Blending two families together is a wonderful experience, but also a lot of work because the difference in life and parenting styles can often lead to conflict. That’s why when two individuals merge their little families, they need to make decisions based on what’s best for their children.
Unfortunately, in this situation, a woman let her boyfriend keep insulting her young daughter, until one incident got her to kick him out. Despite his mean behavior, she was still on the fence about her actions and didn’t want to end the relationship.
More info: Reddit
Biological parents need to be aware if their partner is overstepping boundaries and disrespecting their kids
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The poster shared that since both she and her boyfriend had kids from earlier relationships, they would often end up quarreling over parenting and discipline
Image credits: cottonbro studio / Pexels (not the actual photo)
The boyfriend kept calling her 8-year-old daughter disrespectful, always complained about the child, and refused to show her any affection
Image credits: Getty Images / Unsplash (not the actual photo)
One time, the man even made the young girl cry for leaving her plate on the table after breakfast, and called her a spoiled brat
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The poster finally had enough of her boyfriend’s behavior and kicked him out, but she later wondered if she actually did the right thing
Even though the woman and her boyfriend had been dating for a few years, they couldn’t seem to find common ground when it came to disciplining each other’s children. The OP also mentioned that the difference in their parenting styles was often what led to the most conflict between them, and she didn’t know what to do about it.
Many blended family experts also state that discipline is usually the toughest thing for stepparents to agree upon. That’s why both individuals need to take time to adjust to their new family dynamic and let the biological parent be the disciplinarian, at least for a while. This will help children adjust to the change and find some stability.
In this situation, instead of taking a step back, the OP’s boyfriend kept trying to control what her daughter did and criticized her for even the smallest things. He complained that the woman kept coddling the little girl and even refused to show her any affection, stating that it was “weird.” This meant that even if the child wanted to hold his hand, he would get mad or stop her.
According to experts, showing affection to children is a way to deepen trust and build a connection with them. Stepparents should make an effort to connect with their stepkids and show love to them even in small and simple ways. This will help their bond grow much stronger over time.
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Apart from neglecting the 8-year-old girl, the boyfriend also got mad at her for leaving her food on the table one day. He called her out for being spoiled and criticized her for being a “snitch” by telling on his son. Unfortunately, this rude behavior of his had been going on for quite a while and was clearly affecting the young girl, who burst into tears after the whole ordeal.
When adults are mean to children over and over again, it can make them feel afraid and anxious. Kids who grow up hearing criticism and insults from their parents tend to internalize that, which can then affect their mental health and self-esteem. They might even grow up and continue the same cycle of rudeness with their children.
Luckily, in this case, when the OP saw how hurt her daughter was by the man’s actions, she kicked him out of her house. At the time, she felt that she had done the correct thing, but she later wondered if she had acted too harshly by making him leave. That’s why she asked folks for advice.
Most people told the woman that she had done well by kicking out her rude boyfriend and that he had no right to behave that way with her daughter. Folks were shocked by the fact that the OP had no plans to break up with the man and, instead, was actually rethinking her decision.
What advice do you have for the OP in this situation, and do you think she did the right thing? Let us know your honest thoughts in the comments below.
People were angry that the poster hadn’t broken up with her boyfriend despite his aggressive and mean behavior toward her young daughter
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