Help! My Partner Doesn’t Seem to Like My Child
Dear GoodTherapy.org,
I am a mother of one child, and I share custody of that child with her father. I’ve been divorced for seven years, and for the last two I’ve been seeing someone I’ve become really close to. We’ve lately been discussing getting a place together, but there’s one thing that’s been bothering me—he doesn’t seem to like my child. He’s not mean, short, or even rude. He just doesn’t engage her, doesn’t talk to her much, and doesn’t seek out interactions with her. In fact, it’s like he’d rather pretend she isn’t there, unless he has to do otherwise. He prefers to go out and take trips when my daughter is with her father, even though I’ve said frequently that I’d like to include her in the future, at least some of the time.
My daughter is 8 and reasonably well-behaved, well-mannered, energetic but not too wild—in short, she’s a typical kid and acts like one. There are no underlying factors of health or behavior that might complicate the situation, and she really seems to like my boyfriend and though she hasn’t yet seemed to notice that he often brushes her off, I’m worried she’ll begin to and be hurt by it.
I’ve tried to talk to him about this, but he says he likes her just fine, it’s just that he doesn’t know how to talk to kids. It was a relief to hear that the first time, and I said he could talk to her about anything—a show she likes, the book she’s reading, or her friends at school, etc. But the next time they were around each other, nothing changed. This has become a pattern, and so I’ve mostly stopped bringing it up.
I haven’t dated much since my divorce, so I don’t have anything to compare this to. Is this normal? Should this be a deal-breaker? How can I find out what’s really going on, and whether it’s something that can change? —Mulling Mom
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Dear Mulling,
Thank you for sharing what sounds like a deeply complex dilemma. Dating when you have a child is so very hard because you are ideally looking for two connections—one between you and your partner and another between your partner and your child. It sounds like you have one of those connections, but not the other, and you’re trying to decide where to go from here.
I find myself feeling curious if you’ve talked to your daughter about how she feels about your partner. If you haven’t, it seems like it might be time. Invite her to be honest, and ask simple questions. Does she like him? How does she feel when she spends time with him? Is there anything she doesn’t like about him? What does she wish was different about him? Keep the questions directed at her experience of him; do not ask her to weigh in on your decisions about the relationship—that’s too much responsibility for a child to take on. After such a conversation, you may have a better understanding of her experience of him.
Even with an understanding of how she feels about your partner, it’s important to remember you are the parent and you are responsible for making the best decisions for your daughter.
Even with an understanding of how she feels about your partner, it’s important to remember you are the parent and you are responsible for making the best decisions for your daughter. For example, if the conversation with her validates your belief she is unaware that she is being brushed off, this doesn’t mean she will remain unaware. You indicate a concern she will notice and it will hurt her. I think that is a valid concern. As she grows, she will almost certainly realize his disinterest in her, which may be hurtful in the moment but may also send a message to her about what she should expect in her own relationships.
You ask how you can find out “what’s really going on” and if it can change. This can only be addressed with him. It sounds like you haven’t seen any change in his behavior with your daughter and the conversation between you and him is so unproductive that you have ceased having it. Perhaps it’s time to consider enlisting the support of a couples therapist. If both of you are willing, a therapist can help you to move beyond this impasse and have a more productive conversation.
If he is unwilling to engage in therapy with you, it might be a good idea to engage in your own therapy. This is gut-wrenching. You’ve found a relationship you feel happy in after your divorce but question—with good reason—what the impact might be for your daughter. There are no easy answers here, and having the support of a therapist could be helpful as you try to set a course for your future.
Best wishes,
Sarah Noel
Parenting While Anxious: 5 Ways to Cope with Anxiety as a Parent 
How to Raise a Responsible, Self-Aware Child in an Age of Entitlement 
Helping Young Children with Emotional Regulation: Tips for Parents - 33 comments
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Shelley
August 18th, 2017 at 2:42 PMI think that it is time to not only have a good long talk with your partner but also a good long look at yourself. This is obviously not the kind of relationship that you want to get into if the person that you are with does not love and respect this child like he would his own. Step families can already be so confusing and complicated for any family, especially those with young children. Don’t ever make the mistake of letting your child feel like you have chosen a partner over her.
