Adult Step Daughter tried to cause problems between her father and I

by Frosted
(WI)

This girl is in her 40's and is quite a bit of a drama queen. I have gotten on well with her for some 14 years until last 4th of July weekend.

We are retired and are going to move down by them and she invited us that we could stay there while looking for home. Since she works, DH and I figured that we would take care of the cooking and stay out of the way until weekend. Hubby, when we arrived, told her that he was going to go pick up a bucket of KFC so she wouldn't have to cook. She had just gotten in and was also beat. She made a big stink about it....how come we didn't want her to cook. DH explained to her again, and that we didn't want her to go out of her way for us, she had worked all day and should sit down and relax. Now she doesn't like to cook to begin with..her husband does the cooking. She was argumentative right from the time we got out of the car.

Next morning her hubby calls her from Japan, since she was outside I answered the phone (only after hearing it was him). She comes in and, while I am sitting at the counter drinking coffee and reading a book, she starts screaming at him, and was screaming at whomever she made the follow up call to. Seemed to be a carry over of the behavior the night before.

Hubby and I were both getting uncomfortable with her behavior and decided that we would be leaving Sat. 3 days earlier than she had planned for us to be there.

Now, we are considerate guests. We pick up after ourselves, make our bed, put things away; but DH got a tad put out when she stated that she wants to keep her house "show perfect" at all times.

Anyway, Friday evening she comes home. I had run the dishwasher but, as it had just finished drying had not put the dishes away. She had gone grocery shopping and was putting things away as I was emptying the dishwasher. Unexpectedly she pushed at me. Now I am an old lady with some arthritis problems. I managed to avoid her hit, but she did catch my leg at the knee and I had to grab the counter to keep my balance. While doing that she yells at me that she "has better things to do." I was stunned and tired after a day of house hunting and making an offer on a home. I told her that I didn't feel that she wanted us there. At which point she snipped "suit ourself, I don't care", and stormed out of the room. DH hates conflict and we left very early the next morning.

I arrive home to an e-mail from her telling me that she apologizes that she should have just turned around and walked out of the room instead of responding to my nasty, unwarranted attack on her! I e-mailed back and tried to tell her how I felt, how her father felt, but she just wanted to accuse me. I told her that when she pushed me I almost fell and she called me a liar. Now, I must tell you that my DH is showing some signs of early alzheimers and I have talked to her about this, she has also noticed it, which is one of the reasons she wanted us to move down there closer to them. But, DH at this point, gets upset if you mention to him that something might be wrong - men can be like that. I bring this up because the next thing this girl does is tell me that she is going to cause me some hurt and pain and tell her father that I have told her that he might have altheimers, and she proceeded to do so.

That is when I got teed off. I warned her that she was going too far, but she kept it up even giving her father a list of grievances about me many of which were fabricated (saying that I demand steak and chops when we are down there. I don't care for steak and rarely eat pork). Many things she accused me of were things her father had done. She really went off the deep end claiming that she had been abused by me and all kinds of nonsense. She kept sending nasty e-mails, and for the first one, well two, I told here that she should sit back and think about what she was doing....that she was causing trouble between her father and I and that was wrong. Eventually, to stop her, I told her that what she was doing was wrong and I would not allow her to continue to attack me and I was blocking her from my e-mail. So, she continues whining to her father about how terrible I am. Accuses me of following her around trying to listen to her phone conversation with her hubby even to following her upstairs! That is false, I was sitting at the breakfast bar and never movedEven tells him that she didn't want us to come down there that time, it was not good, and that she had told me that. She never had. I even had the e-mail asking us what time we would be arriving and talking about taking in a flea market over the weekend. AND she called us the day before to be sure we were coming!

She was bragging, to me and to him, about how hurt she was and that it is hard for her to trust someone again, and talking about how proud she is that she can hold grudges.

Quite frankly, I don't have time for all her melodrama. My life is too short for that carp. While I can forgive her for her attitude at her house (perhaps she was having a bad day or....). I cannot let go what she did between her father and I. It was malicious and meant to start problems. Right now I am staying clear of her.

So, she is still sending her Dad e-mails about how terrible I am. She exepcts me to apologize to her because of what she did now. Also goes on to tell him that even if I do apologize she doesn't want much to do with me because I will have to earn her trust and that can take years and years. Give me a break - with that attitude why should I bother.

Any suggestions on how to handle this situation. DH wants me to apologize, not becaue I did anything wrong, but to keep the peace. As I said, about the first stuff, yeah, that can be gotten over. But this girl refuses to see what she was doing when she started sending all this fabrication/grievances etc. about me to her father. BTW, he knows much of them were BS and even told her that; at which point she backed down on them and started on new fabricated slights etc.

