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17 Yr old SS is Ruining my marriage

janice811's picture

Long story....
I have been married for 4 years. My husband and I fight over 2 things. His ex wife who is diagnosed bi-polar and my SS who is 17, diagnosed ADHD and I believe also bi-polar... and while I have been a part of his life for the past 4 1/2 years and tried to be there for him, in this time frame the following has occurred -

SS's Mother has called the police on SS and kicked him out 4 times.

SS's mother has had him committed to Mental facility 2 times

4 weeks after his father and I were married, he threated to kill me and also told me he could kill his father and mother also and not care.

I have been forced to attend family counseling, many therapy sessions regarding SS and mediation because of divorce issues with husband and his ex.

SS has lied repeately, gotten caught, admitted he lied and continues to do so.

Doesn't listen, comes and goes as he pleases with no regard...

Cussed out me, his father, his mother, etc... more times than I could ever count

Cries and whines that no one loves him and that he has no friends

Ignores any responsibilities at home and no punishments have any effect on him

I am at my wits end.
His mother got evicted over 1 1/2 yrs ago, so my SS came to live with my husband and I. We have done everything for him and yet he continues to not listen, lie, and now threaten suicide to avoid punishment, etc.

This past weekend he lied and when caught he got upset. He then asked to do another afterschool activity and when we said no, he went behind our back to his mother, had her sigh the papers and went anyway. He skipped school on Tuesday and went to his mothers house. The went to the after school activitity and when his father texted him to get home immediately... he replied an hour later that he had some stuff to do and would be home after that.

We confronted him when he got home and he became defiant and said that he lies because he dont know better and he cant stop. When pushed on the fact that it was not normal.. he then manipulated the situation and claimed he skipped school because he was afraid of us and he was thinking of committing suicide. I saw this as a way to avoid punishment because this child is not stupid. His father then started to back down from being angry and tried to talk and reason with my SS and asked him why he wanted to hurt himself...

I pushed that he lied and everything else.. I asked my SS why he did not feel safe with us when the fact that his Mother is the one that has had him committed, called the police on him, he has told us he wanted nothing to do with her, etc.. and he did not reply.

I believe he is manipulative and knows he can do what he wants at his mothers and everything else. We have given him a stable home, a vehicle to drive and anything he needs, but yet he continues to want to be with her where it is unstable. So when he said he wanted to be with her, my husband told him to pack his stuff and my husband drove him over to her place.

Now my husband is devestated and feels like a failure and feels that he made a mistake. He stated that he thinks he just made the worst mistake of his life. I have tried to be comforting, but I feel like this was needed for our well being... I have lived for over 4 years with turmoil, being in daily drama either with my SS or his mother and I think I should be able to live in peace.... am I wrong??

***In reply to some questions... yes my SS has a vehicle that we have provided him with due to the fact that he goes to school in another district (because its a better school) and has to drive 15 miles one way... and yes, he does have a job. Both of these play into the fact that we can not punish him by taking away the vehicle because then he cant get to and from. (Without us driving him which we did for years and just causes more on us)

ALSO - I need to add that my SS gets away with alot of this because his father is afraid to punish and my SS and his mother both have threatened to call Child Protective Services is my husband spanks the child. HENCE why the child feels he can get away with anything.

Comments

chupacabra's picture

Sorry, but from the bit that your describe, it sounds like you DH is assisting in ruining your marriage, as well, because he allows his son to do things without real consequences.
Why does SS have a car? Did he pay for it? Does he pay for gas and insurance?
Does SS have a cell phone? Who paid for it and who continues to pay the bill each month?
What kind of grades does SS get? If they aren't damn near perfect, why does he still have a car, a cell phone or ANY privileges?
Does SS have a job? Why not?
Honestly, if it were me, I would tell DH and SS that SS is never allowed in my home again. PERIOD. If DH wants a relationship with this soon-to-be adult, then he needs to maintain it OUTSIDE of MY home. If DH doesn't like it, he can move out.
Life is too short for you to live in turmoil because of a mistake that your husband made and continues to make in raising his son.