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Stepmonster

AJanie's picture

I just started reading Stepmonster, so far I find it a little pretentious but very informative.

After reading the first few chapters, I have some questions for you all.

Do you feel walking into this life with young skids (infant to 9 years old) makes a difference in the quality of the skid/stepparent relationship? Is it "easier" for stepparents who are with their skids earlier in life?

Do you feel starting "fresh" in terms of housing (not living in the marital home BM and DH once shared) makes a difference in the quality of the romantic relationship... less resentment, etc?

I ask because 2 points the author touched on right away were the fact that she gave up her apartment and identity for her husband, and she walked into a house with a preteen and a teen. She stated that "professionals" suggested holding off on marriage if skids are between 10 years old and 16 years old (I may be off).

Thoughts?

Comments

Solidshadow7's picture

Supposedly relationships are much better if the child is younger than 5. Younger than 5 they will probably not remember their parents being together and will not view you as the intruder. You also remember them little and cute and helpless and may be more tolerant of difficult things they do as preteens.

I haven't heard any research on this, but I think living in the marital home is bad. When you do, the kids see it as he got this girlfriend, and now she is making up all these new rules and they don't like it. But if its a new home, they see them more as house rules and not your rules so they don't blame you for things they are now expected to do differently. Logic tells me moving into the home they already live in is a bad plan.

AJanie's picture

DH still has a bit of a stick up his ass regarding the house he used to live in. In his mind it is such a gorgeous home. I think it is truly a shit hole. Far too rustic/country for my taste! :sick:

Logic also told me it would be a bad idea. Skids don't remember the house too well but there are so many photos of "baby's first Christmas" or "first steps" in that house. I am not interested in making a life there... but I understand for some it is a good choice financially or location wise.

Acratopotes's picture

No regardless of how old skids are they still turn on you.... I've known Aergia since age 5.... she moved in with us age 12, everything was just fine, no problems, then BM contacted her age 13 and everything went to hell...

I've done the do not change the house thing immediately, blablablabla when Aergia left age 13 (only to be back 6 months later) I changed everything, I gave a shit... my house, my decor and my rules. If she does not like it she can stay with BM

Plenty of posters here started out with young skids and all have the same story, blood is thicker then water

I did not care one bit that SO and BM lived as a married couple in the house, I bought 50% of it, it's in a good area and resale value is brilliant, very good investment.... BM use to be queen of the castle, now I am... I give a flying duck that Aergia thinks she's the new Queen, I put her down from time to time just because I can (I moved back to my own place 4 years ago) My opinion on this... loads of time people buy houses where other people lived in before them... the structure is not the issue it's your mental mind that needs changing.

Oh I will be moving back next year when Aergia leaves and then sorry she will not be welcome back, SO started parenting past Sunday - hope he keeps it up Wink

I should right a book for SM's - one thing.... do not even worry about the skids from day one regardless their age, never contribute financially or parenting them and you will be forever happy - parent your partner!!

AJanie's picture

I certainly parent my partner. He is my third kid. He hasn't lost his keys or wallet in a few weeks (knock wood)... I must be doing something right. Wink

BethAnne's picture

Right now things are ok for me with sd9. I first met her when she was 3, moved into her dad's place (BM never lived there) when she was 5. I do though fully expect the tween - teen ages to be trying, I am trying to prepare myself for it.

The main problem for me right now is her mother, fortunately she lives a few states away so can cause a lot fewer problems than when we were in the same town.

AJanie's picture

Right now things are good with me and skids. (7 & 10) SS10 is starting to mouth off a bit more though and occasionally giving me eye rolls. SD7 has always been mouthy. I entered the scene when they were 1 and 4 (BM and DH split when BM was pregnant, reconciled briefly after the birth and then split again). I didn't live with DH or see the skids regularly when they were that young, but they knew me and have no recollection of their parents together. I try to hold onto hope that they will not torture me too badly as teens... but I know it may be inevitable. I can handle the regular selfish teenager stuff but I do worry about the "I hate you, you are not my mom" kind of rebellion...

My rational mind knows that blood is thicker than water but my emotional mind has "mothered" them for a few years now and I know it will hurt. They are such affectionate kids.

Cooooookies's picture

In my experience and reading everything on here, it has nothing to do with skids age. It has to do with two main points:

1. Does your DH(DW) parent their child(ren). If they don't, you're in for a ride from h3ll;

2. Is their ex psycho and, if yes, do they manage them appropriately? If they don't, you're in for a ride from h3ll.

Everything else stems from those two issues. E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G.

AJanie's picture

I deal with a bit of a Disney dad, no doubt about it. He does demand they respect me and has since day 1... that is one thing I will give him credit for.

Ex is definitely a psycho though. But in a mostly covert way. She is too busy taking selfies half the time to make waves, but when she gets in a mood she knows how to lash out and be vengeful.

2badsosad's picture

I also thought things we great in the beginning too. Then when BM decided to end that it was OVER. It's never been the same since she started with PAS. The rose colored glasses were fun while they lasted.

Cooooookies's picture

I thought things were great too. Until I figured out DH lives in Disney Land and BM2 is a Golden Uterus heartless wh*re. Then SS became a teenager.

Disengagement is my drug. Also Netflix and coffee and binge watching favorite shows. Blum 3

AJanie's picture

Shit. SD is mommy's clone. I always hoped with nature v. nurture... I could nurture her into not being a self centered, flighty moron like her mom. I know it isn't realistic. She told me she wanted to be a waitress like mom when she grew up... I suggested "Why not a veterinarian!?" Nothing wrong with attempting to set the bar a little higher.

