You are here

Hello, I am new and this is a little about why I am here

Wishitwasdifferent's picture

Hi and thank heavens I have found this site, at last no longer will I have to secretly fume, I can come here and get my feelings out and (hopefully) meet other people who understand.

A little about me

I am 37 years old and work full time in a very stressful managerial role, I have no children of my own yet. I have been with my partner for almost 2 years and we have lived together for over a year, he has a 5 year old Daughter who lives with her Mother in the same village as we do. My partner has his child for 3 hours two nights a week at our house before taking her home to her Mother, I am usually out on these nights visiting relatives or friends, we also have her stay every other weekend from 6pm Friday until 6pm Sunday. The BM is a total nightmare, useless, fat and a dosser. The house she lives in is filthy and when SD comes to our house she is often dirty looking and in old stained clothes, she has the attitude of her Mother, shows no interest in nice clothes or having her hair and nails done and just wants to watch TV or play computer games. She also talks loudly and constantly threatens her Dad with 'If you don't do this, I won't be your friend' My partner usually gives in as he feels guilty and tries to over compensate for not living with her. The childs Paternal Grandparents spoil her rotten, she is GOLD to them, they give her anything she wants.

If I am being honest I want nothing to do with this child and wish she did not exist. If I never saw her again I would not care. But I adore my partner and know if I want to stay with him I have to accept the child. Don't get me wrong I take her out with me if my partner is working, I buy her things at christmas and birthdays and I take care of her, she would not know my feelings or at least the depth of them. But I hate the fact that she is a constant reminder of his past and if we ever do have children of our own, it will not be new to him.

We have rowed a lot recently and it is all down to me, I want him to myself, I don't want to share him with this attention seeking little brat, I have tried to get on her wavelength but we have NOTHING in common. I am girly, she is a tomboy.

I wonder would it be better to walk away or can it work out long term??

Comments

Kes's picture

You do not say anything about your partner's relationship with his child, or with his ex. A lot of us on ST eventually give up because partner/DH puts the child/ren before us, but it does not sound as though this is your biggest problem, just that you can't abide his daughter.

It's a very common feeling - SMs are expected to like or even love our SKIDS when there is absolutely nothing loveable about them, and they seem like a rival for our partner's love and attention. However, you do mention several times about not having your own children yet, and maybe you see this girl as a potential threat to any future family you may have with your partner.
She does sound a rather unsavoury, spoiled little girl with some not very nice ways, but she is part of his life, and unlikely to go away for the next dozen years or so. Only you can say if your love for your partner balances out the aggravation for you - this is a question of balance that a lot of us face, even those in stable relationships like myself, who find the step parenting role almost impossible at times.

Wishitwasdifferent's picture

Thank you for your reply Kes.

My partner adores his D and he feels terrible for the shitty situation this child has to live in because BM is so idle and useless, he says it worries him all of the time and is only made better now because his D is now at school all day and out of the house. He hates his EX with a passion and had cut down contact with her to only issues about the D. It used to be more than this which I voiced my feelings about and he changed it.

I try very hard to be nice to his D but she just irritates me and I think that you might be right about her being a threat to any future children we may have as only yesterday I was thinking if I ever get pregnant it will be nothing new to him having already been there and done that. His D will always be his first born and I guess he will always feel he has to do more for her as her Mother is the way she is. I on the other hand am the opposite, motivated and self sufficent financially, so he might not think he has to help out as much with any children he has with me. Also things like holidays, if we have our own child, will always have to incorporate her. Her Mother has never and probably will never take her away as she lives on benefits and is now pregnant again with her 2nd child to a guy who was just a friend and doesn't want to know her or the child and will not pay for this new addition.

I am wondering of when the new baby is born the D will want to stay at home and help Mummy, perhaps this will be the case?

I love my man and want to find a way to cope with these awful thoughts I have towards his D and find a way to make the time she is with us better, not for her sake but for my mans sake and to ensure our relationship lasts.

Any comments will be welcome.

DaizyDuke's picture

Welcome, I am going to tell you from my experience that I think you should leave this situation. When I met my (now) DH his kids were a bit older (8 and 9)I liked them enough at first and they adored me and I got along OK with both (yes I have TWO) BMs. I would try to do lots of fun stuff whenever DH had them, would spend my money on them, took Karate lessons with them, would bring them to work with me (which they thought was fun) etc. however after the first "honeymoon" year, things slowly started to deteriorate. BMs started showing their true colors, I ended up getting in a giant brawl with BM#2 over nonsense that SS actually started and the whole skid "relationship" so to speak that was already hanging on by a thread started to unravel.

Then DH and I had a baby 2 years ago and the whole skid thing went to hell in a hand basket. I HATE both BMs and I really don't like skids at all. Over the years I have come to see them for what they are which is a carbon copy of their worthless mothers who only show an interest in DH when there is a gift giving occasion on the horizon or when they need money for something. When they do come over (which is about once a month or less now) I either leave or just do my own thing and stear clear of them. I, like you, could care less if I never saw them again. I could care less if my BS2 ever has a relationship with them, in fact I would prefer that he not. My skids are now almost 13 and almost 14 so at least I have an end in sight.

I guess the way I look at it is you are the same age that I was when I met my DH, if you want to have a child of your own, I would suggest that you NOT do it in the situation that you are in, as you will most definately regret it. I can tell you that your resentment and dislike for this child and her mother are NOT going to go away and in fact will most likely get worse and you have THIRTEEN years to go! Move on now, while you still have time to meet someone else who doesn't have kids.

Wishitwasdifferent's picture

Daizy

How old were you when you had your first child with DH? How did his kids react?

DaizyDuke's picture

I had our son 2 weeks after I turned 39. The skids said they were fine with the whole thing before BS was born, but after? DH says that it is probably hard for them in that they are quite a bit older and weren't really into the whole infant (and now) toddler thing which I totally understand and DH nor I have ever forced anything there.. for instance I have NEVER asked either of them to entertain BS, to do ANYTHING for/with BS for that matter. If they choose to interact with him, then fine, but I don't force it. They both will say "hi" to him and "play" with him for a MAX of 5 minutes when they first come (and I think they do it to appease DH), but then they ignore BS the rest of the time they are there. I honestly don't care about that, as I said with the way they have been acting lately (stealing, fighting, doing drugs) I really don't want BS around them and BS will NEVER be around either of their mothers.. EVER! I honestly think the feeling is mutual.. I really don't think skids care one way or the other about BS. They truly only care about themselves. They care about what they can get from DH and nothing more. Again, maybe it's because of the age gap? Maybe it would be different with your SD since she is younger or maybe it would be worse??? That's what is so sucky about the whole situation is you just don't know, and you have ZERO control.

Wishitwasdifferent's picture

Things I expect when SD is here

I want so much for my relationship to work, I don't feelanything much for SD5 but I am trying to make life with her bearable in order for me and my So to be happy and thrive, but I want to tell SO that when SD is here in my home, I want the following rules adhered to

She must take her shoes off when going upstairs or on the sofa

I want her to sleep in her own bed and not come into our bed, neither should by SO sleep all night in her bed, it is not normal or healthy

She must be in bed by 9pm latest, (we only have her weekend nights)

She must eat at the table

She must clean her teeth and wash her face every morning and night

She is not allowed sweets unless dinner is all eaten

She must say please and thank you

Is this too much to ask?