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Omg! Am I being unreasonable?

onstrike's picture

Ladies,I'm at a total loss for words here and am wondering if I'm overreacting. Sd9 has been out of town for a week and came back yesterday. She came to our house and then to a family party with us. Today Dh came home and said "don't take offense to this hon, but I'm going to take sd9 over to my dads house with me for a sleepover there. His dad is out of town so the house is empty. He said he wants to just spend time with her because he hasn't really seen her for a week. I told him I understand he wants to spend time with her but do not agree with him spending the night away from me. I don't understand why he can't just take her and spend a few hours alone with her and then both of them return here. I'm here with bs11 and am really hurt. I told him he hurt my feelings and he thinks I'm unreasonable. Am I overreacting?

Comments

princessmofo's picture

Nope, not overreacting. I'd change the locks while he's gone and put his sh*t in trashbags on the corner. Any man that would choose to have a "sleepover" with his daughter over staying in his home and marital bed with his wife deserves to be single.

onstrike's picture

He acted like I was so selfish and unreasonable for being hurt. I'm sitting here just trying to understand! He is going to be alone with her on Thursday while I'm working late. Bs11 and I totally give them space, we aren't all up in their grill! I completely understand wanting to spend time together with your child but I think this is so extremely wrong.

lintini's picture

Yeah.... you aren't overreacting, and their sleep over is a bit weird, especially considering it wasn't 3 months since he had her, just a week?

He's not another 9 year old girl to have a sleep over with.... Yeah just weird and I wouldn't be okay with it either.

notsurehowtodeal's picture

I think it especially odd since in the past he has been upset that you didn't spend more time all together as a family and now he wants to go to another house so they can be alone. What father wants to have a "sleep over" with his daughter?

onstrike's picture

Exactly! I got tired of the nonsense and am semi disengaged from sd9. I'm very polite and chatty with her. I'm slowly trying to be more engaged with her provided her behavior is ok. She isn't a bad kid, just bratty and some mini wife stuff. I do not understand this at all. It is very strange to me. Worst of all when I told him this was hurting my feelings tonite, he said if the tables were turned he would totally be ok with me doing the same with bs11. I told him that I would never do that because I don't feel that it is appropriate and Its rude! He totally dismissed what I was saying and acted like I was just so selfish. He said "You have made this all about you and what you want, this is a special treat for sd9" Wtf! A special treat is an outing, not a sleepover with your dad! I don't even have words.

princessmofo's picture

Well, there's your chance! If he thinks that he would be perfectly fine "if the table were turned" then now is your opportunity to show him. I want you to plan an elaborate weekend for you and bs11. Something spectacular! Like the zoo, followed by a picnic and then spending the night at one of those hotels with a waterpark. Without your clueless dh and without special snowflake sd9. Oh, and make sure sd9 is aware of it. Drop it in conversation in passing in front of her. Like, "dh remember this weekend is my special mother/son bonding one on one time with bs11. If you need to reach me I will be staying at X hotel. You know, the one with the waterpark.

Maybe it's the evil in me but I would OWN this scenario! And I would not back down. People always like to say they would be fine if the "table were turned" until you actually DO freaking turn them. Run with this, Onstrike. You can do it.

Rparra's picture

He is selfish, and that's the bottom line. I'm starting to believe that men with children are just the worst thing ever. They don't seem to analyze the situations and feel that if anything is said or done in regards to their children then it is that we are rude, selfish, unfair...etc. and the list goes on. He needs to put you first. At the end of the day that child will grow and wont even turn her head to care for him. Besides, an overnight? WTH! Take her to the movies and call it a day. No need for them to go away and sleep. Its not even a camping trip.

I call the mom and tell her. Maybe she be concerned and tell him no. Then again, that doesn't fix his thinking.