She has a history of starting trouble between people. And I can tell you that she is very negative and mean in talking about other people. She has a hard time holding down jobs and usually ends up getting laid off/terminated. Not right away, but after she is there awhile.

Comments for Adult Step Daughter tried to cause problems between her father and I

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Aug 22, 2012
Divorce father syndrome
by: Glen54

Regardless of their age divorced fathers have a guilt syndrome. They want everything to be wonderful between new wife and daughter....With many sd'd especially mine and yours that doesn't work.

StepMom's deserve way more respect than SD's are willing to give. My 32 year old stepdaughter tried to attack me because I told her to shut up. My husband wants me to make believe nothing happened.

You are in a particularly difficult situation, due to the alzheimer situation... moving down to her may not be the assistance that you are hoping for. You need help, not additional stress... as the wife of a parkinson patient I know where you are coming from... stress and anxiety are our enemies... stay away from her.... allow your husband to have his relationship

Aug 29, 2012
I am there!
by: Anonymous

My 40-year-old step daughter attacked me, told me she hated me, and hoped I would die soon. Since I have known this woman, about 18 yrs, I always wondered how she really felt about me. Now I know. I have been the one to rescue her from financial difficulties, jail, homelessness, etc. I even took care of her three babies when she went to jail for three years.

Why does she hate me so much? I truly don't understand and it makes me very sad. I love her children and they are attached to me but she has decided that they would never see me again. She is hurting them dreadfully by her actions. She has been diagnosed with mental problems like psychosis but refuses to take medication and I fear for their safety as she has violent tendencies. They live out of my state.

It seems like your step-daughter has mental issues as well and hates you for being married to her father. Stay away if you can.

Sep 18, 2012
She does have a reason
by: Anonymous

She is most likely worried about her inheritance at this point. She does not care about you let alone her father. She is gaslighting both of you. I would bet that she will try to alienate him against you and then ask him to put her name on all of his accounts and leave you in the cold. I say this as I am in a similar situation.

Ask yourself why she would make up things, that you are demanding things from her? She really does have a reason. You have known her what does your gut tell you the reason is?

Nov 12, 2014
wow
by: Anonymous

I would be sure she has some sort of mental illness, like a personality disorder. The outright lying is bizarre. Also it is definitely ELDER ABUSE and she is only getting started. I would stay a million miles away because you do not need MORE problems. SHE PUSHED YOU??? WOW!

Jan 06, 2015
NEVER ENDING !!!
by: Anonymous

I too have a husband with a "big " daughter issue.....I can't begin to explain all the problems she has caused and still all over facebook writes hoe SHE HAS BEEN TREATED BADLY....doesn't ever write about everything I have done for her financially and given her a place to live but she burns the bridge every time and makes it so I have to hide from her in my own home....my dog even growls when she hears her on the answering machine....this morning I received the latest "gift" another no-trespass order from her......she does this same pattern every time she doesn't get her way and then blames me and her father for her horrible life...I have not had physical contact and she still takes action against me....she belongs in an institution and I have no power to make her go....I am at my last whit's but this always happens...

Nov 02, 2015
Thank you!!
by: Anonymous

A Google search brought this up and I am thankful there are others out that that might understand.

My husband & I have been married for 30 years, she was 2 when we married and lived with her mom. The girl has never liked me, her mom made sure of that. It has been an on & off relationship all these years. She will like me, talk with me and we seem like friends, then the next I know she wants nothing to do with me.

As some of you have stated, I have tried to just be here in case she needed a friend, I have never tried to be her mom. Just want her & her daddy to see each other and now his grandson. She was very helpful when we moved to our new house, closer to her and things have gone fairly well. She was in a relationship with an older man and he basically took care of her and her son. She decided to leave him and took a job in another city. He was heartbroken and she was calling him names on FB. I made one comment "why would you say that about a good looking man like that", as a joke. She had told me so many times how much she loved him. Well, she ups and drops me as a friend. A lot of my own close family has her for a friend and imagine how that looks to them! It has now been several months and continues to cause major friction between us as a couple. We are older also and if only for health reasons, we do not need this. He shouts at me because I won't forgive her when she has never asked for forgiveness!! I do not know how to handle this as I just want it to go away.

