You are here

Step children

Lynneamay44's picture
Forums: 

Hello everyone, 
I am so thankful to have found this forum. For the longest time I've felt alone in the battle with being a step mom. I'm a mom of 10 kids ( yup 10). 
My husband has 6 kids from two marriages, and I have 4 children from one marriage. 
When I met my husband I knew I was taking on 6 extra little humans, and we'd have days where we would end up on the brink of insanity. Between the noise levels, fighting, and not to mention the grocery bill we do have days where a bottle of wine is required at the end of the night. 

Here is where my battle begins, since my children where little I have taught them respect, manners, and to be self sufficient. They wake up for school on their own, they make their own lunches, and get themselves ready. They clean up after themselves for the most part, but most of all they are very respectful to the adults in their lives. 
That's not to say they are saints, trust me my kids do have bad days and can be a bit of a pain. 
The issue is when my husbands kids come stay with us, it's complete chaos!!! 
The respect level is not there. All of his kids have been "babied" by their mother's. 
For example the 12 year old won't even get himself ready for school, nor will he ever clean up after himself. 
At the dinner table all his children chew with their mouth open, all leave their plates on the table, no one helps clean up. 

Now for the real kicker my step son (6 years old) throws such severe tantrums when he doesn't get his way. He begins to punch my kids, screams so loud to the point the neighbors have asked questions. 
When I put him in time out he screams at me saying " I f**ing hate you, I wish you'd die." 
His moms solution is to say " It's okay baby I will get you what you want." No consequences for his actions. 
My other step son never takes responsibility for anything he does. He broke a Tv right infront our eyes by throwing a controller though it. Denied the whole  thing! When I tried to disapline he starts with the fake tears. My husband says it's okay we'll get a new tv. 

The stress at home keeps mounting. I'm a nurse who like many healthcare workers are feeling the stress of COVID-19. Perhaps that's why patients are running thin, but I honestly dread when my step kids come 3 days a week. I can't stand being here with them some days. I love my husband but he is quick to defend his own children when I speak with him. 
Help please !!!!!! 
Ps sorry If I have posted this twice, just getting the hang of the site. 

Jake's picture

 You got to get DH on board with his kids and have the rules and structure the same for all.

Barring that you will have to disengage.

I thought four Skids was insane,

I am pullin for you Warm regards Jake

JRI's picture

Sit down and have a serious conversation with your DH.  He must set expectations with consequences.  I'm guessing you have a guilty dad there, might be afraid of BM.  He's not doing his kids any favors.

Good luck, you have a lot going on.

tog redux's picture

OK, so serious answer - your DH needs to step up his parenting game, big-time. Who cares what the BMs do to reward them for bad behavior, when they are in your home, they need to follow rules or else. You guys need to run a tight ship, with rules and consequences, and it should NOT all fall on you. There is no way in hell this situation can work if your DH doesn't crack down on his kids, and fast.

I honestly don't know what could be so great about this guy that you'd take on his brood and his two BMs, but you might want to rethink it if he's not willing to learn to manage his kids better.

Rags's picture

FIrst, why would you choose a failed father?  Not only a failed father but one with 6 progeny from two failed families.  Your choice to marry this failed father, failed, husband, and failed man sentenced your own 4 children to a crappy life polluted by your mates 6 ill behaved failed family progeny.

TIme to make better choices. For you and for your children.

IMHO of course.

Rags's picture

FIrst, why would you choose a failed father?  Not only a failed father but one with 6 progeny from two failed families.  Your choice to marry this failed father, failed, husband, and failed man sentenced your own 4 children to a crappy life polluted by your mates 6 ill behaved failed family progeny.

TIme to make better choices. For you and for your children.

IMHO of course.