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Advice needed on DH and Adult SD.

stepstuk's picture

Although I'm a regular reader,I rarely post, but, right now, I really need some advice and support,....I just don't know what to do anymore regarding DH and SD,it's a losing battle,and no matter how much I try to disengage from their drama, no matter how much I try not to give them head space, I fear the situation is fast becoming one that is spiralling out of my control,I feel totally,and utterly lost right now.

I have been with DH for almost 11 years now, I have an adult BD, and a toddler BS.
After years of putting up with adult SS and especially SD coming into the home,ignoring me,making comments,opening my private mail,laughing at me,ignoring BD,and making fun of me,I decided to disengage,...there's much more I could write,but the list would be endless. I spent years asking DH to address his children's attitudes towards me,but he flat out refused,and we would fight,.....this went on for a long time,until finally, DH admitted that his kids had a problem and that he would deal with it-He never did.

I'm sure those of you in the same situation, have experienced the private secret calls, being totally frozen out of the picture(SD has left me uninvited to her place without DH EVERY time over the past several years), and basically, just mean,spiteful behaviour to let me know where I stand, this is inspite of me cooking for SD one Christmas, even though she totally blanked me throughout her visit, and even in spite of her demanding she be allowed to bring strangers to our home to eat just one hour prior to her scheduled visit, she went absolutely nuts at DH when he had to tell her we didn't have enough food or space, and of course, I was obviously the one to blame.

So, more recently, none of SK's have shown an interest in BS, SD never even sent him a birthday card,or Christmas card this year,but she still manages to stay in contact with DH when he is thousands of miles away working! Yet, the situation now,is that SD is demanding to see BS through DH ever since I decided that DH would be better off continuing to visit SD at her place,....she has only visited here twice in the last 2 years anyway,and one of those visits barely lasted an hour.

I decided I no longer wanted SD in our home, when she called DH up, and began to bad mouth me to him AGAIN, she also threw in a complete fib during this call, and it really annoyed me to no end, DH never stopped her, never reminded her that I was his wife and she had better back off,...nothing,...same old. The phone call only stopped when SD heard BS, and she then hastily told DH she would call him back another time.

After this, I told DH I was done,...I mean, really done, and I meant it. So, DH and his son get an invite from SD to go to her place for a meal, and meet her new BF.......It later transpired from DH, that SD initiated discussion about me over the dinner table, in front of everyone, and questioned how I could ban her from my home,....no humility, no remorse,.....nothing,.....I was livid. I told DH he should have stopped the conversation right there and then, that it was inappropriate, and I was upset that everyone, including a guy I didn't even know, was discussing my private business and putting forward their opinions, with DH just looking on........

So, I had one almighty fight with DH on Saturday, we are still not talking. He is demanding that SD be allowed contact with our son, and that i am affecting the relationship he has with her because of my disengagement, he called me a trouble maker, told me to blame him for her attitude towards me, and that if I do not re engage, or let her see BS, he wants dates when this WILL happen,......he has iced me since,and will not back down, he has made every excuse for her behaviour in the book, and I feel like I am being bullied by them both. DH also chose to do all this with BS running a fever and me being up for 2 nights in a row with him,.....if I could sob, I would, but I feel so tired and drained from this all that I don't even have the energy.

I love my husband, we are ok until SD starts her games, this has been happening over 11 years now, they have never stopped, and DH is to blame also, he is part of the problem, he will not even consider what this is doing to our marriage, even when I told him that his daughters demands were more important in keeping peace for BS, who was really sick at the time, fell on deaf ears.

I was put on anti depressants a year ago because of the stress this has caused me, between DH and SD, they made the later stages of my pregnancy utterly miserable because of the drama, and when I had BS, I had a breakdown because I couldn't cope with the nastiness from DH every time SD would badmouth me and I would get pissed.

My health has suffered, I'm only in my thirties, my BP was up last time I had it checked, I suffered from a very treatable form of skin cancer last year,then I had to have biopsies when I found a lump, I do t know how much more I can take.

I have told DH he can try and bully me all he likes, until I see evidence that SD has changed, and he has changed how he deals with her, she is not to come near me, and that includes BS too. If anything, this latest incident has proved that nothing has changed, and is, infact, getting worse.

I could really use some advice,....I don't know what to say or do anymore, I feel as if my spirit has been broken and am so, so tired of this ongoing issue.

....looks like I will venting on here a lot more, I don't see this situation changing anytime soon.

Comments

Anon2009's picture

Go on over to the "Adult Stepchildren Issues" forum. You'll find many people in similar situations there who can give you good advice.