Nov 21, 2015
Guilty father/Grown daughter
by: Anonymous

I can fully relate to all of the comments above. I have lived in the guilty-father universe for the past 13 years. I met my husband when his daughter was 14. I had a 2 year old son from a previous relationship. We fell for each other quickly and soon moved in together. Things were great a first but it seemed that the closer my hubby and I became the worst she behaved. Nd you my little boy was witnessing all of this erratic behavior. I tried to be loving and supportive but she resisted the family we were trying to build at every turn. At 15 she started staying out all night, having sex, failing school. Onece my husband and I came home and the police were sitting in front of our home and he was arrested because she and her mother called the police on my husband accusing him of beating her! After a court case and thousands of dollars in legal fees my husband was vindicated. A few months later she contacted us and wanted to move back into our home. We allowed her to come back things were ok for a while then the erratic/manipulative behavior started again. One afternoon before Christmas my hubby and I were headed out to do some shopping, we stopped by the ATM to withdraw some money and the transaction was declined! She had cleaned us out! Though my husband was furious he did not want to send her to live with her mother. She offerd an excuse and he wanted to move on and pretend like ut didn't happen. Since then we have been taken through hell! Everytime we have allowed her to move back in. She had moved in and abruptly moved out when she has not gotten her way more times than I can count. Ar 20 she became pregnat. She abruptly stopped speaking to me for nearly an entire summer. When she realized her mother was not going to give her a baby shower she started speaking to me again because she wanted ne to give her one. So I did..... The child is close to me but I cam tell that bothers her. That doesn't stop her from leaving the baby( who is now five) with usfor days at a time. She has gotten two separate drunk driving cases since shes been a mother and now uses the baby to control us. If we dont give her her way she will not allow us to see the baby, once this went on for months...we have gone through so much that my husband feels that it is better to accomodate her foolishness than risk her keeping the baby away from us as he does not trust her with the baby and feels the baby will be in harms way if we are not around. My hubby and her mother divorced when she was ten. And feels that her behaviors over the years are as a result of this. She works full time but we pay her car payment, insurence, feed and clothe her daughter, and assist her in every financial crisis she puts herself in. He has always been there for me and my son as my sons biologicol father passed when he was 1. My hubby us the only father my son has ever known. And my hubby loves him dearly but I think he feels guilty that my son(now 16 ) has grown up in a two parent home and his daughter did not.....thus the cobstant enabeling and excuses offered for her behavior. After all these years she still addresses my so as her "step-brother" though he calls her his "sister". My hubby has always referred to my son as his "son". She will be 27 next month and we are still basically dealing with the same things, she behaves irresponsibly and or recklessly at times and my husband continues to enable her, if he tries to address the behavior she will burst into tears and not take his calls causing him to turn a blind eye and pretend like everything is fine. We just paid 1600 to have a new engine put in her car she was supposed to have the money when my husband found someone to put it in but when the time came, thats right you guessed it! More drama! So we paid for it. In the meantime my husband had loaned her his car to drive causing he and I to have to share a car and she hit something in his car so we will now have to psy for those repairs as well.... TBC....

Jan 08, 2016
Will not hurt me anymore
by: Anonymous

So please to know am not the only one and it's not me as they make me feel....

Met my husband 21 yrs ago.
He didn't tell me straight away he had a past, he was separated from his wife and two daughters.
So I first met his daughters when I was 23yrs old and they were 18mths and nearly five.
My husband initially moved in to my house I owned, I accepted the girls and loved them as I loved him. We have been on holidays, invoked them with my family, my treat them as grand children, cousins and nieces.
They have lived with their mum until 5/6 years ago and visited / stayed at out home on a regular basis, including partners.
No it hasn't been easy, but from very early days I've reassured the girls that I was here for them as a best friend and not to replace mummy as I loved their daddy so much.
Over time they nave grown into young women in relationships of their own.
However over the years their behaviour has been so hurtful, what ever I do is wrong, they are so quick to prejudge a situation, show horrid signs of anger towards me and father says and does nothing!
I have never restricted them coming or staying our living space always accommodated them, we have continued weekly visits and provided support to all of their needs.

Now this is what hurts the most, when we told them we were getting married, signs of anger and jealousy towards me and wedding preparations, we had been together 12 years at this point....
Night before wedding youngest causing a issue and then stating didn't want to be bridesmaid. having to deal wth the fall out morning of my wedding....

We have had holidays together and give them a great start in life, I've never said it till now but do feel my husband is dealing with guilty father symptoms.

Things got major when I announced I was pregnant 6 years ago, both of them getting very emotional and bitter. My husband in my eyes not giving them the reassureance they needed, so I tried and this backfired.

They both now live with boyfriends and recently oldest has bought and moved into a house, which my hubby financially supported the deposit of that I was not consulted on. Don't get me wrong I do feel if you can then do, and yes it hard in today's property market, but they will never learn to earn it themselves, they portray an attitude that is due to them.

