You are here

Husbands daughter of 22 has moved in and I am seriously considering a divorce Pls help

brighteyes's picture

This is my second marriage and I have been with my husband for 7 years, married for 5.5 His daughter of 22 has recently moved in with us. She is a massive manipulator. She dropped out of university after her first year, has had various jobs none of which have lasted more than three months. His ex wife lives on a farm and said if she wants to party she has to move out. She has lived on her own for about a year whilst dad paid her rent and her pocket money and she was earning a salary. She has now moved into our home and she is the most untidy and lazy child I have ever come across. Week one we got on so well and she led me to believe that I could trust her and that she was being sincere. When I relayed the conversation to my husband he said she plays for the audience and I should not believe everything she says. So I pulled back. He has now given her a job at his company because after three weeks of lying in bed she did not even have one interview. My problem is that she is so different. She does not open a window in her room. Never opens curtains. Has the light on all day when she is here. She leaves piles of dirty or clean clothes on the bedroom floor and expects the staff to pick up everything. She complained tonight that they don't iron her clothes and everything is wrinkled yet if you could see her wardrobe you would not be surprised. She is a very large girl and she eats in her room all the time. She gets Mc Donalds and Pizza and Ice cream and then hides the packets in her drawers or under the bed. She recently went on tinder and met some guys. I asked her not to invite anyone to the house until she knows them well and we have met them. We went away last week and the staff told me she had a guy over. This came up because a lighter which was in my husbands bedside drawer emerged downstairs and he was blaming the staff of going through his stuff. When I asked them about it they said they thought it belonged to her boyfriend who was here on Friday night. So she went against what I had said. There is so much more and I do not want to bore anyone but my question is: Tonight I spoke to her about her untidy habits and having a strange guy over etc. I had discussed this with my husband in the morning and he said we can address it. He basically made me look like the villain. She put on the tears and he ran my thoughts down in front of her. He is saying he wants a divorce because I don't treat his children fairly. I feel like a stranger in my own home, I do not want to be around her let alone talk to her. I am scared if I say anything she will turn it around and make it look bad. Last year on holiday I made her and her sister and brother (all obese) chicken nuggets and chips for lunch and I made my girls a salad. They do not eat vegetables or salad. She phoned her mom and complained that I made them different food to what I made for my kids. I thought I was being considerate. Am I fighting a loosing battle or is there something I can do to make life easier. Please help. I am at my wits end.

ldvilen's picture

Well, first of all, you need to realize a SM can never win. This is classic, "She phoned her mom and complained that I made them different food to what I made for my kids. I thought I was being considerate."

Secondly, you need to realize that SD is basically what is referred to as a mini-wife. In other words, your DH has set up the situation where he has two wives in his home, and he also set up the situation where SD is the senior wife, while you are the lesser. You are your husband's wife. This may seem obvious, but you'd be amazed how many people forget this in a step situation--that you and DH are actually married and a couple, a real couple. Your DH should be treating you like his wife, and he should be treated his adult child like, what she is, a child. Doesn't matter if she is 50 or 75 years old. As long as dad is alive, she is his child.

The problem is, your DH is basically treating you like a child (your needs are lesser needs) and his adult daughter like his wife (she gets to control and say what goes on in the home). I have to tell you, the mini-wife situation is very difficult to break. SD is getting what she wants, control, and DH is having two women fight over him, feeding his ego, more than likely. They both got a good thing going, in their minds. And, you are the odd one out, spoiling their "fun."

So, the real question or issue is: Do you want to be treated like a inferior, second class wife in your own home? Don't worry about what others will think. I always say a SM has to do what works for her, because no sooner does she do anything, then there is someone there saying it is wrong. It is time you do what works for you. Divorce, see a lawyer, disengage, see a counselor well-honed in assisting blended families to see things from a better view, and so on. Whatever you do, make sure it is something that works for YOU!

Kes's picture

In my view no-one is required to have an adult living in their home if they do not want. She is not ill, physically or mentally, she is just lazy. This young woman should be given her marching orders. You have no obligation to her.
Edited to say, actually I have re-read your OP and tbh, I would want a divorce from your husband if I were you.