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New member needs advice preserving her marriage and setting boundaries for husband and SC

KTbug4Peace's picture

Hello
Fist - please forgive sentence structure requirig a comma! The comma key is missing on my PC. Smile

I'm new to this forum and I am currently smack-dab in the middle of SD and H crisis. I will try not to overstate or understate the issues. Two of my 3 adult SDs exibit recurrent problems with drugs - theivery - abusive natures (screaming...hitting...cursing...etc)- compulsive lying - con-artists...etc. I've been married to current H for 3 years and prior I was married for 25 years.

One SD is 22 y.o. and one is 31 y.o. In my life I have never been exposed to this type of lies and manipulation. My nature in general is lovinig-generous-kind. I worked at a major Children's Hospital in my area for 25 years. Currently I am unemployed after a recurrence of breast cancer.

I'll describe the latest incident as best I can:
31 y.o SD came over weekend b4 last. Tried to give me drugs (adderall-suboxone-xanax to name a few). Don't want em...didn't take em. She stole clothing/shoes & more from an upstairs closet. She had lost her job but conned her dad into giving her $100 for child-care expenses. She told me that her dad was angry because I could no longer work (almost 5 fig salary now gone) and that he had wanted to retire & I could continue working. She told me that her dad disliked my children. She did a preg test while here with her 2 sisters which was +. Told me she thot she was preg but she "started yesterday"...lies and deception go on and on... Her current live-in was arrested for slapping her 8yo daughter-drugs-other charges. She just showed me some of the drugs she was taking (remember...she's preg)Working on 3 children by 3 diff daddies.

This weekend as if nothing was wrong she and the live-in came to ask for our blessings for their marriage and to "announce" the pregnancy. Much pomp and circumstance...strange..

My H was interested in telling the live-in to beware of his daughter. I was interested in telling him that if I was ever notified of arrests or children being hurt I would call the law. SD has an intense fit. Tried to beat the door down screaming crying all kinds of drama that I am unaccostomed to witnessing. Of course I'm the target. Why? I guess that's just how it goes.

This is only one depiction from 3 years of marriage.

Next day H takes call from SD as if nothing were wrong..."Hi baby"...puke!

I know that feelings aren't always factual but its a fact after 3 years I feel:
Resentful at H for not protecting me from this behavior
Resentful at H for his "day after" attitude towards both SDs
Dishonored by the "day after" make-up because the outbursts are directed at me
Angry at H and SDs
Unprotected from future occurences

I need advice on how to love my H and set boundaries with him regarding his Ds and advice on what (if anything) I should/could do regarding SDs. I'm very lost here and seeking advice from how Hs would like to be addressed when wife has issues with their daughters and from anyone who can relate to this post and have methods that have worked for them in the past.

Please forgive length of post...I have a lot to purge after 3 yrs.

DeeDeeTX's picture

In my opinion, you dont necessarily have a step problem, you have a husband problem. Your husband refuses to set boundaries with these children, and thus tacitly approves of their behavior in general, and also their behavior toward you.

Your husband does this because on some level, it works for him.

If you are asking for advice on how to get him to change his behavior toward them, I will say this: You can not make anyone do anything. You can only impose consequences for them doing it.

Now, you can impose all the consequences you want for the behavior, up to, and including leaving your husband, and he still might behave this way toward his daughters. This behavior might work for him so much he'll be unwilling to change, regardless of consequences.

If you're unwilling to leave him, or impose other appropriate consequences, I'd suggest just shielding yourself as much as possible. If they show up at your door, lock everything you don't want stolen in a safe, and leave the house until they're gone. Husband begins talking to them on the phone, walk out of the room. If you know he gets pissy the day after an incident with them, plan to be not at home that day when he is. Etc.