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Slighty O/T Dealing w/your Adult Bios

still learning's picture

I have 3 adult bios now and 2 minor children. DS21 recently moved back in w/me, dd22 lives out of state, ds18 is going to college out of state. For the most part they are doing well. I'm having a hard time knowing where the boundaries are when it comes to their personal relationships. When they were minors I had no problem speaking my mind and telling them that so and so may not be the best person in their life right now. As adults though it's different since they can shut you out if they don't like your opinions.

The issue, dd22 is dating a guy who has been in and out of jail a few times (non violent crimes). Basically he's just stupid. The guy doesn't work and dd is basically supporting him while struggling herself. I think it's a terrible situation for dd and this guy is dragging her down instead of supporting her and building a life w/her. I told her exactly what I thought of her dating Mr. Jailbird and she didn't talk to me for weeks. Did I overstep? Should I just keep my mouth shut and let this guy drag her down? I know realistically I can't do anything but as a mother I feel that I should say something if my daughter is in a trainwreck of a situation.

The other is ds18 who is away at college but still pining over his high school sweetheart. Mean old me told him to go out w/other people and have fun. Apparently his now ex gf has already dated 3 of his friends so he should move on too. Oh how horrible I am for suggesting such a thing and I don't understand!!! Nope, guess I was never young or in love.

How do you all deal w/your adult bios and their dramas. Do you give advice? Steer clear and tell them they're on their own? Bite your tongue? Say your piece and then step back? What works for you? How can I be supportive but not overbearing? But also caring if I see something off?

SacrificialLamb's picture

My bios are in their mid 20's. I tend to not give advice as much as I ask questions that hopefully make them think. However, if one of them were dating a jailbird, I would have no qualms about telling them that there are millions of eligible singles in this country alone. Surely there is a better option?

If they get mad at me for voicing my opinion, remember we parents are not our children's friends. My kids value my opinion and always come around.

But the older they get, I find myself less and less offering unsolicited advice....I do tend to say "I have an opinion on that subject if you want to hear it." But jailbird? They are going to hear my opinion regardless.

still learning's picture

Asking questions to make them think is good advice. I'll switch to doing this rather than telling them my opinion. Though she will still get my brief opinion about Mr.jailbird along w/some thought provoking questions Smile

still learning's picture

I guess it all comes down to how it's said. I've definitely got to switch from "I'm mom, I know what's best and you will listen" to a more adult level relationship w/my grown kiddos. It's just so hard to watch them continue in relationships w/people who I know are not right for them. Anyone could see the issues in both of these situations.

I tried to teach her when she was young but with the extremely dysfunctional relationship between her father and I it probably seemed hypocritical me telling her only to date nice men. I'm hoping time and distance will solve the issue with ss18 and his senior in hs gf. They'll be in college in different states and 4 years is a long time, especially for a girl who's already dated 3 of his friends! They'll see each other over xmas break this year but next year I'll be in a different location so if they want to rendevue over break they'll have to do it on their own dime.

Thanks for the link. Some of the advice for getting over a breakup:

Don't talk to your ex (Gawd I wish I didn't have to)
Don't stalk your ex
Dont Facebook stalk your ex

No stalking or talking.

Acratopotes's picture

oh hell... how do you deal with your adult bios.... well not like they are children any more that's for sure lol...

I do not get involved in Deigma's friends, love life or anything, not even work life, he's 21 and capable of handling it himself.
At a stage he dated a couple of dodgy girls, I simply put his ass down and said - are you sure you want to marry that? He would look at me puzzled and tell me I'm not going to marry her mum, it's just fun and I would reply, remember what I told you, if you are not planing on marrying that you do not sleep with it..... You do not want to have a baby right now and paying CS etc....

Normally his true love girl friends would be gone after a month, cause he has no car, not enough money and sure as hell not a Disney Mother.

I'm sorry my house my rules, I do not allow them to be in the bedroom with a closed door, yes I know stupid, they can hanky panky any where but to me it's a simple rule in my house, why would you want to hang out in the bedroom behind closed doors if you can sit at the lapa or in the tv room? What's the point of dating if you are not talking and getting to know each other.....

It's tough with boys 15-... Hormones are ruling lol and to keep that in line is a battle , but I think Deigma is getting it, do not have sex unless you are prepared to marry the woman, and do not tell the girl you have your own car, if she's there after a year then she's a good girl and likes you for you, not because you have a car and spends money on her...

I never told him he can't date a certain girl or she's not welcome at my house, I simply asked him, do you think you have a future with a woman, who has 2 kids from 2 different fathers age 17, no education and jobless... do you think your salary is enough to support a family of 4?
He thought he was clever and said, her mother has her children, I looked at him and said, ok so it's only the 2 off you, then she gets pregnant and she sends your baby to her mother as well, are you okay with it... he dumped her a week later....

I simply decided years ago, I will never get involved in his life unless he asks for advice, which he will not take 70% of the time...
and I can only hope and pray that he remembers his upbringing... if you are not prepared to marry a girl don't have sex with her..

still learning's picture

"if you are not planing on marrying that you do not sleep with it."

Excellent advice. Reminds me of the other one popular around here, "Don't stick it in crazy!" He knows what I think about the whole gf situation. I've said my piece and will now step back and do my best to keep my mouth shut.

My daughter has a car and job. She is basically supporting Mr. Jailbird who is so helpless that he can't keep track of his court dates or go apply for a new ID. DD has taken it upon herself to keep him out of jail. Last I talked to her I said that he is the one who needs to keep himself out of jail. I wonder if he'd stick around if she was carless and jobless like him? Don't worry I'm not going to ask her that but sheez,she really can do so much better if she wanted to.

2Tired4Drama's picture

I'd bet there are some statistics out there about women who are in prison, and what percentage of them are in there because some worthless man got them involved in some criminal activity.

It can be a very slippery slope for your daughter from wanting to "help and fix" the Jailbird, to finding herself on the wrong side of the law, too. Sometimes it can be unintentionally. But she'd have to tell that to the judge.

I hope she comes to her senses and dumps this guy. Are there any other family members who she might listen to besides you? Sometimes it helps if it comes from a third-party who is more neutral.

still learning's picture

Her friends are telling her the same things I am and she's mad at all of them too. I'm hoping she's smart enough to avoid getting in trouble w/him. His issues have mainly been petty theft and not following through w/showing up to court. Luckily DD loves her job and doesn't want to do anything to jeopardize that.

mtnwife530's picture

Yes, we all do!

DD (22 at the time) Met a guy in another state, feel"in LOVE" and got married all in 3 months! I knew the harder I fought against it, the harder she'd fight to do it! She had kept certain red flags to herself. She ended up supporting him, he didn't have a drivers licence, then came home for lunch from work, lets just say "got her feelings hurt :jawdrop: . Thank GOD she was smart enough to walk away , and no babies!
I have had the Luck of actually hearing "Mom, you were right" from her more than once. We do the best we can, and trust it was good enough. Good Luck

still learning's picture

Thank you. That's great that your daughter was wise enough to walk away. What happened? Was her DH cheating on her during lunch? I used to have neighbors where the wife was in the military and the husband was a stay at home loser druggie in charge of their infant. This guy always had a female *friend* over when his wife was away. Last time I saw the guy he was being carted away by paramedics because his wife *accidently* shot him in the leg with an unregistered gun.

And these are the days of our lives...