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Learn to Let go of Jealousy

lisa510's picture

I can conclude that it's jealousy that I feel. My SD no longer lives with us and it STILL bothers me when DH goes to do something for her or with her. She's only 17, but it still gets under my skin. How do I shed this nasty feeling?

Comments

Mominator's picture

It is, if her DH is treating his daughter with better goodies than his wife......understandably.

mommy_of_4's picture

I feel the exact same way as you. And my SD is also 17. When my DH texts her, it turns my stomach and throws my whole mood off.

lisa510's picture

What's the deal with that??? My SD used to live with us (after her BM's boyfriend her sent her a text asking for a blow job). I tried so hard to make things tolerable for her, but to no avail. She used to walk in and ignore me AND her dad. Showed neither of us respect. My DH finally took her BM to court for child support (after 6 months of paying the BM even when SD was with us!!). Get this: SD17 goes to court to tell the judge she doesn't want to be with her dad! That hurt my DH...but he just shrugged it off.

Now she's with her mom; her crap is still here; DH doesn't want to take it to her because it may hurt her feelings. Whatever. Meanwhile, my son sleeps in the living room because all her crap is still here!

Sigh!!!

The big G's picture

Sod sd's feeling do you have a shed, chuck all of sd's crap in there so your son can have a room.

Roseybird's picture

WOW - I was just thinking to myself is it jealousy or resentment. I think in my case, it's resentment. My DH has allowed SD15 to get away with EVERYTHING! I am not jealous of her at all, but she's not doing anything other than being a BRAT B*TCH. Therefore, it's not jealousy, just resentment that he allows her to do things I don't feel like 15 year old should do.

manicmom's picture

That type of jealousy, and yes, call it what it is, really sucks. It's jealousy of someone we know we shouldn't be jealous of, but just can't help it. It's a female thing and a girl thing I think. She is getting attention and love from YOUR MAN and really really does not deserve it. It's a crazy horrible mixed up feeling, but it seems pretty normal so don't beat yourself up for having it. It seems that this SD has really done a number on your DH too, and when you see him still putting her needs high on the list, it's frustrating. (Teeth grinding, fist clenching, eyes bulging...frustrating!!!!)

Definitely put the stuff in the garage though. Pack it up nicely in plastic bins so you are respecting her things, but stash it away. Logically, there is NO reason for one kid to sleep on a sofa when the other isn't even living there and has a bedroom. Your DH has to see that.

Soon-to-be-Step-Mommy's picture

I struggle with jealousy too. Sad I feel terrible knowing I am jealous of a little girl but I just can't help it. It's gotten a little better than it used to be, but lately I feel it creeping up again. Mostly because I am noticing as she is growing and getting old, my FDH is still treating her like a baby and doing things for her that he shouldn't be doing. I worry that when she gets to be a teenager that if she is still affectionate with her Dad it will give me strange feelings and just thinking about it creeps me out.

manicmom's picture

Dad's don't all seem to know when their daughters are growing up, and that independence from them is a GOOD thing. They try to keep their little girls young and dependent on them and do too much for them and think that translates into a "good dad". It's the opposite though. It's detrimental for the kids, and it's hurtful for a SM to watch. Part of it is the "other woman" feelings that arise in you when you see this type of interaction, and part of it is the inappropirateness that's sorta just creepy. My SD13 says very creepy things like "I just love that hair on the back of his neck" while she's stroking his neck. Or "Isn't my daddy so handsome?" in a longing sort of way. :sick: I've told her it's inappropriate, but she doesn't get it. And my SD16 has commented that she likes a certain pair of my DH's underwear!!! :sick: I know they are close, and that part is good, but there are just certain things that are NOT okay. I've recently said something to my husband about this in passing. He dismissed it totally. I struggle CONSTANTLY with the jealousy b/c of this type of thing. And the fact that he's always always thinking of what he can do for them - and not for me. Seems like a common feeling though the more I read here. That doesn't make it okay, but it is nice to know that I'm not alone. That makes it a little easier.

mommy_of_4's picture

Wow..you sound like me. My Skids are almost the same age as yours. I have SD13 and SD17. SD13 isn't really close to her dad and doesn't bother me much when it comes to her dad. But SD17 always has to tell everyone she is daddys girl and it makes me wanna puke that she refers to him as "daddy", she sounds like shes 5. Its not just that she calls him that its the tone she uses. She thinks she knows everything he does and needs to know everything thats going on. She gave him an ultimatum once that it was me or her...that kinda back fired on her cause he told her that she would have to do whatever she had to. She doesn't live with us anymore, thank god. But I think in your comment above, you completely hit the nail on the head!!

jojo68's picture

I believe that we feel jealousy because our DH/SO/BF treat their daughters more like spouses than daughters. I had a SD in a previous relationship where she was not treated like a wife and I was not jealous at all. I know how I feel....I honestly feel like the other woman sometimes because beside the intimacy part of our relationship...FSD is treated like another wife. She has no boundaries...JMO but I think that is the problem. I am sick of beating myself up over the feelings about being jealous.