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Adrian
August 21st, 2017 at 7:13 AMI have a different perspective than Ms. Noel and even Shelley…. I am in a relationship where I am in the role of your boyfriend… I am married, and my husband has a 19 year old step-son. Being in this step-mother role is not an easy one. You are expected to take on the same responsibility yet “you aren’t the parent” and the child is allowed to not have to listen to you. Part of what I could imagine going on here is that you have someone from the opposite sex trying to figure out how to have a relationship with a child who they have nothing in common with besides you. For example when I met my step son he was cordial, but he would not talk to me, and if he did it was one word answers. I want a relationship with him, but I don’t know how. His main interests is watching sports and playing sports. I have gone to his games, I have played with him, but I can not have a conversation about sports because it does not interest me. Kids know when people are faking and trying too hard too. Now that he is a bit older and in college I reach out to him to help him with his resume or job skills and I’m still pushed away. Without you there would be no relationship between your daughter and your boyfriend. My advice would be to create activities where everyone can have fun and interact like playing board games, doing a science project together, going swimming, something where you have to interact with each other and it’s not forced. It takes a VERY long time, YEARS to build a relationship like that, don’t expect to rush it. My step son has a step father who has essentially raised him as his own, they get along well. He’s been in his life nearly his entire life and they have everything in common. I think sometimes it is easier to forge a relationship with step-children who are the same sex. My husband was married before he met me and his first wife experienced the same challenges forging a relationship as I have with his son. The difference is I have been myself, and genuine. I don’t bombard my step-son with routine questions, “How’s your mom? How’s school? How’s sports?” My husband sees that the relationship is not the greatest, but he also sees that is just how his son has up a wall. He’s not outwardly rude or disrespectful towards me and right now that’s all I can really ask for. I’ve had to give up my idea of how perfect I wished my blended family would be and accept it for what it is. It’s hard. I’ve heard if you want to have a marriage or relationship work you put your spouse first, not your kids. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander. Sure you make sure their basic needs are met. But remember your kids are not your significant other. It’s a delicate balance. I can’t tell you how resentful I have felt towards my husband at times for putting his son above me… His son would be inconsistent about wanting to visit. He had his own car and would drive yet text my husband last minute to pick him up which was a 3 hour round trip drive and we would already have other plans that had to be cancelled. (I don’t understand why his son would never drive to visit us, and why we always had to pick him up and drop him off at his mother’s house.) Or how we would look forward to see him because we made plans and at the last minute something would come up and he would cancel on us. I felt like my life was being run by a teenager with no boundaries, and no consequences taken place. It takes a special person to be accepting of walking into a situation where they’re not the first spouse, and there are kids involved. It’s a role that can be overlooked and taken for granted. It gets complicated for everyone when you are divorced and have kids from another relationship. Please realize that this is not your boyfriend’s child and he doesn’t have to have any feelings towards her, the same for your daughter. They don’t have to love each other, and they don’t even have to like each other, but they do need to be respectful to each other. Kids in these types of situations can learn to be EXTREMELY manipulative. They know there is a breakdown in communication between you and your ex most likely, and possibly your significant other and they will use it to their advantage to get what they want. At 8 years old that may look like “Mom can I have a cookie before dinner?” “No.” ” Dad can I have a cookie?” “Sure!” But what does this look like as a teenager? Suzie Q is grounded by mom for texting naked selfies to her boyfriend. Suzzie Q goes to dad’s for the weekend, ” Hey dad can I go out to the movies with some friends ( and boyfriend)?” “Here’s $20, have a good time.” There needs to be communication between all adults to be on the same page with the kid. Everyone is going to want to be the fun parent and the most likeable. When your daughter is with your ex you have no idea what’s going on when she is not with you. The other side of your daughter’s family can also play a big role in her interactions with him. I was raised in a blended family and as a kid I didn’t know how offensive it would be to my mom’s side of the family to also call my step-mom (at the time girlfriend) mom also. Your daughter may feel like she is betraying her father by befriending your boyfriend. The whole thing is a complex issue for sure. Maybe I went a little overboard here with my comment, but I’ve lived it as the child, and I’ve lived it as the wife/ step-mother.
