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Is DH handling this correctly or Disaster waiting to happen

ErinBo81's picture

Background---SS will be 15 in two months. SS is the most spoiled self centered, Disrespectful brat prone to violent behavior if pushed to do something he does not want. Rude to his teachers and only does school work that Interest him which is not much. Sleeps till noon and stays up till midnight watching horror movies. Has few to no friends. Yes SS is in therapy. 
 

Now BM in the past refused to punish SS and maded excuses for his behavior. Now SS is just to big even if she wanted to. DH tried punishing SS in the past and BM fought him all the way. 
 

So since BM fought DH as far as Discipline for SS when SS was younger DH feels BM has made SS who he is. BM refuses Consequences on SS and SS is just getting more and more out of control. 
 

So DH "plan" is to just basically sit back and let BM run the show and deal with the brat SS has become. Then when BM can either no longer deal with SS's rudeness, Refusal to attend school and violent behavior DH will file for full custody of SS and then lay down hell to SS without BM's Interference. DH feels BM needs to lose total control( pretty much there) of SS before DH can step in or BM will continue to fight DH regarding Discipline. 
 

So thoughts on this? Pros and cons? 

Rumplestiltskin's picture

SS may be too far gone already. Personality is pretty much set by age 10 i think. Maybe earlier. Sometimes a very structured environment such as the military can straighten people out, but can your DH provide that? 

Harry's picture

In three years he's going to be a adult.  What do you think DH is going to do. Have fights every other hour. You want to live in a boxing arena? Or a home ?   
SS is already lost   There nothing you or DH can do. Just let it go. SS will not live with you 

Rags's picture

He needs to take control now, at least while SS is in your home on visitation. Shut off the Internet, take his phone. He can sit his ass in the dark and brood but he should have zero connectivity in your home. What is he going to do? Fight daddy until the internet is turned back on?  Nothing a back hand knocking his ass out in self defense won't fix.

Make sure you have web cams everywhere so when SS attacks dad and dad knocks his ass out and zip ties him into a quivering mass in the middle of the living room until the police haul his violent ass off that the footage is all ready for court.

Just thinking of the hell that would have unfolded if I had attacked my USMC father makes me shudder even today.  4+ decades later.

I simply do not understand parents that would not rain hell down on a POS kid like this.  There is a reason why this shit was an anomaly back in the day when daddy would take Jr. out behind the woodshed for a talk with the barbers daughter when they stepped out of line.  Now these POS failed family spawn run rough shod over entire families with seemingly no consequences.

Daddy needs to set Jr. straight.  'Pull that shit again in my home and your ass will rue the day you were born. I already rue that day."

Lather, rinse, repeat.

Survivingstephell's picture

The barber's daughter??  I'm a barber's daughter and I don't remember any woodshed.  
 

You must be referring the leather strap for the razor.  

ESMOD's picture

The time for your DH to act was before this behavior pattern became set in stone.. which at 15?  it is pretty far down that road.

Now, I'm not sure why you say that DH couldn't give his child consequences on his own custody time.  He couldn't force BM to do it.. but he could have done it himself.  He could have also tried for more custody claiming BM wasn't being effective with her discipline.

It's not just "punishment".. but teaching, explaining, and providing opportunities for the kids to make good or better choices.  But, yes.. giving consequences for behaviors and actions.. or lack therof is part of the overall process of raising a child.

I don't think your DH will have the time to fix the cluster f his son has become in a year or two.. which is probably best case the amount of time he will get to do it by the time things worm through court.  his son will likely push back anyway.. why would he want to leave his marshmallow of a mother?

It will be a waste of resources for your DH.

Unfortunately, he has likely given them so much rope to burn.. there is nothing left to get a grip on.  he should have stepped up years ago.

CajunMom's picture

Does your DH really think he can take a 15 year old who's been left to his own will for years, and then suddenly lay down the law and the kid is going to just go along? I worked in the Alternative School in our area....filled with kids like you describe. I'll tell you what I told the parents, demanding I do something with their out of control kid...."time to do that was years ago. Not when he/she is almost an adult." Your chances are slim to none and your home will become a war zone. So get ready if your DH's ridiculous plan pans out.

tog redux's picture

Yes, all of this - not to mention that BM isn't going to cease to exist, and you can be sure that on her weekend visits, she will make sure the boy knows just how "mean and abusive" his father is being to him with all of his rules and structure.

PetSpoiler's picture

That will end in disaster.  BM has brought this on herself. I know there isn't much, if anything, that your husband can do at this point.   He tried and BM interfered.  I would not want him living under my roof. 

