You are here

Help: How to Disengage

lstewart's picture

Does anyone have any experience with disengaging? Are there tips? I keep reading that it is a wonderful place to be. However, I continue to feel betrayed by DH when he makes plans for his adult children. This includes dinners out and so on. He always includes their "partners." The reason I am trying to disengage is that I have been repeatedly excluded by them. Not to mention the persistent outright rudeness. So, it was the only defence mechanism available. Are there techniques anyone has used to get to the point of not caring? I keep feeling hurt. Advice?

Comments

prayerhelps's picture

If these are adult Skids, I don't know that disengaging is possible either. They have their own lives. I think you may just need to stand your ground and demand respect. If your DH wants you along when he goes to visit his kids, then you have EVERY right to go along. I would kill them with kindness, show them that you can be respectful even if they can't. Eventually it may or may not work, but as your DH's wife, you shouldn't be excluded. DH may need to step in too.

marika's picture

I can tell you from experience that disengaging applies only when they are in your house. When the older SD moved in with us a few years ago at age 21, I simply stopped doing things for her when it became apparent that she saw me as a maid. Now that she has moved out and lives 5 minutes from our house, I don't have that option. When DH invites her over, or she drops in with our grandson, I can't really just ignore her. Same thing if she ends up going somewhere with us. I have simply come to accept and expect that she will talk mainly to her dad, often waiting until I leave the room to tell him anything. DH will never see this, even though I have pointed it out to him. If your DH is not inviting you to the dinners, etc, you should definitely tell him that he is way out of line, but don't expect an apology. He may be doing it because he sees the tension between you and the SKs and he thinks he is "helping" you. The SKs probably won't apologize for their bad behavior either.

I guess what I am trying to say is that you can't feel hurt if you just accept that you mean nothing to them. I don't like my SD and I have reached the point where I am GLAD she ignores me.

lstewart's picture

I think I did not adequately explain the situation. I am trying to disengage. The oldest SD (35) announced that she wanted nothing to do with me. She never speaks to me, is outright rude and obnoxious. I addressed this with her by explaining how hurtful and disrespectful it was to both me and her father. She effectively told me to get lost.

She lives out of town. She and her husband will be visiting. Obviously, they are no longer staying with us. My husband is taking them and his other children out for dinner so that he can be together with all his children and their partners. (While I do not have a warm relationship with the other children, it is not hostile.) The visiting daughter does not want me at the dinner. My husband says he would love me to come but will understand if I don't. That is my issue: should I go? Thanks for the helpful replies.

lstewart's picture

Great advice on all counts. The scripted responses, the key word to hubby, the class act -- thank you.