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Angela
May 12th, 2020 at 8:58 AMI’m experincing this right now. My partners son will ask for snacks at 10:30p and midnight and he gives it to him. I asked why would he allow a child to eat snacks at that hour and he responded with he’s going to be up all night anyway. A few weeks ago, his son was on the phone past 10pm and when I advised him that it was time to get off the phone he told me that his mom told him that he didn’t have to listen to me. This disruptive behavior is causing major issues in my household and I dread any interaction with him because I’m always the bad guy. I came from a blended family and me and my stepmom had a good relationship. We treated each other with respect and as a child I never did anything to manipulate the situation.
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Heather
August 21st, 2017 at 1:11 PMThe point is that no one ever said that being a step parent would be easy. It isn’t easy being the biological parent either. But you owe it to the family to try to step up and be everything that that child needs you to be. If you are not willing to do that, then you should bow out.
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Rex
August 23rd, 2017 at 2:13 PMThis can be a challenge in today’s dating world because there are a lot of single parents out there, and you might be interested in someone before you even know that they have a child. I don’t think that it is wrong to be a little hesitant about getting further involved with someone with kids if you are not sure that you are ready to be a parent. It can be even harder when there is a divorce issue that the parents still are battling over and man, who wants to have to get in the middle of that? There are so many issues that you have to think about before fully committing to a relationship where this will definitely be something that has to be confronted.
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lexi
August 24th, 2017 at 2:36 PMWhat do some of your friends have to say? Do they think that eventually he could come around?
Sometimes they have their finger on the pulse of the situation far better than what we may have being in the midst of the relationship/ -
Paul
August 31st, 2017 at 1:28 PMBlended families aren’t as easy as most may believe. The Brady Bunch had us fooled.
I agree that communication has to be aligned with all parties involved. I came into my relationship with two children and my fiance came in with one child. I treat all of the children the same. I don’t use the phrase “step” when speaking because I look at my oldest girl as my blood daughter as well. My youngest daughter was only months old when my fiance and I became involved. Now I feel, based on visual interaction, that my fiance doesn’t embrace her as one with their history should. She’s 7, so she’s definitely a handful as any other 7 year old is. As a parent, you see things differently when it involves your child. My fiance is harder on my 7 year old vs her 12 year old for issues that relate to the same things. She uses phrases like ” your child” or “your kids” and it really bothers me. Talking through some things allowed it to get better, but ultimately, the suggestion of counseling may be the best option. That mediator gives a push for people to speak their true mind. Sarah’s suggestion for couple’s counseling just ignited a flame for me.
MULLING MOM & ADRIAN – I suggest the same for you as well. -
Suzette
November 26th, 2018 at 12:37 AMI am married for a second time my son lives with his father, so i don’t see him as much, but we spoke regularly. my problem is every time I tell my husband something that my son said or did something , he always have something negative to say, and I rely don’t know what to do any more He knows that I get upset when he does this but he still carry on , he has daughters and they are always the best always have best marks from school always does best at sports , my son also do his best and he also do sports but still it is not good.
what do i do , do I just walk out of my marriage. -
Andy
November 25th, 2019 at 1:01 PMHi Suzette, I’m in a similar situation where I have children from previous marriage. All my kids are polite and well behaved in most cases and my partner was fine for some time. But after some years perhaps a jealousy has crept in as if I see my children which is not often these days or if I speak about them she makes quite nasty comments about them. I put it down to her not having much contact with her own children but cannot understand as a parent how someone can be so nasty and not realsie how upsetting to me that it is as I never speak ill of her children.
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Venina
July 10th, 2019 at 8:25 PMWhat is the best solution to make my husband understand my only daughter{from another men}.What I usually do is keeping some aside from my pay so that I can financially supporting her without my husband concern.My daughter is 15yrs old and also the same period my husband and I are together.One day I was just trying to get his opinion by sharing with him,like what if i want to go and see my daughter or even attend her parents interview in school or if she could spend her school holiday with me? I just take into heart when I get a NO from him.