So younger 23yrs SD then starts with I want to get married....really no too expensive need to use your savings for a house. A again a competiton even race between them to be on the same path. So we look at helping her to she doesn't feel left out. Just so happens new houses are built close by to us and she can apply for help to buy goverment support. I was genuinely excited of the thigh of her been close by, we could build on stronger relationship, but I've been now accused of not wanting them in our home. I was the one that made the calls to get her on the property list!
She was offered few weeks later a property, which is really had to get, did I get thanks?? Then I find out she asked hubby indirectly for deposit same as her sister....and both had actually gone to sick grandparents for extra funding too...it is me does this seam wrong?

Now over the last 6 months we my husband and I have had some other stresses too...
His mum is very sick, have been waiting for the call ( yes this is the one that gave money to SD's)
His business 27yrs in trading is going though a ruff time and we may have to re think strategy, as his business partner is very ill too.
I have have breast lumps which are still been investigated
My parents are going through life changing situation as recently closed business
My 5 yr old daughter suffers from sleep apena, and since July been under investigation for a odd forehead swelling, plus having develop issues at school.

So on Thursday evening while the big girls where visiting as they do every Thursday and had a major out burst at me.
What did I do so wrong?

My daughter was tired from school she always goes to bed at set time, 6.30-7pm. Younger SD arrives at 6.20pm play play....I re confirm bed at 6.40pm, then older SD arrived with partner at 6.30pm. They start to play a game....Btw dinner for all is cooked even though I didn't know how many was coming as they never tell me, I just have to be prepared.
I can see they a having fun and feel if insist putting little one to bed they will feel I'm taking her away from them, so I leave it till just before 7pm.
Hubby is still at work...so I text him to know they are all here and dinner is done.
He arrives home at 7.10pm
The younger SD helps by taking my daughter upstairs to start to get ready for bed, I did say I would do story after prep for dinner.
So then I have I very upset daughter who doesn't want to go to sleep and say things like I don't see daddy it's not fair. As they are all laughing and chating loudly downstairs. I explain to my daughter, it's ok you see daddy everyday, and it's sleep time now. My daughter becomes really upset!
I feel for her, I become upset for her and leave to room to plate dinner. I get frustrated as am putting the needs of to others (adults) before hers. I'm feeling so torn...
Atmosphere excallates very quickly as I come down stairs to husband saying I go to her I reply no leave her, as older SD stated 'she needs to learn!' I find this so upsetting and do not want to challenge it and state she should have been in bed by 6.30pm making excuses for her behaviour. My husband does go to her and I why have you done this?
I my mind am thinking my daughter will never listen to me if daddy always comes and my SD thinking my daughter is pulling daddy away from their limited time.
They take this the wrong way saying am blaming then for visiting, that I should not be so controlling and it one night does it matter., yes it does when she is at school at 8am and is awake nearly every night!
Things were said that were so hurtful, I didn't want to out her to bed I unable to deal with her as am not working I should cook for everyone....that they hate me!
My husband just sat said and did nothing. I would never talk to anyone in the way they did, screaming and swearing at me. I tried to explain myself and it made it worse accusing me of pity, and always having a reason for my actions. I tied to explain to them we, your father and I having lots of other stresses but they didn't care. Saying there is always excuses.
I walked away then left the house to get some fresh air.
On my return they were still talking and discussing learning stages of my daughter.
I was asked a question by my husband and tried to engage in conversation which soon ended.
They both stared to get their things ready to leave
They both said good bye to everyone expect me
Husband acting towards them as if nothing had happen

I've since tried to discuss what happened with my husband and he has broken down saying he's had enough and can't do it anymore. He stated if I truly believe that they are disrespectful to me and I wasn't in the wrong them so be it and I should never see them again and need to be aware of the consequence.
This is not what I want....I love them all and want to be in their lives.

There is a unspoken pretence from SD that he told me they had said, that am putting too much on him since stopping paid work in 2013.
They don't see what I do or have done since then, or the fact that my husband for the first 12 years of our relationship paid for everything to their mother to ensure they had a safe happy life.

I always have given them love and support with everything they do. Why will they not accept me, yet pretend to have a younger sister. younger SD has shown lots of support with but older SD is not forth coming with support.

Am I in the wrong?
Am not a bad person?
Do I keep up this unit or walk away?
Do I stop them seeing my daughter?
Do I request to see my SD to try and resolve it?
How can I carry on supporting my husband?
We are both becoming broken people and am so worried with recent events it will end our marriage.
I will not let my daughter down.....

Apr 24, 2016
What to DO????
by: Anonymous

I am very relieved finding that I am not alone! I am the second wife of the WIDOWER with two daughters. We were married 15 years after the death of his first wife, when the girls were in their late twenties. Now we are married for 15 years and are going to be divorced. The daughters are now in their forties and do not live with us (and never did. They had left BEFORE I came to the scene).The younger daughter was always kind, friendly, respectful,practical and easy going. The elder one is a little manipulator. Quite recently I heard from her that she is not going to ask me about anything when she is in our house; she will do here whatever she wishes; she comes to see her daddy and it does not matter who else lives here.It is his house and not mine. And if I bully her, she would call the police)))) -------Beside pouring my emotions, what can we DO in this situation???? How can we stop this? Are there any LEGAL means????