Mominator's picture

Yep, that's exactly right. Our DH's treat their daughters like wives and it feels competitive to us.

Me and my DH were just talking about it last night, how he's realized (from what everyone has told him.....his brothers, me, and his daughters) that he's never been a good father. I told him, the reason is, because you've allowed your ex-wife and the two (brats) authority over you all your life, you allowed them to "parent" you, and for that, you are paying for it now. They only know one way to treat daddy-door-mat because of how he allowed his ex to manage him and wear the pants in the family. All for the sake of "peace and harmony" in their marriage, but now he's got a big mountain to climb to reverse things with his daughters. They really believe it is OK to "parent" daddy.

alwaysanxious's picture

I agree, I am the same way. As for the room, I'd say take it over. No need for your son to sleep in the livingroom, pack up her stuff stick in somewhere (anywhere) else and move your son in.

lisa510's picture

Update...

So, this week DH has been picking up SD17 at her mother's to take her to school (recuperating from knee surgery). That doesn't bother me; if she needs help, help her. So what if she treats DH like shit - if he lets her, its his mistake.

Sooooo, I put a bag of her clothes in the car so when DH went to pick SD17 he can give it to her. This offended him. I guess he still feels she may come back.

I straight out told him: if SD17 comes to stay at the house once in a while and she is disrespectful to me, I'm leaving with my son. I WILL NOT BE A DOOR MAT ANY MORE!!

My son is sleeping in that room, but all her crap is still in there and he has no place to put his stuff. So why can't he understand she needs to take her stuff if she's living some where else??

manicmom's picture

Lisa, It sounds like he's hurt deeply by the rejection of SD17. He may think that if her stuff in her room isn't there (stuff that she may actually want, b/c she doesn't seem to want him at all) then she will have a reason to return. And if she returns and has a place, then she may change her mind and want to stay. But by cleaning out the room and giving her stuff back, he may feel he's closing a door that he doesn't want to close. On the other hand, it is TOTALLY silly for him to expect someone who IS living in the house to not have a place... That aside though, it sounds like you need to help him face and heal from his daughter's rejection before you can deal with the disrespect he giving to your son.

dodgegal05's picture

I feel jealous of the skids. Even though they dont come around much. I dont like that they had him for so long and dont even respect him. They do not deserve him at all. I grew up without a dad and if i would of had a chance at even a stepdad that was there for me I would of loved it. I hate that they text, call, want to see him, want him to see their kids...and the funny thing is that he doesnt really care to see them. He sees them a few times a year thus far. They stay away bc of me i think, but he says they didnt come around much before that. I hate that I get jealous over them, but i cant ignore that feeling. I wish I had kids so he could feel what i do sometimes. He just cant see things my point of view on anything.
i am glad your son has a place to sleep now.

Zoie's picture

I do not feel jealousy at all because I put myself in my SD's shoes and she is probably jealous that I get her dads attention on a regular basis. Now granted I have told SD since she was 6yrs old that her dad loves her with all his heart but it is not a competition between her and I, he loves us both but he loves her as a daughter and me as his wife..and I refuse to get caught up in that nonsense.

As for you Dear Lisa, I would pack up her crap and put it downstairs, in the garage..where ever you can find a spot and I would make sure my son had a nice room of his own. If DH gets upset then too bad, his daughter does not live with you..your son does..end of story..

Cheers... Z

StillSearching's picture

Same page as everyone else on here! I am jealous of my BF and his D17, when we go out to dinner they will play around together. It always makes my stomach turn!

lisa510's picture

UPDATE:
Dh spoke to SD17; as he told me, she had been rude to me while she lived here because her SD was bad to her so why should she let me in her life. I don't believe this explanation; she has manipulated her dad in the past. Anyway, my DH asked I go to dinner with them to break the ice; I gave in. I fear it's only a matter of time that she becomes her bitchy self again. She's still with her mom, so her crap is still in the room where my son sleeps. BUT, we are building another master bedroom, so DH says, when it's completed my son takes our old room (bigger and half bath). Well that's nice, I guess. But my son has to wait a bit.

In the meantime, her crap stays here even if she lives with mom. DH says she may come and stay with us some times. I really dont want her here. I really don't want to try anymore with her. My thing is: if she DOESN'T LIVE HERE, WHY DOENS'T SHE TAKE ALL HER CRAP WITH HER!!! I'd love to make that room a spare bedroom because guess what? She's not the only one who needs it; my younger son comes to visit too and HE TOO HAS TO SLEEP IN THE LIVING ROOM, TOO.
I really don't want to bring this up with DH, but I don't think Im being unreasonable. We have a spare bedroom, when either his daughter or my younger son come over, they can use the room. Opinions???