apart over the last couple of years anyway with us living apart for my SD's transplant. He did want me to know that he isn't asking me to leave and this was never the intention. So it appears that I have out stayed my welcome folks. lol but not really.

BarkAtTheMoon's picture

SD played the whoa is me card and it worked. OK, so there is her health to consider yes, but please, DH will have his hands full and will be begging for you to come back.

Repeat my mantra...."One day they will grow up and move out, one day they will grow up and move out." I have learned to count years now instead of weekends as DH and I have SD19 and SD13 FT. BM died in 2013..... On the bright side, you will have time to focus on you and your little guy. I hope that it works out for you. You deserve better, we all do, for the crap we put up with.

~ Moon

unpaidmaid's picture

I agree BarkAtTheMoon we do deserve better, I hope she comes to her sences and I hope my husband can to, but I think this will be good for me and the little guy. I have cried all day and its out of my system, for now anyways. I'm tired of crying ill cry more tomorrow. Thanks for the good wishes.

unpaidmaid's picture

I agree BarkAtTheMoon we do deserve better, I hope she comes to her sences and I hope my husband can to, but I think this will be good for me and the little guy. I have cried all day and its out of my system, for now anyways. I'm tired of crying ill cry more tomorrow. Thanks for the good wishes.

Rags's picture

Sorry, I would not leave my home or marriage even for a chronically ill child. Time to bare DH's ass and ask him if he has ever observed you act in any way but loving and supportive of the CFSD or her brother? Then ask him if truly believes you ever would and how big of an ass must he be to allow himself to be victimized by the poow wittle sputum challenged SD? One of my best friends from JHS and HS had CF. He embraced life and lived it to the fullest before his disease finally killed him at a young age as it invariably does everyone who has CF. He passed away 7 years ago when he was 43. It was not a sorrowful or tragic event. He lived an amazing life of character. Something neither your DH nor CFSD would recognize if it bit them in the ass. When we were kids he used to tear off running home for his mom to pound of him to help clear his lungs then he would come tearing back to get back into the middle of whatever kid stuff we were doing. When we got a bit older and were in sports and other activities together I had work with a Respiratory Therapist to learn how to beat him properly to clear his lungs when we were on trips or out camping in remote locations.

Both this young lady and her daddy need to find some character.

Rather than moving change the locks and put DH and CFSD on the curb to see how life is without your caring commitment to rely on. Clarity will kick in their characterless skulls very quickly I forecast.

Boot them and keep your home intact for you and your child.

Take care of yourself and the little guy. Until DH and SD gain contact with character you and the little have to be your focus.

Deep breaths and keep your head up.

unpaidmaid's picture

Update: so wow a lot has happened since 2014. A few day after i posted that I was leaving my DH and SD I made arraignments to move my son and my self out (my side of the family went straight into action doing just that) DH saw he was loosing his family and snapped to. He made things right put our daughter in her place and apologized to me. We sent her to some counseling after she attempted suicide during a fit of rage over a boyfriend situation and found out that she had a personality disorder and other very significant mental health issues. Long story short forced her into counseling fought the rest of the year till she graduated high school. Left and went to a school far away from home against our better judgement, doctors advice, and counselors warnings. We refused to pay for her to go to a school that far away. BM decided to play mommy and paid for it. Daughter went buck wild, drugs, alcohol, & STDs, she went into rejection four months after leaving home. She came home to pass in December of 2015. She made everything right with me and her dad. Spent her last days with her little brother and us. She passed away after a very long and painful 3 months. We lost her March of this year after being in a medically induced sleep for 3 days. I couldn't be there it hurt to bad for once BM did right by her and stayed with her. Looking back it all seemed so hard and so painful, but now I look back and it was all worth it and if I could go back I would do it all over again. No longer am I the unpaid maid now I'm just the grieving mother. No matter how crazy she was, she was mine and I loved her. The whole family is in counseling trying to heal.