Apr 05, 2017
Input from the other side of the Coin
by: Anonymous

My Dad was seeing his current wife while still married to my mother. He used to pick us up for "his" weekends with us and leave her at the local convenience store to wait while he did so. I blamed my father for his immature behavior, not her. They married some years after he finally asked my Mom for a divorce. We were told by a phone call to my brother from my grandmother. It's been 30 years and I still have no idea when their anniversary is.
My children call her "My Janet" and do not consider her a grandmother figure because she causes drama everywhere she goes. She puts my father down constantly in front of me, my siblings and our children. Every conversation gets turnaround to hear about her problems. An example of this was during my Nephew's (husband's family) wake (he died in a skiing accident at the age of 13) she walked up to me and instead of returning my hug of thanks for being their it turned into a 25 minute conversation about her health issues.
She complains that she doesn't get invited to events, however, my father shows up after receiving the invitation and has to make an excuse for her. Invitations are sent to the same address. She recently did this with my niece's bridal shower and made sure that my sister-in-law, niece and the bridal party heard all about it.
I am constantly reminding my children who are adults now, that she is my father's wife and to show her respect when they complain about the way she treats my father.
Am I the perfect Step daughter, probably not, however, I've never been verbally or physically abusive to her. I include her in every event. and always make sure that their dietary needs are taken into consideration at every family holiday or event (she is a Vegan and Dad is a Vegetarian). Do I want to make 3 different meals? No, but I do it and keep my mouth shut about it. I even make enough for them to bring home leftovers.
During a recent walk with my Dad, he asked me why I didn't tag her in my Facebook posts or pictures. Mind you these questions come at me out of the blue and throw me off. Then I realize we weren't Facebook Friends and I didn't even know she had a page. Instead of enjoying my time with my Dad, she had to make sure her presence was known and to put me on the defense.
I have 3 other siblings why am I always the one who is under the microscope is my question to you. I put up with the drama and bite my tongue so that my Dad will remain in my family's life. He is very close to my husband and our children.

Apr 28, 2017
Feeling Better
by: Anonymous

Wow! Thank you all for sharing your experiences. The situation with my manipulative, melodramatic SD - which is really putting a hurt on my otherwise happy marriage - caused me to google the subject, and lo and behold, I am not alone! And that helps me - a lot! Realizing that the damage done to the daughter of this divorce is not my fault, nor mine to fix - no matter how generous/loving/accommodating I try to be - helps me to detach from the feelings of hurt and disrespect which overwhelm me, and cause me to have great anger. I will try to remember the sage advice: Accept what you can't change. Change what you can. Know which is which. Good luck, everyone!

Aug 11, 2017
SD Drama
by: Ms Simmons

Im sure after reading the stories my fellow SM's,I am not facing this type DRAMA alone. I was seeking ways to mend my blended home, however I realize no easy remedy ... hugs to ALL struggling with this....GOD PLEASE HELP US to love and grow as a family should!!

Aug 30, 2017
Step Daughter of 17 + years still a night-mare
by: Anonymous

My problem is not as much about her as it is my husband, her father. He actually seems to be " in love" with his daughter and now that she has had a baby its as if this child was the 2nd coming and she the last woman on earth. He is running there weekly as she lives a distance and now has a lot of time on her hands. Her husband is a surgeon so if you get the px she is rich and bored. I work for everything I have and yet she has become the queen. Last visit she was pumping her breasts in front of her father.. so this week I stayed home not wanting to participate in the drama nor give her an audience. My husband said it does not bother him and I retorted" them you have boundary issues too"! I am definitely now on the sidelines and they are both enjoying the coziness of their visits.. she acts LESS grown up with the baby at age 28. No bonding there that I can see as she has always placed herself first. How do I handle hubby and his lovey dovey visits? He can't accept she is married and you'd think the kid was his!!

