Hi, I'm posting in Teenagers, as opposed to Step-parenting, as I'd prefer to see this from a different angle, if possible.
My dsd, 16, has been hogging the couch and TV for all the 4 years I've known her. When I asked her dad to have words with her about sharing, he said she'd done the same at their place when they were all together too. So therefore its her prerogative?
We have a small house, each child has own room with gadgets, family nights are encouraged all round and sometimes even the odd board game is taken out. Dh and I love family dinners and shared activities.
Both dh and I work ft and are in our late 40s. I admit we need "downtime" before bed, much more so than our kids (13, 15, 16), and def go to bed before them... She doesn't even watch tv properly, texts nonstop, which she could do in her room, but won't budge an inch when dh and I want some alone time to unwind (an hours, fgs, with a glass of wine etc) and acts mortally wounded when asked for any consideration of others whatsoever...
I admit dsd comes across as v strong willed (a lot like her mum) and I do believe that dh is actually too scared to speak to her firmly. She is the only one who "visits" eow and one overnight a week. Her db lives here 50:50 since spring and is an amiable fellow who fits right in.
Dsd was always a "queen bee", stupidly encouraged by both parents in this, but at 16 I'd have thought she'd be over such silliness. When dh and I met I was aware of the possibility of his dc moving in with us and dss has now opted of half/half and I didn't even blink when asked!
However, dsd's rudeness when challenged in any way by dh (doesn't even pull her up when she's abusive to her brother) does not bode well.
Has anybody here an idea of how dh could be firmer with her in general? Sh only obeys him (storms off in huff) when he loses his cool and speaks sternly with her, but then he feels bad, she knows it and its all back to square one.
I just feel the couch could be symbolic here, if he got her to be reasonable about this it could set a precedent!?
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Teenagers
Couch/TV hogging
16 replies
Loveineveryspoonful · 23/10/2013 09:38
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