Stepkids doing my head in

[drcarlos]

I stayed at home till I was 25 but I always had a job and paid my way from the age of about 19 onwards when I left full time education (17-19 were f***ing great years though!) and used to put dirties in dishwasher, washing in laundry and keep a respectable room (my GF now wife would have gone mad if it had been filthy).
Haven't had to return the favour to my parents but have let the MIL and BIL stay for a few weeks each, so have given some back.
Personally I don't know what I'd do in your situation as they are step kids you obviously don't want to upset your wife, it's easier when they are your own kids for sure. The thing about serving up on dirty plates is a cracker and as far as the room goes let her live in filth but clean the rest of the house, you could also liberate the mamster into the garden when she isn't there and say she must have left the cage open.

Carl.

 

[rojo]

I stayed at home till I was 25 but I always had a job and paid my way from the age of about 19 onwards when I left full time education (17-19 were f***ing great years though!) and used to put dirties in dishwasher, washing in laundry and keep a respectable room (my GF now wife would have gone mad if it had been filthy).
Haven't had to return the favour to my parents but have let the MIL and BIL stay for a few weeks each, so have given some back.
Personally I don't know what I'd do in your situation as they are step kids you obviously don't want to upset your wife, it's easier when they are your own kids for sure. The thing about serving up on dirty plates is a cracker and as far as the room goes let her live in filth but clean the rest of the house, you could also liberate the mamster into the garden when she isn't there and say she must have left the cage open.

Carl.

Interesting mate that hamster idea sounds good

Yeah is awkward as i am totally different with my kids , as they are mine.

And the stepkids is more awkward than normal shall i say

 

[The Ken]

A subtle way to deal with it would be to cook dinner and shout him through when it is ready, ask him to wash up quickly as there are no plates free whilst you finish the cooking. (you might need to hide any clean crockery if you have lots though).

 

[IDB1]

Whatever you do requires total support from the other arf matey. . .

I've done the stepkid thing (I was 19 at the time) and it was tricky.. even though my lot were considerably younger than yours . .
And I had complete support from their Mother.

 

[rojo]

The wife supports me totally , no prob's there

Thats just say i have known the step kids all there life

 

[mikeekim89]

i suggest really old school music, they won't like, whenever there watching TV or on the computer, or doing anything that takes any concentration really, i find a nice bit of jim croce annoys my cousins, and my neighbours whenever they get in my way..

 

[drcarlos]

The wife supports me totally , no prob's there

Thats just say i have known the step kids all there life

If you have been in their lives that long as a 'parent' maybe the problem is that you don't treat them like yours? Treat them equally as you would your own and things may just sort themselves with no need for off the wall actions .

IDB1, blimmin heck 19 and having to parent step kids, you must be the [carling]daddy[/carling] of parenting now then!

Carl.

 

[rojo]

Its complicated , Jeremy kyle style

 

[IDB1]

IDB1, blimmin heck 19 and having to parent step kids, you must be the [carling]daddy[/carling] of parenting now then!

Carl.

Done that for 6 years. The kids were, at the start, 2, 4 and 5 (roughly).. and the reason I wanted kids of my own..

20 years later I am randomly in touch with one of them.. and a crap parent.

 

[suburbanreuben]

Take the stepson's dirty dishes to his bedroom , and leave them on/in his bed.
"Oh, sorry son, there was nowhere else to put them..."