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Andy
February 2nd, 2020 at 10:34 AMHi Vanina,
it sounds like your new partner is rather controlling as you have a right to see your children (unless a court has said otherwise), attend parents evening at school etc. although separately from your ex perhaps but maybe not to stay at yours for a holiday as that may be a strain at first. Does your new partner not talk about why he has issues with your children? -
Jake
February 1st, 2020 at 5:33 AMReality is that we weren’t intended to divorce and have different adults play step-parent. That is a consequence of divorce and step parents. Step parents and step child usually at best will tolerate each other, sounds like you have the best. If you wanted the child to have a close relationship to father than the marriage should have been maintained. It is few and far between, very rare, unlikely that step / child relationships are good. Your children will grow up and leave you, start their own family quicker than you think, but, hopefully, your husband will still be around.
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Jamie
February 15th, 2020 at 3:50 AMNot expecting a response, but I can’t really say this to anyone at the moment so saying it here… I’m a dad who has his children exactly half of the time, and have a good relationship with their mum. My partner isn’t into children in general, and never wanted any herself, both of which things she was open about at the beginning and I accepted those things. Two years after getting together she moved in with us – I had been living in a smaller place, but together we were able to afford a slightly bigger one. Three years after that it is very obvious that my partner hates living with my daughters. They are not rude, they are always pleasant to her and about her, but the teenager can be loud, and the 10-year-old can be untidy. My partner is particularly bothered about the untidiness, which is fair, but it’s gotten so that every interaction she has with my children is to nag and criticise – there is no positive interaction whatsoever. And she stays away at her parents’ or with friends on as many of the days my kids are with me as possible – and the days she can’t do that she stays shut up in our bedroom. It’s become actually intolerable to me but if I break up with her I will be causing chaos for my children as I can’t afford to live in the house we’re in on my own. I am a writer and illustrator and have a v promising book deal in the works, so I’m just praying that the deal goes through so I can be financially independent from my partner and can finally set both of us free. Last year this all came to a head and I told her I don’t want to be with her but she refused to leave, telling me that I can’t afford to live without her. I feel I am expected to suck up anything I’m unsatisfied with because she has that financial power over me. Her refusing to leave was a wake up call because although I said I don’t care about money, and that I can’t live with someone who hates spending time with my children, I realised that she was right. I’m trapped. Completely trapped until my financial situation changes – which I am working me arse off to achieve. It’s just killing me to live like this in the meantime, and although I try to shield my kids from it all, she will upbraid me loudly in earshot of or in front of them, and say that she ‘hates living here’. This happened this morning. Hence my ending up here.
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Andy
February 15th, 2020 at 8:40 AMHi Jamie, this sounds very close to home when I was married a second time. The only interaction with my two boys was to criticise, always something negative and no positive interaction at all. Wouldn’t even cook and very very rarely made a drink for all of us. I was in a position where I didn’t want my children hurt again as I left their mother who was rather controlling and I discussed this with my second wife so she understood that I didn’t want them hurt again. In the end I would get stress headaches before their fortnightly visits even on the week they didn’t visit so I discussed it again after some time had passed and she couldn’t say why she behaved nastily to my boys who like yours were very polite. In the end we attended counselling, all sorts came out but the one thing I never considered was that I was under emotional abuse. After 3 months of counselling she reverted to her old ways so I left, money a big issue for me too. Luckily in the very short term I stayed at my parents, is this something you could do if split up or a friends? Even though I struggled financially and had two young daughters from my second marriage I found the stress had gone and I became my old self again and as a result had a much better relationship with ALL my children as a result. I wish you luck, life is a difficult balancing act when partners and children involved but if it isn’t working the priority is your health and your children.
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Jeremy
March 2nd, 2020 at 10:11 AMI’m in a bit of a situation myself and I need advice badly. My wife and I have been together for going on 6 years. I came into this marriage with a son who was 6 at the time as a single father. His real mom left a couple years after his birth and had 2 other kids with 2 other people all to eventually get them taken away by the state.
