Step parenting getting worse vs. better
I have been in my step sons life for almost 6 years. At the beginning, my husband had partial custody. His ex wife abruptly remarried and took his son far away for 2 years. During that time we only had summer & Christmas.
Once they moved closer in 2018, we started having my stepson every other weekend & summers. He was having difficulty at school. Every time I try to openly discuss an issue, my husband gets very defensive. It seems like he stops listening. I bring up things, because I care.
I feel that my husband becomes overly sensitive, and now he is trying to make up for the time that he lost. This results in every other weekend becoming a binge fest of junk food and video games. I'm expected to be pleasant and make no complaints. I don't even feel comfortable in the house, because I do not agree with this lifestyle.
I try to suggest a walk, disc golf, etc., but that becomes a drag. I suggest healthier meals, but jokes are cracked that I am too healthy. I'm not allowed to complain in the slightest. After a meal, they jet back to the tv. I politely ask them to clean up. I'm talking candy wrappers thrown on the floor, empty drink cups left. I don't expect hard core cleaning, because he's not always here, but I expect cleaning up after himself. However, I do feel an easy chore would make him more integral in the family.
I feel awful, but I dread when he's coming. I don't want to feel this way, and I do love my step son. I'm not really sure where to go from here. We do have a 10 month old, and my step son has had some tough issues recently because his mother and step father were going through turbulent times.
There are a lot of factors here. I really want to turn this around. I don't want to spend the weekend alone and not want to be in my own living room. Help!
Disney dad
You have a Disney dad who thinks he is making up for losses in SS's life by making his visits fun. In other words, by not acting like a parent. He isn't doing the boy any favors. It's so common, if you search this site, you will find hundreds of examples. Its also not fair to you. One thing you can do is didengage and let your DH do all cleanup and all interaction with SD. Have you talked with your DH about this dynamic?
nip this in the butt
nip this in the butt immediately!! you are only going to get an entited spoilt rude brat from this and a very resentful relationship.
disengage and let your DH do all the parenting