Oct 15, 2017
Going through this with nightmare sd
by: Anonymous

My sd is now 19, I've come to the conclusion that the world must revolve around her and no one else.
Her dad, my hubby, had a breakdown this year, and as a result needed to take time to concentrate on himself. I admit I found him hard to cope with and we separated but very much working together on our marriage. He found it hard we both did, and as sd wasn't getting the attention "she deserves" all he'll broke loose. He received a string if abuse of how awful he is for doing this to her, it's all his fault and he can't make any excuse ECT ECT. Of course in his state, he gives back, telling her how disappointed he is, that as soon as her baby is born she'll have a shock a realise what life's actually like. She starts Telling anyone who's listen what a neglectful dad he is, never bothered with her ECT. Contrary to all the photos of the times he had her while she was a child,But I'd heard this before.
The year previous her mum made her homeless as she'd quit uni and left her with the debt, so we take her in moving our son's into the same room so she has her space. All the 6 months she was with us I hear no end of my mum bear me, she was abusive while my poor dad worked hard and has always been supportive. Of course her dad, hubby, tells me other wise, her mum wouldn't lay a finger on her and the only thing he disagreed with was the spoiling and giving into her every demand.
She leaves as I have it out with her due to the driver of random men she bring into my home with my two little boys in. This she got away with at her mum's. So life wasn't all that do say on the other side after all.
The latest stunt was finding my address and then sending it to an ex that was abusive to me. Brilliant, I can't help it I text her, heard nothing back, of course I won't she hates being called out on her bs.
Am I wrong for then telling my husband that if she ever does want to talk to him again, i want her no where near me, my home and my kids? He can see her at his place (were still separated but getting closer to moving in again) and even then it will be our house, but I still don't want her here. She's a drama queen intent of being the centre of the universe and her quest to get there has done nothing to help anyone.

Mar 21, 2018
difficult step daughter
by: jannali

Have had 22 years of my husbands now adult children. finally cut them out of my life a year ago. Its sounds drastic and cruel but after the continual emotional trouble, I gave up. The daughter caused a lot of trouble and it all blew up at my husbands 70th birthday party, which i had arranged, they all turned up with an axe to grind and ended up in a big row. Was very shocked to receive a email from sdaughers new husband, about her awful life and abuse she had suffered and the terrible person I was. Trouble making and attention seeking, have now stopped contact and moved miles away, and have never been happier, the deep issues and problems they have cannot be resolved, their bio mother can deal with it, its not worth the hassle. I have a wonderful quiet happy life now. Reality you cannot be a mother to someone else children they really do not want you.

Jul 09, 2018
ADULT Step Daughter
by: Anonymous

I'm in a similar situation in regards to his adult step daughter having daddy issues. She also tried to cause problems by manipulating and lying. I was so stressed out that a chunk of hair fell off my head the size of a quarter. I had to play dirty to "win" my battle. She moved away so my relationship with her dad has been great. He proposed to me and the only thing she could say to him was "I wish you would have spoken to me first." THEN, we bought a house together (her father and I) and all she could say to him ( I don't talk to her at all) was "I hope you don't lose this one." His first home with her mother got foreclosed. I think she's just bitter that her fathers relationship with her mother ended. Mind you, her mother left him. I don't see how this is my problem. She's almost 30 and should move on and get over it. Get counseling because obviously she's the one with unresolved issues but wants me to pay for them. But as far a second your situation, I think your SD is trying to alienate your husband from you for the inheritance. So, please do yourself a favor, seek legal counsel and document everything to expose her...... wish you all the luck and take care of yourself....

Jul 17, 2018
So many of them~
by: Anonymous

It seems to be universal issue of grown daughters and their father remarrying, due to divorce or death. My husband has 2 daughters, far from being youngsters. After many dozens of years, I finally had to tell one off to her face. I had kept quiet about things she had done and said, never once told her father. Who did he side with? Me. Not that I was asking him to choose sides, but he felt like he loves me and she had total disregard for me. The other one I had stayed at arms length. DO NOT under any circumstances move closer to a mans daughters expecting to get help in old age. The situation will get worse and worse as it is now for me. They will believe they are more important than the woman they love and married. I pray for the day he passes so I never have to deal with them again!

Jan 16, 2019
Does it ever end?
by: Anonymous

I am so happy I came across your site and that I am not alone. I have been married to my husband for 23 years. We dated for 7.5 years prior. He has 3 grown children, I have 1. His children went through a lot during their father and mothers divorce and never accepted my son nor myself. I have always treated my husbands three children with all the love and respect in the world.

My husbands youngest daughter is 41 and single and every 2 years like clockwork, starts very abusive arguments with me. The paranoia and lies she tells goes beyond words. As time goes on she has become more and more possessive of her father accusing me of anything and everything, the strong lies she tells hurts beyond anything. I have been a good stepmom, loving and kind and very giving. Nothing is ever good enough, not even me. She has worked very hard to try and break my husband and I up during those 23 years.

My advise to all who are going through this, Keep strong, set boundaries with your stepchildren, don’t ever let them walk on you, don’t ever let them talk down to you, keep communicating with your husband and wife regarding the matter and remain a strong team together. Our children robbed us of 23 years of happiness. We will not let that happen anymore. Stand up to them. You are their parent. To everyone, Keep the Faith !!