When I met my wife, I was really just getting my career started. My grandparents who are both in their early to mid-eighties have really helped me via taking care of my son when I was lifting my own life up for everyone’s best interest. He would sleep there a lot as well. My wife got quite used to this str -
Jeremy
March 2nd, 2020 at 10:18 AMOops – accidentily submitted to early. CONTINUED from above:
My wife got used to this structure. I did too actually. My grandparents ‘really’ spoil him and it is very hard for me to parent like this the way that I want to. Plus its time to start taking control and stepping up as a better father. My wife and I are unable to speak about it. She gets defensive over her personal space and doesn’t want to be inconvenienced by him transitioning to me more than what has-been. My wife is a wonderful person; however, she does ‘not’ like change what-so-ever. Very understandable since the ground work has been laid out from the beginning like this. We have tried to talk about this many times over the course of time but we don’t get anywhere. I feel that I will lose her if I start being a better father yet I love her dearly. I also know that I need to step up as a father and do a much better job. I don’t know how to go about this. I don’t know how I should handle things. I have two loves, two major priorities, and I’m caught in the middle trying to be the best I can on both sides. I know for a fact that keeping the situation the same is ‘not’ okay with me. I need my son more… he needs me more. My wife will go against me on this and as it stands I’m thinking I just need to follow through with my responsibility to my son and hope for the best.
What are your thoughts on this? How would you handle this? -
Jayne
April 26th, 2020 at 4:35 PMI’m experiencing a similar situation with my partner. I don’t get along with his son. We have different approaches to rearing teenagers and it causes tension.
His father has no boundaries, doesn’t discipline and gives him anything he wants. I simply spend as little time with the boy as I can and encourage his father to do activities with out me. You can’t force these things. We fight every time he comes over so I stay away from the boy as I‘ve grown to dislike him. -
D
August 13th, 2020 at 9:37 AMI have a 19 year old daughter with some health issues that are being addressed she is living with me and my fiancé and my fiancé and her do NOT get along. He does passive aggressive behavior interacting with her and most of his comments about her are negative. my daughter has a smart mouth, and is not working or going to school right now due to her health issues and he sees her as lazy and rude. She is a great kid, no drinking no drugs and most of the time minds me when I ask her to do anything. My fiancé has twins and they are far from perfect and have messed up a lot but he is less critical of them. They are in their mid twenties. I am not sure if I an marry someone who has ill feelings toward my daughter, I love him but I am quickly growing tired of his negative comments and behavior toward her . I have spoke w/ both of them about their interactions which have been verbally rough and it stops for a while then picks right back up. I am too old for this mess and I am just about ready to give him his ring back and move on. I love him but I don’t want a lifetime of this crap
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Lin
November 10th, 2020 at 11:40 AMMy country is situated in the center of the equator in the pacific. My country used to live along with traditions. However, hitting a children with a stick or by hand is such a way where our ancestors used to discipline their children.
I have a husband whom is the not the father of my son. Our couple life time, I am still not sure that, does he really love or care for my son or not? All these 7 years we live together and he seems sometimes surprising. This is because, some times he gets along my son so well but when he is get angry with my son, he easily to upset, smack him by his own hands or using a stick. Deep in my heart, I hate and I didn’t want him to put his hands over him as his disciplinary. I expect more discussion rather than hitting him with something. -
Michelle
December 28th, 2020 at 8:44 PMI am married to a man with 3 kids. The problem with a lot of people who have kids is they put to much pressure on the other person your child is a person their is no automatic feeling that comes over us your child is a stranger to us and just like any other person it takes time to warm up to them and actually like it can’t and shouldn’t be forced. It’s like the child feelings is more important than the actually two people who are in the relationship or forming it for me my husband did not marry me base on his kids feelings or if I got along with them he choose me for him and not his child he puts no requirements or forces me to do what he thinks all that should be required is respect whether they like me or not he still was going to marry me relationship takes time like anything else in life even the parental relationship takes time for me I felt uncomfortable around the kids they were strangers to me but I started to just talk and we get along I don’t love them how he do but I love them how I love them let him go at his own peace your trying to put too much pressure people with kids don’t understand we don’t think how you guys think you guys are so child focused it’s like you can’t allow life to just happened everything is child centred it’s suffocating for those without child let us breathe and figure it out so much emotions go through us
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Gigi
January 4th, 2021 at 5:26 PMI just find it hard to understand. How can you be with someone that treats or shows their dislike for your children. The right person will accept you and your children no matter the attitude, problems, ect. they come with. If you signed up to be step parent deal with it. Its no easy. To many time people deal with Cinderellas step moms/dad because they are afraid to be alone. When you love someone with a child you accept the situation. If you are a chronic complainer, delicate or get annoyed easily find your self someone childless. Don’t even get me started with money.
