When is enough enough??
Hello I have been lurking here for some time, but this is my first post. I have been living with my fiance for about 3 years. He has two sons ages 19 and 21. The youngest one lives with us; the older one has his own apartment. My fiance has MS and uses a wheelchair. I am his primary caregiver at this time, because the kids really do not help much at all. They are both mechanics, and I have had to put up with various cars in the garage at various times. The neighbors have complained because at times this place looks like a junk yard. We have had truck cabs in the garden, junk sitting around outside, etc.
The oldest now has a 3-bay garage that he rents. He is very disrespectful and rude. I have had to put up with him coming over, and just ignoring me. He walks in like he owns the place, acts hostile, and has let the door open so that my cats get out. We have had to bolt the back door shut because of this, which is technically a fire hazard. He has brought his friends over and introduced them to his dad, but not said a word to me when I am sitting right there. I have gone off yelling and screaming at him already, but most times I just hide in the bedroom while he is there.
The youngest can be ok most of the time, but he can be very lazy and sloppy. He leaves clothes and dirty socks all over the house for me and my fiance's helpers to clean up. He does not pay any rent, and he is still on his dad's car insurance because he has 4 cars and cannot afford it on his own.
The Bio-mom is an alcoholic and never seems to have any money. The youngest gave his mom one of his old cars. They bought a lot of Christmas presents for their mother, but none for their father. The oldest comes around and all I hear is "gimme gimme gimme."
Well the kicker came the other night when the kids arrived with their mom's car. Her car had broken down, and they wanted to put my fiance's classic 55 Dodge outside in the sub-zero weather, and put their mom's car in the garage to work on it. As I said, the oldest rents a garage with 3 bays! So I said, NO, absolutely not. It's bad enough that I have to put up with the kids' automobiles, and now I have to put up with the ex's junk being here too? I don't think so.
So there was a big fight, and the oldest went and posted some stuff on Facebook about how his dad and I are both immature. And his mom works hard, unlike me who sits at a desk all day. And we owe him an apology and yadda yadda yadda. I'm not proud of this, but I took the bait and wrote back. I told him to go f himself and never to set foot in this house again. I called him an ungrateful brat and told him that it's not our problem that his mom is an alcoholic who can't afford a repair bill. Then I blocked him on facebook, so I can't be sure if he got the reply or not (probably went to his phone).
I told my fiance that I am DONE DONE DONE, and I will not spend any time with the older one ever again. I have kept my mouth shut for way too long. He can deal with him, but I refuse to have any contact with the kid. If it was anyone else being that rude or ignorant, I would have cut off contact with him a long time ago.
The younger one is not talking to either one of us, and he comes and goes without a word since the fight. At least so far my fiance is backing me up, but he has a habit of caving when it comes to these kids.
Seriously, caring for a person with a disability is tough enough without putting up with their hostility to boot. It is coming down to a choice between them or me, though I am sure the rest of his family will think I am a horrible person. This is also one of the reasons we have not set a wedding date, because no way do I want these two ingrates to be a relation to me.
Sorry so long, I have just been keeping this in for two long. So how would you handle this? I have no children of my own, and in the past I always dated guys with no kids--now I know why!
Agree with the others - DO
Agree with the others - DO NOT GET MARRIED!
In the meantime, your SO's sons need to learn what it takes to care for their father. I would inform your SO and his two sons that you need to go away for a week out of town - make up a story - a sick relative, a conference, whatever. Then go.
The sons (especially the 19 year old at home) will learn what kind of devotion and hard work it is to care for their father. And the father may learn what his sons are really made of. Who knows? They may all rise to the occasion and have an epiphany resulting in a better situation all the way around. Or maybe your fiance will learn they are good for nothings.
In any case, a week away from each other may do wonders for everyone to think about what their priorities are.
JeanieMarie, It took me ten
JeanieMarie, It took me ten years to do what you did in three. Say, "I'M THROUGH!" My DH was diagnosed with MS in 1986. His first wife bailed out when his disease began to get really bad. No way was she going to take care of an invalid. DH survived on his own for the next thirteen years. I've been with him for the past ten years. Lived with him 8 months before marrying him. Hostile adult stepchildren from day one. Why, oh why, did I put up with them as long as I did. I don't know.