20YearsAsAStep-Mom's picture

I know how you feel. My DH wants to build the relationship with SD and our BS too and SD just pretends she is on the same page to please her dad. I typically wouldn't let SD see BS without me there and I don't think I will change that too much even though our BS is now 14. BS knows she is a trouble maker now and is not that interested in his half sister. Although he loves her kids (his nephews and niece). They are just little and innocent bystanders in this mess.

Your DH is feeding the beast, same as my DH was (and still does). DH is trying to understand my feelings but still has a hard time believing his loving princess has an ulterior motive regarding our family.

I still flip flog back and forth on whether I can stay with DH after everything that has happened. I have lost a lot of love and respect for him which makes me sad. Life has been so stressful for me too along with health issues that it is just too much to deal with some days.

We are moving away, but i am very scared that this will not really solve the problem, but it is our only hope for the marriage. If we weren't moving I know I could not stay under the current circumstances with DH visiting SD everyday and kissing her mean ass all the time. Makes me sick.

stepstuk's picture

I'm so sorry you are going through a similar situation, 20years.
I too have found that I have lost a huge amount of respect for DH that I used to have,....I wish I didn't feel the way I do, but, i guess it becomes inevitable in our situations, everything you say I can totally identify with.....sigh....

I am so glad I'm not the only one who actually finds it, at times, quite repulsive,....to have to listen to DH cooing over SD after the things she has done , just makes me want to hurl sometimes, this happens even when SD has just bad mouthed me on the phone,....it's unbelievable!!!

stepstuk's picture

Thanks Foxie, I totally get what you are saying.
Letting DH take BS to see SD is just not an option for me, my fear would be DH letting SD talk bad about me and BD infront of BS, and DH letting her,I couldn't take that risk, I just couldn't do that, plus, SD's use of recreational drug use would also concern me should there be any hidden away in her apartment,......just too much of a risk.

Perhaps her coming here has to be an option I have to consider, but I just do t know how to react if she starts her games,I'm not allowed to say anything to her,not that I have ever dared, but,losing control of someone bulling me in my own home is one of the most awful feelings-DH let's SD do it, then claims he either didn't see it,or, that I should blame him,or, that I am looking for trouble by wanting to discuss it after.......I have no control, and my main fear is BS seeing this and being exposed to it......if I call SD out on her behaviour, It would start world war 3 with DH.

stepstuk's picture

Thank you CheriW, this is just what I needed to hear.
My heels are already firmly dug in,..infact,...they are cemented into the ground, I have made it as clear as I can to DH that I will not, under any circumstances, allow his daughter and himself to make decisions that only a married couple should be making together, that said, you are totally right that perhaps it's time to accept that DH will never be able to protect me and look out for me where SD is concerned,....oddly enough, what you just said was pretty much the same thing my mother said to me earlier today.
I'm probably feeling a little defeated at the mo, hence, powerless,as to what I can do, but I'm sure once I get myself back together again, I will almost definitely be putting my , ' no more nonsense', head back on Smile

big momma's picture

Dear Stepstuk,
I don't know what to tell you. I am constantly thinking about BM and SKIDS and the injustice of their shutting my husband out. Will say a prayer for you! It's not easy but don't give up!

oneoffour's picture

The only reason she behaves like this... well 2 reasons are because 1)Her father lets her and 2) It annoys and upsets you.

Why not treat her like a mentally ill person. She will never change. She will not thank you for anything. So encourage DH to visit his daughter all he wants. BS cannot go EVERY time but once in a while.

Disengaging means not letting her crap stick to you and unfortunately it still does.
So either disengage properly or continue to let it eat away at you.

Accept she will not change and will talk crap to you. So the next time he brings her up just tell him "Honey, I love you to bits. However for whatever reason your daughter cannot even like me. And this puts you in a bad position. So go and see her. Why she has to have a toddler around with adults for your visits baffles me But she is the way she is. I wish we could have a better relationship but sadly it isn't happening. SO for my sanity and to stop us fighting I want to not discuss her at all. It is completely up to you whether you accept the way she behaves or talks about me. However I am not exposing myself to meanness in my life and I will not allow BS to EVER hear bad things about you from my family. So please appreciate our son's tender young life. When your daughter can be sensible and calm we can visit at a restaurant or somewhere. But for now, she is your daughter to enjoy. I look forward to the day when she and I can have a respectful relationship. I respect her as your daughter and she respects me as your wife."