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MB
March 20th, 2021 at 9:06 PMI agree with you, Gigi. I was a stepchild. It was definitely a “Cinderella” type of situation. My stepfather hated me simply for existing.
People need to understand that when they decide to date/marry a person with children, it’s part of a package deal. -
Angie
September 17th, 2021 at 9:32 PMI’ve been searching for articles or ways to understand the other person’s point of view. I am a single mother who doesn’t share custody and has my child when I am not a work. I have been in a relationship for 2 years and I feel like I am still in the ‘dating’ phase when it comes to my child. I appreciate your response Gigi because I feel the same way. I know it’s alot to ask of someone else but also not as much when my child is so easy to love and care for. I feel like this is what I needed to see and also what MB responded with. Being a step child and how it made you feel. Thank you for sharing!
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jane do
September 28th, 2021 at 10:52 PMI’m dealing with this right now and am shocked. He seemed to like my kids at first but is now making comments about marrying somebody who has to care for their disabled child full time, like it is a problem. When we first met he said he wanted to meet the right person and get married. My teen is autistic with other diagnosis and a wonderful kid and his father has decided not to share custody or guardianship of him starting very soon, for his own reasons. So I guess this guy is gone from my world i have decided, and I am shocked. He has children of his own with some milder special needs and i would never think of them in any bad way. they are adorable. I love my boy and I love all the fun times we have together. I won’t miss this man at all. Never choose someone over your own kids.
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GP
February 6th, 2022 at 4:28 AMSpeaking from the perspective of someone who remarried for myself first, I have to tell you I messed up. My husband seemed to like my kids at first but after we married we soon discovered that our parenting styles differ. Mainly that he does not have children, doesn’t understand our high sensitivity, and feels everyone should ‘toughen up’. This is not how sensitive people work, it does more harm than good. The man does not like my child and my child is very sensitive. I gave this 4 years with repeated requests that he bond with him and it didn’t work. He only acknowledges my children when they misbehave, plays video games and barely talks to anyone most of the time. I’m in the pull the trigger on the separation fence. I have lost respect for someone who can not see a good kid with emotional needs and do anything to help. This is a package deal. They are part of me. If you don’t like part of me, than you may not have me, sorry. It’s that simple. My kids are for life even though they will grow and make their own lives. Its hard because as single parents we are still human and want/need a caring partner in our lives. For me personally, I can’t see this relationship continuing, and I implore anyone in this situation to steer clear of people who don’t fit your WHOLE family. I know some people are not that strong. It’s hard but so much harder to deal with the resentment that comes with trying to love someone who doesn’t love ‘all’ of you.
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Mister Scott
March 28th, 2022 at 4:55 PMThe problem is most parents are ‘living through’ their child. They take the 8 layers of white kid glove treatment with their ‘little one’. NO OUTSIDERS can challenge, direct, inform, guide, be logical, tell the truth.. NO ONE. Yes, you are the outsider if you did not procreate with that person.. That’s why it’s child abuse applied from the main parent. Allowing your Children to do whatever they want, have smart devices, act like tyrants, act like slobs, act like princess or little prince.. is only going to harm them for life. You dead in the head parents are creating Narcissistic no bodies. Yes we get it, you love them..but you are not protecting them. When you drag someone else into your life because your last relationship failed (we know why) .. you should respect that individual , not just your child. Yeah we all heard how ‘terrible’ your last husband or wife was.. and now we get to see how terrible YOU are. Child abuse comes in many forms – it’s usually not the extreme form. Also, if you ‘get rid’ of that guy or gal who you had the child with.. truly get them out of your life. Don’t make people suffer who come into your life with the notion of marriage or romance. They don’t want to hear how much you hate your ex ..but then you go buy them groceries or listen to their problems on the phone or take time to respond to strings of hateful text messages. Many parents today are shameful debt slave brats who have never matured.