Her mom and I are so different, from shallow things like clothing styles and tastes in music to bigger things like education, morals and values. Knowing she will likely morph into BM as a teen/adult sickens me. I am scared. Literally.

AJanie's picture

May I ask what your BM is like? Is she extremely high conflict or covert about it like our BM? Is she employed? And were you and your DH non-custodial or was it joint? I somewhat relate to you because (correct me if I am wrong) you also have an SD and SS, came into their lives when they were little and you now have one of your own (one and done?). I would like to have one of my own at some point.

Everyone has such a different step situation. I know not one person in "real life" in my situation. The only steps I know, brought their own kids into their situation.

AJanie's picture

We have the same visitation arrangement as the one you used to have, BM also does the "do you miss me" calls, skids are also interrogated after every visit. BM's mother thinks she is another one of the skids parents and she openly despises DH. I one time had BM and the mother at our car during a pick up, one at each window, inspecting the car seat situation.

I am not sure if BM bad mouths me to skids. I know she does to everyone else in her shit hole town.

Thanks for sharing. Biggrin

AJanie's picture

I know, you really are. Feel free to tell me lies about how WORTH IT this all is and how you wouldn't have it any other way, haha. There is still a piece of me that thinks maybe I should take off and attempt to find normalcy while I have about 3 good childbearing years left. Perhaps an elderly man with a lot of money, on his death bed. I think I would miss DH terribly though. Sad

NoWireCoatHangarsEVER's picture

That's why I wanted a boy so very badly and kept trying. I have four daddies girls.

Major Blunder's picture

"At one time I actually thought my skids were great and that we wouldn't have serious problems with them."

Exactly how is was for me at the beginning.

momjeans's picture

I agree with Cooooookies.

Skid was 3 when DH and BM split. DH and I dated a good 6 months before I met Skid right before she turned 6. All was fine and dandy until BM caught wind of DH dating - the poo really hit the fan once skid began speaking about me. How fun I was, how she wanted to go to daddy's house so she could see me, etcetera. BM basically had a mental breakdown, at that point, because she felt threatened. That was the beginning of the end when it came to the possibility of skid and I every having any sort of relationship.

Little did I know that DH was basically Disney Dad, and on ice at that. BM wanted her feeedom, but a husband and life as a mom to fall back on at her disposal. Things were definitely rough sharing a place that BM used to spend Christmas Day in with skid and DH. The first Christmas she wasn't welcome, and I had moved in, she tried to bust down and through our front door. We moved after the first of the year, asap, to a place she wouldn't know the location.

I disengaged.

There's just NO looking back when you're dealing with a crazy BM.

2badsosad's picture

I love that book. It's my bible.

NO, your step kids will turn on you eventually. If your BM is NOT on board, you're screwed. Period.

AJanie's picture

My niece is a senior in high school. She uses me whenever she hates her parents or needs something. We used to be very close, now I only hear from her when she has some crisis. Sickening.

sunshinex's picture

Why do you say if she's crazy with mental illness you're screwed? Just curious because BM has a ton of mental illness but rarely sees or talks to SD... Do you think it's something that'll still affect her? I know mental illnesses can impact children but surely our chances are better considering she's not around much?

I'm hoping SD doesnt end up anything like BM regardless of blood haha

AJanie's picture

My mom is 2 faced and my dad is neurotic. My sister is 2 faced and I am neurotic. Lol, yay for genetics.

sunshinex's picture

Very good point. I think a lot of it is hereditary but I have hopes it's also learned behaviour.. I'm hoping for my own sanity because if SD is anything like BM and her psychotic breakdowns, I'm in for an interesting time...

So_Annoyed's picture

UGHHHH. SD was 9 when she came to live with us. I naively thought that being away from BM, being raised by DH and I would change how she turned out. Well, she's 14 and a small replica of her crazy ass mother. Being a teen is bad enough, but she's manipulative, she lies, she's irresponsible and just has a shitty attitude most of the time. I hated teenagers since I was in my 20's and it has not changed. My son had his moments, but he also had a sane mom and rules.

I'm in a period where I'm questioning if any of this is worth it. Only time will tell.

AJanie's picture

I consider 9 the last year of cuteness. I have been in the "questioning if it is worth it" period for quite some time.

So_Annoyed's picture

Even at 9 she wasn't "cute", she was more tolerable though. And DH is quite the disneydad, so I'm not happy with either of them currently.

ntm's picture

Yep. It depends on the hormones. As soon as they kick in, which is different ages for different kids. forget it. They turn. I say don't marry until they are launched and all their crap is out of the house you will be living in. Seriously. And then have a pre-nup that they can't return to the house you live in.

AJanie's picture

DH says SD likes me more than him, too. I also say "just wait!"

I wish you the best with the arrival of your baby. That is very exciting.

Maxwell09's picture

The only perk of entering the lives of a skid while they are younger is that they trust more easily at that age. It's harder to start a foundation of a relationship with a preteen/teen whereas babies and toddlers are naturally more trusting. Other than getting in a few good years of happy family memories before SS5 turns on us, I don't think there's much of a difference in the outcome based on age.

As for living together...I think how welcomed you feel is based on the boundaries in the household. If Dad lets his kids mark their territory and keep SM from making any part of the OG House as her own then I can see the point of starting fresh. But that has more to do with the Bio Parent dealing with his kids and boundaries.

From reading here and other books and forums; I think if SS had been an older kid/preteen/teen I would just dated DH and waited until he aged out to live together.