DH and I moved to another state seven years ago. I thought that might help. No, it didn't. A few months ago I suddenly had a gut full and could take no more. So, I said, "Them or me." He chose me, but I'm not one bit sure he'll hold his ground when one of his daughters call. I'm just waiting. Nervously. And wherever his children are, they're not one bit nervous. They know ... they KNOW ... all they have to do is call and he'll give in. I hate knowing that, but I know it.
My husband is confined to a hospital bed, completely paralyzed except for one arm, and I am his sole caregiver, taking care of all his needs.
I live in fear that if the least little thing goes wrong with him, his kids will be all over me with verbal abuse and legal action, if they can drum up a charge. Do you ever worry about things like that?
I hope and pray my DH holds strong and refuses to let his kids come around again. I love him dearly, but I'm way too old to live like this. If they come back into his life I will leave. I truly truly will leave.
Skeeter, Lupus is a horrible disease. I have RA. Also an Autoimmune disease, but nowhere near as bad as Lupus. Why does life have to be so cotton pickin hard?
Thanks guys. I am the one
Thanks guys. I am the one who is hedging on getting married. My fiance wants to get married yesterday, but it makes me sick to think that these two would then be related to me. No thanks. I do worry that if something happens to my fiance, that these two would make my life a living hell. I would leave the house regardless, because it's not my house and I would not want to live there without him. It certainly would not be my first choice of a location, etc. We are talking about buying a house together. He has offered to put my name on this house, but I am not sure I want that. I am really confused and not sure what to do. Maybe we should have a session with an attorney or estate planner.
So of course my boyfriend
So of course my boyfriend broke down and called his oldest son, and asked him to go look at a car for him. I understand why he did it, because if he gets this car he can sell the one in the garage which needs a lot of work. My bf can't work on it himself, so he would have to appeal to his kids to work on it. In 2 years, they have worked on their dad's car maybe 8 times tops.
The kid did not come over to the house, and did not even call. I think they communicated through messaging on Facebook. I told my BF that from now on, if the oldest one wants to visit that is fine. Just give me a heads up so I can make sure I am out of the house. Of course he was not happy about that. He said, "You have to learn to let what he says roll off. That's what I do."
I told him that he is HIS kid, not mine, and I don't have to associate with someone who is blatantly rude and disrespectful. I also told him I don't want to hear b*tching when the kid comes over and I leave. He said, "Well you are putting me in a spot. The kids won't take care of me so what am I supposed to do."
I told him that the kids will HAVE to take care of him, because I am leaving the house (as is my right). Seriously, as someone else said here, why should I waste any time and energy on someone who does not give a rat's a$$ about me. I could be out visiting people who like me and value my company. I could cry when I think about all the friendships I have neglected, especially since I have two friends die this past week. Life is too short!
I would make sure that the
I would make sure that the title of the home was in my name and my name was on all bank accounts as co owner. far too many people have been caregivers only to have the spouse die and then all assets go to the children.
I would make sure that the
I would make sure that the title of the home was in my name and my name was on all bank accounts as co owner. far too many people have been caregivers only to have the spouse die and then all assets go to the children.
Thanks guys. Honestly this
Thanks guys. Honestly this house needs a lot of work, and it is not what I would choose for myself. If something happens, this would go to the kids as it should. I have only been living here for 3 years so I don't feel anyone owes me a thing. With the "medicaid death tax" and my BF's other debts, I can't imagine that they would get a whole lot. I have some savings and I am living here rent-free so I consider it a wash. Also we are both looking into life insurance policies to help if something happens to either one of us.
I told my fiance that if the older kid comes over, I will definitely be finding other stuff to do outside of the house as I am DONE with him. He said he will leave the house with me. He is kind of disgusted at the way his oldest is behaving as well, and wants to let him stew for a while.