My Daughter

pandas66

newunk wrote:

My Ex's partners kids are only there every weekend, I see mine every other weekend! my ex always favours the youngest child, and hates anyone having an opinion, that doesnt fit with hers, im not the only person to notice that she favours my youngest! About 2 months ago, my Ex asked me to have my eldest for a couple of weeks as she didnt know what to do....My daughter stayed and to be honest, I dont know what people think is difficult with bringing up a teen, communication was the key, and always has been between us, she respects me and my rules, and I respect her for following them.
She is not a difficult person, just a teenager!

I think she's your probably right not difficult just a teenager, mine too! I think as long as it doesn't cause the other 2 stress/jealously then I'd have her like a shot. At her age and year in school they need more understanding, more space, more respect. Thats what makes it hard, getting the balance. I don't think its hard if your there and try. Good luck and thats to all parents of teenagers (!) we can do it.

jellyhead

this isn't much related to the first post but just wanted to say it drove me insane when i was a teenager that my sister was allowed to steal and break my things. the parents might not see it this way, but to the teenager whose things are being taken it's evidence that the other child is the favourite and shows that your parents don't love you enough to make things 'fair'. in the end i ignored my mum and stepdad's wishes and bought a huge padlock (ordinary locks didn't work, she broke the door down). they said i wasn't allowed the padlock but i just went and bought it one day and they didn't say anything. can she have a lock on her room? privacy is very important to teenage girls. ask your ex if your daughter can have her room locked (assuming she has a room of her own) or a cupboard that can be locked if she shares a room.

xela_17

I had to write a reply to this thread as the description of the OP's ex sounded a lot like my mum. i.e not listening to anyone, always thinking she is right, taking the daughter's stuff etc. Also the OP saying his daughter was upset and anxious when she had to return to her mother's. This doesn't sound to me like it's just the normal mother/teenager squabbles and if the daughter will be happy living with dad then surely this is the best thing to do. You don't want her bottling up her unhappiness and then letting it out by going off the rails in a couple of years time.