You are here

So frustrated

Bethb70's picture

:O I love my husband but I'm ready for a divorce. I really have tried with his now adult children for 9 yrs. I admit I wasn't the best the first couple of yrs but there is no book on how to be a stepmother. I have 2 children and a grandbaby to. Yes it took my children a bit but they are now on their own. He raised his children on his own I get it, they are all he has because his family they are not close. My problem is, is that his 2 children ages 22 and 23 with babies of their own just won't grow up. Both live with us and his daughter has our grand daughter who lives with us as well of course she is only 17 months old. My husband and I both work very hard he has a 4 yr degree with a good job that is mentally exhausting, I'm in school and I work full time with a very physical job. His kids use him for everything. They lie have stolen from us,steal our new vehicles, drugs are involved etc. If the shoe was on the other foot this would not be happening in our home for sure. The excuse of I'm all they got is getting old time to grow up. They do nothing we totally support and pay for everything but yet dare I say anything, it will cause a fight or I'm made out to be the bad guy or blame.

Comments

Dontfeedthetrolls's picture

I've had to give my dad a hard conversation about this sort of thing though not as bad. My sister, her fiancee, and their two kids live with him. She is suppose to give my dad money for bills and wasn't. Dad didn't want to do anything.

I had to get him to think about what would happen if he fails. If he loses the house or the water gets shut off. It doesn't just hurt him. By enabling he would be hurting them too and that's what your partner needs to see.

He thinks he's helping but its stunting them. There's a difference between helping someone whose trying to get better and just enabling. What would happen if tomorrow he was in an accident and died. Would they be able to pull themselves together or would they be looking and life on the streets?

As for your marriage. You can't make him change but neither are you expected to put up with it. You have to decide what your willing to accept, what has to change, and what you can ignore. If what has to change wont and you can't accept or ignore then for your well being that may mean splitting. What do you want to look back at however long down the road? That you stayed together but were miserable. That you guys got together and made a life that worked for both. Or that you moved on and lived better that way.

Bethb70's picture

I know I have some rough decisions to make. I feel that all this drama I'm not gonna make it through school as well. Money is an issue as well we are going broke paying for our bills and supporting his children.It cost so much to move. Thank you Dontfeedthetrolls.

hereiam's picture

Both of the adults, with babies of their own, need to move out. Sometimes, people have to be forced to grow up.

Bethb70's picture

Yes that's what I keep saying but dare I. He always comes back with would you do it with yr kids. His kids have called me names cuss at me wish I was dead etc. They do nothing we do it all. AD leaves her baby with us with no asking etc,wrecks both of our brand new cars steals lies etc. So does the SS. Very disrepectful

hereiam's picture

Your step kids treat you like that and your husband thinks it's okay?

My husband and I made a deal when we first started living together that no other adults live with us. However, if my SD26 had ever lived with us and cussed me, she would be out on her ass in no time flat.

You, my dear, not only have a step kid problem, but also a husband problem. Yes, your step kids are very disrespectful, but so is your husband for allowing it and still allowing them to live there, taking advantage.

Does your husband not see that they are disrespecting him, as well? He is going to let his kids destroy your marriage, as well as hurt the two of you financially? Not smart and not attractive.

And unless your kids are assholes, comparing his kids to yours doesn't cut it. The fact that his kids are adults, with kids of their own, is one thing. How they treat you and take advantage of both of you, is quite another.

It's easier said than done, moving out on your own, or putting your foot down with your husband, but I just could not live like that.

A few years ago, my SD did ask DH once (who in turn, asked me), if she, her husband, and their two kids could "stay" with us and I didn't even hesitate to tell DH, "Absolutely not." I didn't even pretend to think about it, and DH agreed with me. That was actually what brought me to this site, I felt a slight twinge of guilt, but got over it pretty quickly.

I do know that my DH would never throw our marriage away over his grown ass kids, especially if they were jerks.

ChiefGrownup's picture

I think you're probably on the right track. Under no circumstances would I live with failure to launch kids who have babies of their own and are living recklessly including drugs. I would just have to flee well before that point.

Best of luck to you.

Exjuliemccoy's picture

Why didn't you call the police when these criminals stole your property?? :?

Of course we don't know your financial situation, but it sounds as if you need to be preparing for retirement instead of subsidizing dirtbags. Do you and your spouse share finances? Separate them. Stop buying food or contributing $$$ to the household. Let your H FEEL the pain of his enabling in every way possible, while you pay down any personal debt and sock away as much $$$ as possible. Don't cook, clean, or do laundry for anyone but yourself, and if skids try to dump their kids on you, put the responsibility of child minding squarely on your H. And consult a divorce attorney so that you can make informed decisions about your future.

Do you think your H would respond well to marriage counselling? It's an option, but many enablers live in a world of denial and don't want to change. Individual counselling might help you to gain clarity and decide what your next step should be. Please consider it. It helps so much to have someone in your corner who can validate your feelings and reinforce that you are not the crazy one.

Let me tell you about two enablers in my own family, my mother and my FIL:

My mother let my two dirtbag sibs sponge off of her until the day she died. They are in their fifties and sixties now, a burden on society.

My FIL was very enmeshed with his daughters and gdaughters, while his son (my DH) and gsons were cast aside. The males got their cr@p together. The females? None of them have ever lived independently, had a career, or higher education BUT - they could do no wrong in FIL's eyes. The eldest was his favorite, despite being an unemployed addict welfare lifer and a terrible mother.
When FIL passed away, OSIL was in her forties and unable to adult. Cue much drama and spiraling drug abuse, multiple hospitalizations including for an aneurism, and she now lives in an adult group home.
FIL died almost penniless despite having two pensions and Social Security. He's left a legacy of damaged, broken kids and gkids.

still learning's picture

You're sacrificing your life energy, money and sanity for his adult children. Is it really worth it? What are you gaining that is of value to you? You'll stay married, well big whoop! Sounds like there's no real marriage between the two of you, just him and his relationship w/his live in adult children/grandchildren while you both work to support the enabled ingrates.

DH and the ss's tried the whole move back in and have you enable our extended adolescence. The whole fiasco lasted a few months, did not go over well and almost resulted in DH and I getting a divorce. I had to put my foot down hard and I'm so glad I did or ss32 would still be here jobless, passed out on our couch, getting stoned and eating all the food.

You're complaining about him and his children yet you've been actively enabling them for the past 9 years. You're part of the problem my dear. The fact that you're posting that you're ready for a divorce answers the question of whether it's worth it or not. Yes you'll be the bad guy, SM's are always the wicked ones no matter what we do. So do what you want, life is short.