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Help with adult stepdaughter

Pattymum's picture

Six months ago I moved half way across the world to marry my fiancé. He has three adult children, who live with him...SS 26, SD 23 and SS 20, their mum passed away 6 years ago. Since their mum's passing SD has been very difficult for my fiancé and has treated him and her brothers badly....I did know this before I moved in. Both younger children do not work, they play online games all night and sleep all day. Younger SS does have jobs around the house such as mowing the lawns and taking the trash out and I can get him to help me when I ask. Older SS works full time and pays board for the basement apartment, which is his responsibility to clean. All three children are responsible for their own rooms and laundry. When I arrived here my fiancé made it clear to me that his house as my home and that I was to make any changes to it that I wanted. I realised that it was also his children's home and any changes that I did make we're small and I always consulted my fiancé and the children before they were made. I have tried to make my move here as easy as I could for the children....I just wish I could feel more settled and "at home" here than I do....there are so many times that I wish for a place to call my own, where I can feel at home.
SD is my main problem and the reason that I am not settling into my new home. Since I have moved here she has undergone a transformation with her attitude towards her father and brothers. She has gone from never having a good word to say to them and being very angry to being super sweet and chatty with them. At the same time she has very little to say to me, answers my questions and comments with grunts or short conversation ending phrases. When I arrived my fiancé asked me to "fix" SD but I refused. I have tried to be completely non confrontational with her at all times but I have challenged her opinion at times when I have thought it to be right off target. She avoids me most of the time, specially when her father is at work. She treats me like I am not there. I feel like I am an unpaid servant at times as she will leave her mess in the kitchen, if I don't clean it up her father will when he gets home from work. I clean all of the common areas and keep the house tidy as that is the way that I like it to be. I don't ask her to do anything. I am unable to work yet since moving as I have to wait for the necessary permits ect. and I am happy to look father the house and do most of the cooking as it helps me to feel like I am contributing. I go out of my way to cook her her vegetarian meals, the rest of the family all eat meat. I just don't know what to do! Should I confront her? Should I continue on as I am and just try to get over myself? Should I move out and get my own place?
I have talked to my fiancé but he is an enabler and never wants to confront her, besides I don't want our relationship to revolve around me whinging about his daughter to him all of the time. I don't have any friends here yet to be able to talk to about this. I am currently trying to get over it by myself but this isn't being very successful and my fiancé can see that I am upset and worries about me.

Please help! Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Pattymum's picture

Any advice would be appreciated...even if it's to tell me to get over myself lol
Maybe I'm expecting too much?

20YearsAsAStep-Mom's picture

I think it was a mistake to move in with your fiancée and his 3 adults kids in the existing home. It would be better if you and fiancée started your life together in a new home that you both select.

The SD feels like it is her territory since she was there first. 2 Adult women in one home rarely works - even blood related!

I would move out and take things a little slower. Perhaps when the kids are all gone and moved out would be a better time to live together. This is just too much to handle for everyone.

To the kids you are the outsider rocking their boat - and as long as you are in "their" house it will never change - perhaps even get worse.

Good luck.

Pattymum's picture

Thank you so much for you comments. You have confirmed what I have been feeling...I need my own home! It looks like I will have to be patient and wait for my work permit but then I will find my own place and DH can move in with me if he wants. It's just not working for me here.