NoWireCoatHangarsEVER's picture

i HAVE four daughters , three are close in age to your SD. Their ages are 11, 8, and 7 and beaccountable is right. Chuckee Cheese, the mall, the movies ABSOLUTELY. A sleepover alone with dad? NO WAY.

onstrike's picture

I could possibly see sd9 mini wifin' to have alone time with Dh but this seems totally extreme. All night? The only thing I can think of is the fact that it would be a free for all over at the empty house of grandpa, with no sharing of the tv, glued to the tube while consuming a ton of junk. Basically no real rules... It still doesn't take the sting out of this for me. Especially because they spend a lot of time alone together weekly and I totally stay out of their grill! I have my own life and honor that relationship!

Willow2010's picture

Ummm that is weird. I am all for parents taking their kids on separate vacations BUT this is different. He is leaving his house (where he has plenty of alone time with her during the day) so he can go and sleep alone, in another house, with his kid is really weird.

Edit to add...I would not think this is that weird if they NEVER got alone time. But it sounds like they have the house to themselves alot during the day.

Last In Line's picture

He knew you would be upset, that's why he told you "not to take offense"...as if that makes it ok. Is he unwilling to compromise? He could go over there and watch a movie with her, then come home and sleep with you. If all they are going to do is sleep thru the night, there is absolutely no reason for them to need to be alone.

Cocoa's picture

I'd go one better. How about he spend EVERY night with his little mini wife. This kind of crap doesn't happen in intact families. It's the parents that go out for special one on one time. He's purposely cutting you out and showing his daughter that they can't really have fun and cut loose if you're around. Not how a marriage works. I don't know how this will not damage your marriage. You'll be hyper sensitive from here on out. Not a good road he's starting to go down. Maybe you should have a conversation asking him what marriage means to him. And him not acknowledging your feelings is another strike.

coleya81's picture

This may be way off base but I immediately think of sexual abuse. It is highly irregular. Watch their interaction when they get back & see of anything weird happens.

hereiam's picture

He is the one being unreasonable, this is ridiculous.

He is not taking her camping or to a father/daughter retreat; he's taking her to another house, just to spend the night WITH her and WITHOUT you.

notarelative's picture

How does Grandpa (DH's dad) feel about his house being used for this? It wouldn't be Ok with me. My sons have a key for emergencies and one son did stay unexpectedly while we were out of town. Son's house lost electricity for two days and our area didn't. We were fine with that, but a special father / daughter bonding wouldn't fly here. I'd be taking back my key if my son tried that here. My house can be used for emergencies, not as a hotel.

Rparra's picture

It is very interesting that you comment that step children want their parents to themselves. Yes, it might be so, however, it is a harsh reality that children have to go through when parents decide to divorce. Those that remarry chose to live start a new live with a new partner and I believe that it is to the children to adapt to this new dynamic. Unfortunately, children grow and they leave the home... At the end of the day the one left is your partner. If you are in a good and secure position with your partner, then your children, whether step or nor should be okay as well.

I can understand the wanting to be with the child without the step mother, however that also takes away from the step mother's positions in their family and in relation to their life. How about we go on a family trip and leave your step child out of the picture??? Bet he wont like that. Also it is very different when there is only one child...not five.

Disneyfan's picture

I really do not understand why this is a big deal~especially since he has said he wouldn't have a problem with you doing the same with your son.

Just because it isn't something you wouldn't do, doesn't it's wrong for him to do it

Willow2010's picture

Spending one evening with his daughter doesn't mean the parents are revolving around the kid.
+++++++++++++++++++++++

I agree but it sounds like they get A LOT of alone time at their home. While I would not flip my crap about it, I would still think it is weird. UNLESS they did not get much alone time at home. Then it would be fine.

GoingWicked's picture

A little odd, and I'd question it, but it wouldn't be the death of our marriage... I just don't understand why there, unless the house has something unique worth staying over for, awesome video game system, big pool, outdoor tennis court, or maybe he's just there to look after the house?

step-2-be's picture

I think it's weird too. It's one thing to take the skid out for the evening, but no need to find an empty house to sleep over in. I can see the skid thinking that since it's ben done once why can't they start doing it more often. Not a good precedent, IMO. I don't think it's right to choose to sleep with a kid over sleeping with your spouse. I'm sure there is nothing untoward about it, but sleepovers are supposed to be for kids.

Shaman29's picture

Before I go on my little rant, I have to say this sounds BM motivated. Someone put this thought in his head. That being said..........

