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19 year old dislikes my new hubby and hubby doesn't trust 19yr old son

jill_mac67's picture

I am going through a hard time right now. I apologize if this if all over the place, my brain is working overtime and i have so much to say.

I was single mom for 5yrs, I have a 21yr old Daughter and a 19yr old Son. The son lives with myself and my new hubby. New hubby has an 11yr old daughter half time. Never-mind the differences in parenting, everything was going well, my son walked me down the aisle, he was my biggest wedding planner at the start, my hubby even asked both kids for 'permission' to marry me. My son did say "what if we say no" my hubby said that it an issue that would be discussed and he would re-think the proposal. My son was ok with that and gave his 'permission' perse.

My son and I are very close and for the first few months of the new cohabitation, thing were good. Son would ask hubby for help with school work, for looking for a car, for help selling stuff online and they went to the gym a couple of times...things were going well, so i thought. About 3 months ago, my son stopped talking to my hubby. he is going down a path i did not have mapped out for him, I don't know who his friends are or where he goes, I do know he likes to drink and has dabbled in pot.

He doesn't like my husband now; says 'he is weird' and needs to mind his own business'. Hubby likes to know what is going on in the neighbourhood...i find it annoying at times too, but is not horrible - living with people is all about compromise and challenges. It has been my son and I for 5yrs and when I was married before, my ex didn't do much with our son, so really, I feel I have been a single mom since the start, even tho i was married.

New Hubby, now that we are living together, i notice is not as tidy as I am (I am a little anal when it comes to kitchen and sink cleanliness & my son is also a bit OCD about that stuff too...my fault prob), hubby and I talked about it and he is getting better, my son thinks he is a slob (he is far from a slob). My hubby likes to watch CNN ALL THE TIME, and there are other quirks...we all have quirks of some sort...things my son has not had to deal with before and I guess they are all piling up and now, my son doesn't talk to my hubby. It is affecting our marriage, as I am so close to my son & I admit that I do feel some responsibility, I got remarried, and I uprooted him to a new home with new people...not his choice. He is free to move out, he is old enough, but he knows a good thing when he has it, even if he complains about my hubby. but if my son is not happy, I am not and if hubby isn't happy, then I am not.

Hubby doesn't trust my son. Hubby is in a line of work where he finds it hard to trust people and that is challenging for us so to gain his trust, but to lose it is hard to get it back. He knows he has to separate work from home, and he is trying. My hubby does like my son and would and has done anything for him, he will always have his back.

My son has a great life, he is going to school & working full time, so doesn't have to pay rent and only pays his own bills etc...oh gosh, there is so much to say.

Long story short, I am a fixer and want everyone to be happy. I know everyone has to create their own happiness and I am not responsible for the way people feel or their emotions....before anyone says anything, I am not prepared to tell my son to move out and my hubby would never ask that of me. BUT this lack of respect, even tho I have talked to my son a number of times and he is a good kid and knows better, he is caring, loving and respectful (except for now) he is being disrespectful to my hubby, but he will talk to my stepdaughter if she talks to him first - but if hubby is in the room, he won't. I can deal with the disrespect he dishes to me, as the bio mom, but my hubby can't live like this much longer and I am in the middle. Hubby has come face to face with my son and son says "I am not ignoring you and I have just been working a lot". That is not true, even when my hubby says Hi as he is walking across the room son ignores him. Sad Not really sure why.

My daughter, she thinks my hubby is great - she doesn't live at home but is a good judge of character and calls him her stepdad and talks about him to people and she has a good relationship with her father. My son, has no relationship with his bio-dad....never really did. We are wondering if maybe he feels he was getting close to new hubby and maybe it scared him? We are assuming many things because he won't really say other than 'he is weird' and 'needs to mind his own business' and does annoying things and is a slob - that is no reason to ignore. 19yr old brain is still growing and he may or may not know what he is doing...could be anything at this age i guess...could be blatantly trying to destroy marriage, but today, he asked "what drew you to him when you first met him" I didn't tell him, that isn't his business, but gave him a generic answer.

Hubby and I are going to counselling (hard on me tho...feel like it is all about my son and I take the responsibility...right or wrong, I do at times), and she has said that we have to take back control and not let him see he is getting the best of us and coming between us - even if we have to fake it. we are tying some new 'strategies' and did catch him off guard yesterday and he actually said 3 words to my hubby, but today....back to square one...always over menial stuff.... there is more some passive aggressive stuff on my hubby's part too...so my son is not totally at fault. I have had to ask my hubby not to compare the perfect 11yr old who can do no wrong to the slightly flawed 19yr old who is finding his way...when we have private convos....my 19yr old was once a perfect 11yr old who knew right from wrong and did everything he was asked too.

I guess I just want to know if others are going thru stuff like this with adult/teen kids and how to get thru it. I just want everyone to be happy. They don't have to like each other or have long in-depth conversations but be cordial and respectful.

Thanks in advance for not judging me and for any helpful suggestions to help guide me through this new territory of cohabitation with kids.

Stormyweather's picture

I didnt finish reading it all but I stopped at your adult son interfering with your happiness in a home he dosent pay for. Its tough, but he has the choice to "get along" with those who live under one roof even if it means not being buddy buddy but at least resepctful and civil to each other...or move out if he cant or wont or dosnet like it.