Survivingstephell's picture

Buy a case of soap on a rope for him.  He's a lost cause and will need life to teach him.  DH lost that position when he gave his balls to BM.  

CLove's picture

You husband missed the boat on parenting. He can always have instilled boundaries and rules on his visitation time. Now its too late. And this skid will get worse, so hang on its going to be a wild ride. Start investing in nanny cams and locks, and lock boxes. Learn how to spackle over holes in the wall and how to install new doors for when the current ones get kicked in. Disengage from his kid, because your husband will not suddenly be able to start parenting and be successful at it, since no one has been parenting this kid.

Oh and you wont be off the hook at 18 either, because this skid sounds like a failure to launch in the making. He will fail to launch and then you and your husband will get to support this lazy, mean, rude failed family attempt.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Rags's picture

Time to bring in the zero coddling professionals.

Suck it up or be destroyed kid. You will not be around to destroy anyone else.  It is better if you can have him adjudicated to a behavioral modification school.  That way it is not up to daddy, mommy, or anyone else in the family whether or not he gets out.

Convince the school authority and the Judge kid.  That is your only way out before you turn 21.

Winterglow's picture

 Does your DH seriously believe that any judge is just going to hand him full custody (which is extremely rare) because he asks for it? Not gonna happen. Even if it did, what does he imagine he's going to do to get his kid back in line at this late date? 

Even if he did, by some miracle, manage to obtain more custody time, what makes him think his son will stick around? By the time court is over, he'll be of an age where no judge will make him go to his father's if he chooses to stay with his mother. 

Why did it matter if BM didn't approve of his disciplining his son? what happens on his time is none of her business and what happens on hers is none of his. If he'd been doing his job as a parent right from the start, maybe his son wouldn't be such a hot mess. By  the way, exactly how did BM manage to interfere in his time? How much custody/visitation time does your DH have right now?

"DH will file for full custody of SS and then lay down hell to SS without BM's Interference."

Does he realize that this could take years to settle? 

"DH feels BM needs to lose total control( pretty much there) of SS before DH can step in or BM will continue to fight DH regarding Discipline. "

Tell me, why did your dh allow her to fight him regarding discipline? If he can't keep his ex out of his business concerning his parenting, I find myself wondering how on earth he 's going to manage to deal with an out of control, violent teen...

What is his plan B should the kid not respond to him laying down hell? 

tog redux's picture

Well, to be fair, my DH had rules at our house even though BM didn't, and it didn't help - SS just refused to speak to him for 3 years, and is now a 22 yo failure to launch case (still at BM's with no expectations).  But I suppose at least DH tried. 

ErinBo81's picture

Agree by the time this gets through the court system and unlikely the judge will give DH full custody IF BM still wants to be in control. DH plan is hoping SS will just get totally out of control both at BM and at school that BM just gets to the point she give full custody to DH. This is VERY likely as SS has told us BM can't get him to do anything and the only thing he does are things SS wants to do.

In the past when DH tried to give SS Consequences SS would run out of the house and call BM saying DH beat him( not true) and BM reported him to CPS. BUT if BM is afraid of SS or no longer wants him SS will have no place to run too. Yes SS could still lie about DH and get taken away. Let's see how Prince boy likes foster care. SS would not last ONE day. So you see DH feels the only way to fix SS is get him away from BM

ESMOD's picture

But, it's too late.  

1.  I don't know if your DH's EX is magically different.. but it seems like most BM's prioritize keeping the child away from the other parent.. over and above their own home's peace.

2.  How long do you really think he is going to end up biding his time?  till the kid is 16? 17? 18?  The kid has been a horror already and BM hasn't thrown in the towel.. almost 15 years of raising him.. and certainly a large number of those years the kid has been how he is now right?

3.  "let's see how he likes foster care?"  I think his mom would take him back. and there is a decent chance your husband  could be charged and convicted of abuse.  You could also be charged in some cases.  If you have other minor children, you are risking your custody of them.  If you have jobs or other family, you risk being limited in contract with kids.  We would all like to think that the authorities will come to the correct conclusion.. but it doesn't always happen.  It could be messy and expensive and result in really bad consequences for your household.. and in the end? SS may have no consequences period.

4.  How many years has your DH been separated from his EX?  I mean, it seems like his current plan is to just sit tight and wait until things get so bad even a mother couldn't love the kid.  You would be surprised how deeply a mother's love goes.  I have doubts that BM will really successfully boot this boy from her home after 15 years of being his primary parent. Now, she may be willing to shuttle him over once he turns 18 and CS becomes a non-issue.... but then you will be dealing with a violence prone MAN in your home... that is likely even worse.