My issue with this is the fact we step-parents (especially SM's) are expected to include the skids in our lives. On every level. To treat them as we do our own kids (or how we'd treat them if we had kids). The second we exclude them, we are evil, wrong, mean, hateful and unloving. Dog forbid we disengage.

But we're supposed to simply accept it when our H's decide to turn around and exclude us (and sometimes any siblings or step-siblings or family) from an event.

Prior to completely disengaging, I spent a lot of my time doing my best to make his kid feel like she was a part of the family and to make sure she was included in all big family events. I had no issue with the two of them having one on one time (and I encouraged it). But I would have s**t little green biscuits, if after all my efforts, my H turned around purposely excluded me from something with an off-hand "suck it up, buttercup" attitude. And without really discussing it with me. Just telling me how it's going to be.

I put up with a lot (adapted and changed my life) before I wised up and disengaged from all things skid related. Something like this would have been the final straw and ended my marriage.

princessmofo's picture

"My issue with this is the fact we step-parents (especially SM's) are expected to include the skids in our lives. On every level. To treat them as we do our own kids (or how we'd treat them if we had kids). The second we exclude them, we are evil, wrong, mean, hateful and unloving. Dog forbid we disengage.

But we're supposed to simply accept it when our H's decide to turn around and exclude us (and sometimes any siblings or step-siblings or family) from an event."

Thank you!! This exactly!!

zerostepdrama's picture

I find it odd that he needs to spend time with her overnight. Does he not feel like taking her out for a few hours is enough time? I mean she was only gone for a week. Why does he feel the need to spend this time with her outside of the home? Does he think you and your BS will interfere with his time with his daughter?

I'd imagine it being very boring... outside of the home... in someone else's house...overnight with a 9 year old....What are they going to do all night?

20YearsAsAStep-Mom's picture

I think it is weird. As much as my SD was a mini wife he never would have pulled something like this. An evening out alone should be more than enough for "alone" time.

zerostepdrama's picture

Exactly.... Camping is an event together. What are they going to do at this house that they can't do at the house that they all live in?

Disneyfan's picture

"What are they going to do at this house that they can't do at the house that they all live in?"

Kick back, relax and just have good old fun without worrying about someone looking over your shoulder critiquing every word you say and move you make. LOL

While I wouldn’t have a problem with it, I do think that’s the major why someone in a step family would do this.

justanothergurlNJ's picture

I didn't read the other responses, but if my SO told me he was taking the boys to his Moms for the weekend of just him and the brats OH MY LORD! I would be doing the happy dance on the inside shit I'd start packing his fu*&ing bag. The possibilities of what I could do would be endless. Girls night out, a bottle of wine and a good book, a Netflix marathon. And that's just a few ideas.

zerostepdrama's picture

Would it be odd if it's an "intact" family and kid was gone to camp for a week and came back and dad said he was taking the kid to his dad's empty house so they could spend time together since dad hadn't seen the kid for a week?

Disneyfan's picture

YUP, very odd

But I'm assuming both parents love and missed the kid while he/she was away at camp and they both WANT to be spend time with the kid.

Tuff Noogies's picture

weird as phuc. that's my vote.

going to a ballgame, going to the park, taking a bike ride, any activity like that with maybe a meal out too - that is alone time - and then you GO HOME TO YOUR WHOLE FAMILY. i was a c.o.d., and i was also totally daddy's favored kid - never, ever, EVER would the thought have crossed his or my mind to ever suggest a get-away-sleepover.

Stepped in what momma's picture

I understand why it would burn but I'd tell him to stay gone three nights. I would also learn a big lesson on pecking order and the way it works with your DH.

MollyBrown's picture

If my spouse was disengaged from my kid you can bet I would take any time away from having the kid and my partner together. Maybe he didn't want to be by your son. Maybe he wants a break from the tension you have posted about before. Or perhaps, we wanted a cheap, fun adventure with his kid.
Honestly, some of you are really jaded.

Disneyfan's picture

Well, if we're going to base this on what is normal. Raising a kid in a home where one of the adults is disengaged from that kid isn't normal.