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Lakesia
May 29th, 2022 at 12:10 AMI Need advice ! Im in a blended family situation where my partner and i been together since my son was 3 he is now 8 he has kids of his own but they live in a diffrent state. They come visit durning breaks etc hes children are 4 and 8 and it seems as if he compare my child to his kids .
When it comes down to disagreements he think his way of raising kids is better than mine. And when i voice my opinion on how or what i feel is right. Its an argument .He acts as if i shouldnt have an opinion about the way i should raise my son because hes a man. I refuse to give up my rights on feeling how i feel as a mother since we never agree it causes problems because he feel as if he is his dad i shouldnt have any say .Im i wrong for not backing down on the way i feel is right as my childs mother please help -
Alex
January 9th, 2023 at 11:47 PMOh wow, I came to this thread as I am experiencing something very similar. My partner has an 8 year old she shares with her ex. She is the Disneyland mom. When her daughter is with her they do sleepovers, campouts, and they hit the ground running from the moment she wakes up playing games and watching movies. She feels guilty she doesn’t have much time with her daughter (50/50) and that she is an only child. The problem is the daughter sees me as a disruptor and I don’t want to be around. My partner doesn’t see the issue as we do get along. I am sensitive though and have three older children with the youngest two years away from graduating. Her daughter will always ask when am I leaving, making me feel unwanted and unwelcome. She doesn’t get her mom’s attention the same way when I am around. I have tried talking about this but find myself just avoiding being around when she is there.
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Alex
March 15th, 2023 at 9:12 AMI’m having somewhat of a dilemma…I am the step parent and have not been able to form a good relationship with my step-child. When my husband and I got together, he told me he had a son, and I remember being excited to meet him. I met this child about a month later, and he is a good kid. Soon after, I discovered that this child is not really my husbands biological son, but he had raised him since he was a toddler, and so to my husband, he really IS HIS. This impressed me about my husband, however I am wondering if maybe I began to feel differently about this child after that. To me, I began to see this child as “my husband’s ex’s son” rather than his. I know that’s a stupid way to feel, but nevertheless, here I am. I thought for certain that over time I would begin to develop a relationship with this child, but I haven’t. It’s been over two years. I don’t think this child likes me either, because I have some rules about my house that I don’t think are unreasonable, as I did when my own kids were little (they are all grown). While he is a mostly pleasant child, he is a preteen, very manipulative and lies about things. My husband is not a disciplinarian, but I don’t feel that it is my place to do so, unless the child is directly being disrespectful to me. And this is not really the issue. The issue is, I am not sure I am EVER going to like this child or be able to develop a relationship, and that would be very sad for me (and the child).
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Mike
December 8th, 2023 at 3:01 PMRun for the hills. You child was around through the dating and marriage stage. Its reprehensible an adult would behave this way to a young child. As your child ages, she will take notice, and you, as the mother, will be held accountable for choosing a side that is selfish and evil. Time to tell your hubs to shape up or get out.
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Todd
January 12th, 2024 at 3:13 PMBook – The 5 Love Languages, by Gary Chapman. My personal comment, as having been the man in this same situation, is that it would greatly increase his confidence in your feelings for him if you would be the one seeking “Alone Time” with him. Ask him to take you out to a movie and dinner, or is that not what you’re with him for?
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jane
April 2nd, 2024 at 4:35 PMDo you moderators read the comments? the one above from James is child abuse…..
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Grace Owopetu
April 4th, 2024 at 12:17 PMThank you for bringing this to our attention. We have taken that comment down.
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