Winterglow's picture

He maybe won't have his mother to run to but, by the time any of this gets sorted out, it will still be too late to get a handle on him. 

Are you not terrified of the idea of a teenager who is out of control both at his mother's and at school being under your roof? Are there any other children in your home?

tog redux's picture

Yeah, he's not going to foster care. And if he did, your DH and BM would have to pay child support to the state (here anyway). 
 

With a skid like this, be glad he's at BM's and not your house. 

justmakingthebest's picture

As everyone else said, at that point, even at this point it will be too late. 

However, your husband's plan to stop fighting with BM over it is probably correct. He isn't going to win. His plan needs to be- BM made the mess, BM can deal with it. NO, SS can't come live with you. NO, you are paying for a boarding school for him. NO, you don't agree to _________ (whatever plan that costs a ton of $ that BM has). Just keep the status quo over the next couple of years and pray that he pulls his head out of his own a$$ and wants to do better in life. Maybe start encouraging the military for him. Structure, training and decent pay are all strong reasons for him to join- he just has to graduate!! 

ESMOD's picture

Just another observation.  Your DH is also estranged from his older daughter per your post from early last year.  He seems to have a habit of easily writing off his kids... taking the path of least resistance.

1.  Teen daughter and his GF clash.. teen has a hissy as teens are prone to do, GF wants her GONE... He decides against counseling with his daughter (as a conduit to come back home) because GF tells him to.  SD tries to reconcile with DH.. he refuses because "GF".  Years later the GF is gone and he regrets that he didn't man up and be a parent.  

2.  Has a son that is not well mannered or behaved.  Kid is a handful, BM doesn't like his brand of parenting.. he just gives up and lets BM handle "whatever" Kid becomes a bigger pain in the tail as he grows older.  DH has some half baked idea that he will just let the boil come to a complete head and then BM will be willing to thrust the infected abscess of a almost grown man his way and that his son will magically toe the line for him now.. after he has likely "abandoned" him like he did his older sister? (you think that might have colored SS's opinion of his dad too?)

In both cases.. he has taken what might be seen as the easy way out.  He stepped back and out of his children's lives at the first sign of difficulty pretty much.  He did it for his GF... he did it because it was easier than staying the course with his son as a younger child... 

I mean, I hate to say it, but your husband hasn't been a great father to either of his kids.  I don't see how he is all of a sudden going to be that great and effective parent that fixes this boy in the final year or so of his "minorhood".  

Just because he is being delusional about "fixing his son", doesn't mean you have to agree to go along with his plan.  I think someone else suggested something like a military academy.  Whatever it is, I would refuse to have him in your home.. ESPECIALLY if you also have other minor children who live there.  You have an obligation to provide them a safe place to live.  Your husband's scheme could jeopardize that in ways you don't want to contemplate.  The fact is that he wasn't a good father to either of his children.  He gave up on his daughter quite easily it seems... and he did the same with his son.  It may be that he wants to fix it with his boy because he regrets what happened with his daughter.. but hey.. he abandoned one kid due to his GF.. why not do the same for you?  At least you won't suffer and your kids won't right?

 

ErinBo81's picture

I don't want him in my home. DH would never agree.  BUT the way things are now ANYHING is better. Right now Step brat is fully Sheltered/protected under mommy dearest. One thing BM does not like she will have DH back into court or CPS on his ass. Step brat knows this. So I agree we need to remove BM from the picture. Or we will have a overgrown adult brat.
 

Honestly the best thing that could happen(my Opinion) is SS punches BM( could happen). At that point I believe BM would allow DH to take over AND SS will have a record of being violent so any lies SS try's to tell about DH will be less Believable. Then just let SS try and lay a hand on me. I'd have his ass in jail for assault. SS can rot in jail for all I care if he does not Straighten out. 

CajunMom's picture

I'm actually appalled that you are talking about a kid hitting his mom so violently he'd be removed from the home only to bring him into YOUR home?  So, yeah...if he hits you, you call the cops. But what about possible injuries? What if he breaks your jaw, causes permanent injuries, or even stabs you? Like I said, get ready for a war zone in your home. Get your plans in place. Get cameras installed. And make sure you have a stick around to protect yourself....if you even get the chance to grab it before your SS punches you. Your DH is delusional if he thinks he can magically repair years of damage in a kid he's done zero with himself. Wow.

ESMOD's picture

And... what about other people in the home?  It sounds like she also has a child.. so what if SS turns his aggression on her child?  Injures him.  Kills him?  