Mar 27, 2019
Manipulate step daughter
by: Anonymous

I have the same problem
My step daughtersc26-29
I feel like I am in a parent trap fil relationship!
They don’t bother with my daughter who is 18 and last year lost her biological father who she was very close too
They are very jealous and call her a spoil brat
So now my husband does ( their father )
Any chance they can stir trouble they will
It has caused me depression and terrible anxiety
The 26 year old is traveling at the moment and has settled in Australia’ until June
Well her dad my husband just thinks this is amazing and she’s amazing which is fair enough but she is still doing her browny points manipulating from across the world
She’s oasis’s the bullets constantly
My husband is constantly picking on my daughter saying she is spoilt etc because the 26 yr old is is pointing things out
Example!!

It was her birthday 13 Feb
Which happened to be the first same date anniversary to my daughter loosing her dad
So the 26 yr old said how is X I see she’s having some fun on Instagram and Feb some of the posts she has put up recently
She didn’t put a happy birthday post up for me tho
And you always told us in the past to put a post up for X birthday

So my husband tells me this saying X didn’t put a post up fro X birthday you know!
I said maybe because it was the anniversary death of her father
She could barely get out of bed that day
She did text X to wish her happy birthday tho ?!,
His reply was well she didn’t get it
So..... I screen shot it and sent it to X in Australia and said sorry it wasn’t put on Feb
But as you can imagine it wasn’t a good day for my daughter!,,,
She said oh ye I know I was just saying to my dad how she was on Fb having a good time a few days ago

See what I mean about stirring shit up and minipulating her dad to give me a hard time


It’s so frustrating so we haven’t spoke since then
And she comes home in June
So do I go to the airport with husband to meet her
With her biological mum being there
Which she will love btw ,
Or do I stay at how

Constant stress !!
Good luck to all us stepmom made to feel monsters

Sep 04, 2019
19 year old scares me
by: Anonymous

Wondering if anyone has their follow ups that posted on here? I am 49 with a 19 year old step daughter that just moved out. She creeps me to no end. She has Texas chainsaw massacre and American Horror Story posters in her room and she seems sweet and loving til she’s not. She’s manipulating and loves it and is proud of it. When she comes over weird stuff always happens, pictures fall, things break mysteriously, she left once at 339 after she begged and begged to stay night she said she didn’t bring tampons and had to leave in middle of night. I had woke up at 230 and went to kitchen and saw her as she went into her room and closed the door. I do not believe her story at all I don’t know what she was doing but... when she was a month shy of 18 she placed a used tampon in her cousins(12) suitcase. She has made a copy of her Aunts house key and gone over with her friends and boyfriend to her house while she is at work and when she was caught never told us and when questioned says I’m a kid that’s what I’m supposed to do. She’s extremely intelligent and acts like an innocent little child to her dad but a ghetto hood rat to her friends and I fear her jealousy of me and my daughter and I don’t know what she will do to us but I do not even think we will know it’s done or after, is it right or wrong that I don’t want her back at our house. She makes me uncomfortable and I think he should go meet her places

Mar 14, 2021
Stepmother
by: Wow

Like so many of you, it’s good to know I’m not alone in this "step mother drama." If the spouse (biological parent) is weak minded (or has already shown disrespect to us) they allow their grown children to think they have a way to stir in more trouble.

I’ve been lied on and disrespected by the child, the baby’s mama, and my spouse -and this is when our son was a boy. It’s a miracle our marriage survived! Now, many years after he became an adult on his own, and it seemed our relationship was better -BOOM! This grown child starts with drama, bringing up the past (lies he told on me and his dad) and telling a new lie on me.

What is so hurtful and frustrating is that me and his father were really growing closer in our marriage when all of this mean behavior started up -and this not a 21 year old. This "man" is "good and grown."

To Anonymous: I hope your situation has improved, because you deserve better -especially as a caregiver to your husband and a mom who was willing to make and maintain a family with your daughter.

I wonder if sometimes "some" adult children refuse to accept the fact that their parent moved on in life with someone other than their mom/dad. Breakups/divorce are hard on the children and can be for years. So with God’s help, hopefully as step parents we can show grace to our children. Still, they have to be willing to accept it, us and the love we want to give them.

Like you, we were considering moving closer to our adult son. However, after experiencing what I have over the past few weeks -there’s no way I want to walk into all that confusion. As the saying goes, " When people show you who they are, believe them the first time."