He is your SON who is an ADULT and he needs to step aside for the love of his mum to love a man who is now her husband...your son isnt your husband but is acting like he is the man in the house because you are allowing it. I actually feel sorry for your hubby actually as its tough being a step parent who financially contributes but has no say in things or is pushed aside and whos needs as an equity life partner is being taken over by another man in the house. You will end up losing your husband because your son is interfering and dictating who you can love in your house.

Its a territory thing between two males, one of whom has been the man for his mother all his life, to feel pushed aside by the introduction of a new man in his mothers life (despite the love being different) your son has been allowed to be your emotional support and is now feeling threatened by your husband.

Your son will continue to push out any new prospective man in your life (as you are allowing it) whislt he lives in the house with you unless you put a stop to it.

Im sorry but your husband should be coming first in your life and the fact that you are saying its threatening your marriage now means you are giving adult power to your son...over your husband...your husband comes first...why get married otherwise.

Stormyweather's picture

In addition...Ive been through this myself but regarding my husband bringing in his three kids to live in my house...SS16, SD18 and SD21......it was AWFUL as my husband would throw me under the bus every time he should be there to support me and be a team together....no...the SD's needs and happiness etc were more important to mine. SD21 lied and said I was harassing her and I had proof I hadnt...my DH didnt WANT to see my proof and was determined to fully side with his daughter. Fine...it was my hill to die on at that point (especially after everything I had provided for everyone and yet I was considered the bad person???? I wished him luck living with his kids and sharing a bed with them as he believes wives are replaceable but kids are not!!

Consider how you are looking to blame your DHs behavior and sticking up for your son...you are doing it too!! Supporting your son over working as a team with your husband!! I feel sorry for him and you are going to push him away by siding with your son.

MsMad's picture

Hi, sorry, going a bit off-track from the subject of this post... But are you still with your husband of the 3 children you mentioned?

I have a SD who lives with me and her dad full-time. My SD is at a point of lying lots - I am the big baddy (although I work with children and am extremely patient). He is torn between us 2 and I (possibly like husband in original post) am wondering if I can have a happy, close relationship with my partner - or will it always be like this. I would recommend acting now, being equal adults in the home and working together.

I hope you can find ways to talk xx

Stormyweather's picture

I am but for how long I dont know....

Hes kids no longer live with us as the youngest (now SS17) dropped out of school, tried to commit suicide (to get BMs attention and this time it worked as now hes back living with her)....and hes been diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder I dare say BM has it as well.

SD21 lives between BMs house and her boyfriends but always seems to be borrowing something from DH or having him fix her car (and pay for it) and continually rescuing her.

SD19 moved interstate and Im sure my DH paid $5000 towards her buying a block of land up there as she only works casually and hasnt worked for long and yet has money (cash) to buy a block of land at that age???. My Dh will forever be supporting his kids financially and he hides this from me.

And after a LOT of research I believe my DH is passive aggressive in the disordered sense so no..we will NEVER have a partnership thats between two healthy adults that is equal, involves communication and compromise, is caring and sustainable.

simifan's picture

I second wickedsm123. Your son is an adult. He acts like one and is civil to your husband or he leaves. If you can't support that you should have never remarried.

notsurehowtodeal's picture

"Hubby is in a line of work where he finds it hard to trust people and that is challenging for us so to gain his trust, but to lose it is hard to get it back."

Am I reading this correctly that your son had your DH's trust, but then something happened so your DH no longer trusts him? I would think it would be something more than disrespect that would make your DH not trust him. Is there a possibility something happened that you are not aware of?

There is a big part of your son's life that you don't know about. Could your DH have called him out on some of his behavior and it upset your son? Or has your son done something that could impact DH's job?

Your post focuses mostly on your son not liking your DH. If your DH has good reason not to trust your son then the living situation must be pretty miserable for him.

MsMad's picture

More great, wise words. I am so glad to be reading these posts for advice. I hope they help me and many of you Smile

MsMad's picture

Here here!! I think manners and respect are so important. It reflects aperson's worth and right to be human. Disrespecting and being rude is low in my book and should be stopped straight away!

I suppose that fits into house rules, while under your roof etc...,

misSTEP's picture

Pretty much everyone else has nailed it.

You may not be ready for your son to move out but you must ACT like you are! Confront your son and let him know things have changed now. Don't be a decent parent his whole life and then falter at the most important stage! He needs to learn that there are going to be people in the world that you don't like for whatever reason but you STILL have to be polite and respectful to them. ESPECIALLY YOUR MOM'S HUSBAND!

Also, mom, that means YOU TOO. Do NOT allow your child EVER to disrespect you or your spouse no matter HOW old they are!

Journey Perez's picture

I think you are afraid to disappoint your son or hurt his feelings. Maybe somewhere inside of you, you think he will feel abandoned if you put your foot down and demand decency and respect. Because of the guilt you feel towards his own bio father really not being there, you are overcompensating and allowing your son to run sh*t and set the tone in your house. You really are a big part of the issue. I know you probably don't want to hear that but its very evident in your post. You have all the power here to make a change. Use it before you lose your husband. Nobody here would be okay with their spouse putting their adult child before them.

MsMad's picture

How do you feel about approaching your son about the disrespect and rudeness?

Stormyweather's picture

I dare say the OP has long fled as she dosnt like whats been written or suggested about putting her husbands needs first over her mooching adult sons' wants.

jill_mac67's picture

Thank you to everyone for your comments. They are hard to read and hear, but appreciated.
For the record, contrary to the last couple of comments, I am here, have not disappeared, was just out of town on a fun weekend with hubby & no computer.