stepstuk's picture

Hi all, thank you so much for the advice and support,......it is much needed right now and hugely appreciated xxx
Biflexed- DH leaves in a few days for a few weeks to work,....I'm going to use that time to have as little communication with him as possible, I need that time x

stepstuk's picture

Hi all, thank you so much for the advice and support,......it is much needed right now and hugely appreciated xxx
Biflexed- DH leaves in a few days for a few weeks to work,....I'm going to use that time to have as little communication with him as possible, I need that time x

stepstuk's picture

Hi all, thank you so much for the advice and support,......it is much needed right now and hugely appreciated xxx
Biflexed- DH leaves in a few days for a few weeks to work,....I'm going to use that time to have as little communication with him as possible, I need that time x

stepstuk's picture

Hi Stepaside,
Thanks so much for your advice.
Yup, this is more DH's fault than it is SD,s, I totally agree, he could have dealt with a long, long time ago, but instead has made a rod for his own back,so much so, that to back his own wife up would ultimately mean the possibility of SD pulling out the big guns,......withdrawal.
I definately sense desperation from DH, almost to point of being frantic this time round,so, although I know all the secret conversations between them have taken place in my absence, and although I am unsure exactly what has been said, I am pretty sure that SD has said something to DH that has him running scared. Even if I tried asking him, he would lie, it's something he does to minimise the truth and extent of her behaviour.

I think there is also an element of panick, because he now knows I mean business, I am not budging, I am insisting on respect, he knows this, but he also knows SD has pulled out the big guns, this leaves HIM in a situation he has tried to avoid for 11 years........he has pandered to her, begged her to accept me, looked for her approval,and let her dictate.

Yes yes yes, he is absolutely trying to pass the consequences off to me!! I tried putting this to him the other day, I told him it wasn't fair to pass the buck and attempt to make me responsible for the issues he cannot address.

I know, I couldn't quite believe it when he was demanding dates as to when SD could come into the home and see BS,.....he wasn't just demanding either, he was pretty much frothing at the mouth, that's how bad things get when it comes to SD, he is a bully, but it's not the first time this happened with SD. She was nasty to one of my dogs once infront of me,so, when she later asked DH if she could look after the dog for the weekend( my dog does not even know who she is, and the visit would have involved dog being locked in an apartment with no outside access whilst SD worked) DH said he would ask me, and when I said 'no',....all hell broke loose with him, he punched the walls, and followed me as I walked up the stairs and began pounding the banisters in temper,......needless to say, SD cancelled her visit because she was told 'no'............what parent allows things to get into that position,......it's just madness.

Anyway,......part of me wishes I hadn't banned SD from coming here,.....it just gives her a little more power than I'd like,but that said, I just couldn't take the crap anymore, I needed peace, I needed my sanity back, and I guess I knew I would pay the price for that, and I had the feeling she would then start with BS.

I am going to wait for DH to leave in a few days, he won't speak to me before then, and then I will definitely use the next few weeks to get back to normal, and limit comms between us, it will be the same old story, he will get bored and lonely, will then turn into me nice guy, make promises, say sorry, and expect me to be at his beck and call because he is home sick,........no more,.......I am D.O.N.E!!!

I think, looking at the bigger picture, and listening to all the advice, at some point, I will let SD see BS, but,I am going make sure that I am not outnumbered with DH and SD, so, maybe dinner at a restaurant with BD and another family member,.........I am also thinking that it doesn't have to turn into the 'SD Show' with my BS and their first proper meet,.....I just feel like my BS is being treated as yet another gift offering to pacify SD, and I hate that,..he is a child, not a tool to be used for this totally screwed up issues between DH and SD,.....ugh....

kaikicking's picture

I am still new to this but it does sound all too familiar. My sd20 doesn't want to be anywhere near more but always wants to see her my bd her baby sister I have allowed it to go on but I have decided enough is enough if she can't bend neither can I. Plus, kids pick upon those things why should my child have to hang out. love and accept some that doesn't like their mom. I am over it. Disengaged and staying that way,.

Doubletakex3's picture

Stay strong. You'll need to act differently than he's used to in order to break a cycle 11 years in the making. We're here for you.

stepstuk's picture

Thank you all so much for your advice , it really has helped so much. A few hours ago I was near to breaking point, I now feel alot calmer and reassured. I will definitely be on here a lot more from now on Smile

herewegoagain's picture

DO NOT allow her in your home, DO NOT allow your DH to take your BS to her. If she wants to see him, tell your DH the FOUR of you will meet at a restaurant. If she says no, too bad. That way, if she even dares to start any shit, people around you can hear and well, if she gets way out of line, there is always the option that someone will call the cops on the idiot.

StickAFork's picture

I don't get this advice for this simple reason: OP doesn't like SD anymore than SD likes her. Why force them to be together? All because they love the same person?