Apr 04, 2021
Stepdaughter Refuses to Grow Up
by: Anonymous

I just want to say Thank You to all who preceded me in this post! Your word were not only healing but inspiring and encouraging. My story is not nearly as traumatic as some but certainly many of your stories resonate deeply with my own experiences. I have a 26 yo stepdaughter who has often has a strained relationship with her biological mother because of moms mental. Health issues. I have been with her dad since she was 16 and we married several years ago. Of course my husband is the typical dad who feels guilt over the divorce and
So tends to want to just overlook and can’t we all just get along because he feels guilty. I am the one who has created boundaries and set expectations for her as she has grown often with lots of drama and pushback. She loves to use the term " my dads house" and I check her every time reminding her that it is "our house" not just her dads. She tends to be very entitled and has unrealistic expectations of what we should do for her. I am fortunate that my husband respects and loves me enough to let me keep rules in place but it does get very challenging sometimes. She can sling some pretty hateful rhetoric at me and it’s all I can do not to return the negativity and instead respond with grace and holding my ground. I keep reminding her she is 26 not 16 and that we don’t owe her anything at this stage of life. We have offered sound advice to her over te years and she typically has done what she wanted to do and it ALWAYS ended badly and we can to her rescue (usually financially). We have done less and less of this over the years although she still tries it from time to time. For as much drama she hurls my way I tend to be the person she reaches out to for advice or feedback and I am always supportive that way which is why I find it so hurtful when she attacks when things don’t go her way.
I could go on and on but Bottom line is, hold your head high step parents as this job is not for the faint of heart. God puts us in these roles for a purpose to give love and guidance And support to those who really need us.. We know what to do, stand your ground, set expectations even with your spouses. Keep communication open and direct even when it’s difficult and painful. Don’t be bullied in your own space. Remember the adult child will need you long before you will ever need them. I pray for myself and for all of you that it works out the way we would like. ...with peace and grace i our homes. Good luck!

Oct 03, 2021
Not alone
by: Anonymous

I see from all the previous comments I’m not alone in this matter. My husband and I have been together for 17 years, we both have 2 daughters from previous relationships who both passed away. My youngest was 15 his was 18….of course both were living at home when we got together, his daughter even had a son that year right after graduation…it’s been an ongoing issue between myself and his youngest…has come up with these off the wall delusional lies of how I’ve made passes at her boyfriends, keep her from her father, turning her sister against her, she called me the C word and seems to think I’ve done nothing but terrorize her for the last 17 years…all of this of course is far from the truth…she thinks I blame her for her dad going into rehab 2 years ago and that she is the black sheep of the family and is left out of everything…her father of course does not side with her and is actually fed up with how she disrespects both of us along with teaching her son who is 15 to do the same. It has finally come to the point of me not putting myself out there anymore the emotional roller coaster is not worth it….what makes both of us very angry is how she talks about us to the older grandkids besides her son like they are adults and should be in the middle of all this crap like she needs more people are her side, she’s told her sister that she doesn’t like me and she can’t pretend to like me as she does, which her sister of course told her that was far from the truth and not to put things in her mouth like that….she has managed to alienate her cousin, aunt, and my 2 daughters with her actions…and unfortunately her own father doesn’t want much to do with her at this point because of her actions and words…

May 26, 2022
Its NOT You..Its them
by: Anonymous

I've read all the comments about the manipulative over 25 children of divorce. All the Stupid Therapists cracks about "ask them what you can do to help" or " leave it to the bio parent of the child". Bottom line is If you have a Grown over 25 stepchild who treats you with disrespect STOP ALLOWING them to manipulate you. My husband & I have had enough. He figured it out last year.She lives out of state & still thinks she has the right to comment/influence what we do to our property. She's 39. Were celebrating our 25th this year. I should say not once have we gotten n anniversary acknowledgement even tho her mother married again. Her mindset is devious to say the least. We started out on great terms. She & I were great friends. Then reality hit mom & dad were no more by moms choice. Yes divorce is tough. But at 39 in my opinion if its still tough seek help. We were newlyweds & won't ever get the private moments back we sacrificed to appease her. Our other 2 had no issues like her. Theyre happy were happy. We've always been supportive & helped anyway we could with their dreams. She's an adult now & still sticks the knife in verbally with a twist & the way she does it catches you off guard. Then afterward makes a joke. My husband & I decided our marriage our choices & we don't do what we do in & on our property to please anyone but ourselves. Life's too short. After years of agonizing tears I've come to realize each person no matter WHO they are should show respect not just for others but for peoples marriages. A grown adult, child of divorce or not is no exception. Everyone has issues. To project them onto a married couple because maybe you think if "he" or "she" wasn't around your parents would be together & your an adult child is Definately a reason to seek help. 39 is too old to blame divorce for your issues. I would think you'd be thrilledaparent you love has someone who cares about them.

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