Honestly, if it came to a point where BM has agreed to hand over and wash her hands of her son (which she won't.. the threat of CPS will still be there from her.. she will not go easily into the night).... I would tell your husband that he can move out and live with his son separately.. OR... he can pay for you and your child to live separately until SS turns 18 and leaves home.

I would not agree to a full grown, out of control, violent "almost man" living in my home.  If he came.. I would leave.

justmakingthebest's picture

This is not a healthy line of thinking. Please stop and think about what you are suggesting.

IF your SS actually hits BM, he should go to jail for assault period. The fact that you think that hitting BM is even remotely a hopeful idea and could lead to his reform is seriously twisted. 

I think you need to drop the rope here. People have been telling me that for years and it took a long time to do. You are too invested and your DH has already shown that he doesn't have it in him for hard parenting. You don't even have to demand or stop anything from happening- just focus on your kids and stop. Stop asking about SS, stop engaging in conversations about SS, change the subject, make an excuse to leave the room, etc. Just stop. Your DH doesn't have the drive to keep it going, to fight, to do anything on his own. Honestly most of our husbands don't. We don't even actively have to DO anything other than stop. 

If, once he is 18 he wants to live with you guys, start the fight. Make sure to agree on rules and guidelines and make a lease agreement for SS to sign. Hold him accountable with rent and responsibilites. You can always save the rent for him as a nest egg later, start investments for him, whatever- but don't tell him that! I hold me 21 yr old special needs son accountable, it isn't wrong to teach them! Also make sure that you and DH know what the breaking point is where it will be a SS or me conversation- so that your DH knows clearly that behavior won't be tolerated. 

tog redux's picture

You're going to have an "overgrown adult brat", regardless. Let him stay at BM's and fail at life there. 

Someoneelse's picture

exactly!!! Look at my posts, because LITERALLY SAME!!!! SD is 17, but literally it's embarrassing how infantile and childish she is. she literally is a spoiled brat who creates situations for people to feel sorry for her over. Her behavior is like a 5yo's but with teenage tendencies... like she WANTS to have a boyfriend... but literally cries hysterically to the world when she gets regected... why did she get regected? because NOBODY actually likes her...

IMO your SS violence is very immature and child like... my little brother was a violent person, he used to chase me and my sister around the house with a baseball bat when he wouldn't get his way. he'd throw baseballs at us, he'd pull our hair out and slap us, like THIS is a child having a tantrum... TO THE MAX, but your stepson sounds just like this... my brother was 5 and 6yo when this happened... he finally grew out of violent tantrums when we was around 9 or 10... (he was the baby of the family and my father's only son, so yes he was the GOLDEN CHILD and got away with TOO MUCH) but that's the thing, these GOLD CHILD sons get away with too much and don't learn that these actions are immature and gross, and need to stop. but they never will if they are allowed to get away with it... and your husband ALLOWING him to act that way, is your husband being a complete moron... we all already know BM is a moron for allowing it, but sometimes we overlook the fact that our husbands are complete morons as well

Exjuliemccoy's picture

As PPs have pointed out, your H is spinning a line of pasive bull that makes BM the bad guy while allowing him to feel better and avoid doing the hard work of actually parenting. Yes BM may suck, but he sucks, too.

OP, what are your thoughts on this plan of non-action? Do you grasp the misery and strife you'll be subjected to if you permit a juvenile delinquent or stunted adult to live with you? This site has countless posts of BMs who marginalize the other parent, raise their kids to be monsters, then punt them to daddy when they either become uncontrollable or the c.s. ends. Dad, thrilled that Little Johnny/Suzie "wants" to live with him, welcomes their widdle terrorist with open arms but seldom lays boundaries or expectations.

You need to get ahead of this NOW. You have veto power and need to lay some truth on your H. Kids like his don't wake up on their eighteenth birthday polite, well adjusted, and really to adult. They're entitled, and lack basic life and social skills. They don't do well in school and can't keep jobs. IF they move out, they often boomerang. Don't be passive about this, OP. Start planting the seeds now, or suffer later.

TheAccidentalSM's picture

Taking in YSS as a late teen due to BM not wanting him anymore and trying to fix him nearly ended my marriage.  It is what had me doing Google searches that led me here.  And YSS was an angel compared to the burgeoning thug you are describing.  He was not violent and was basically a big slob but with a reasonably good heart for a teenager as least part of the time.  It still nearly drove me demented.  So let me repeat - Don't do it.

simifan's picture

Bahahahaha. Your DH is completely delusional. If he couldn't control SS When he was younger, how is he going to control him as an almost adult? What makes him think BM isn't going to continue to let SS make the rules until he ages out?