DEAR DEIDRE: I’VE had enough of my lazy stepdaughter, whose manipulative behaviour is driving a wedge between me and my partner.
I’m a man of 50 and have been with her mum, 47, for two years. She’s 18 but acts 13.
She leaves her coat in the middle of the hall floor, refuses to tidy her room and I’ve even caught her throwing knives and forks in the bin rather than washing them up.
If I ask her to do anything, she says, “in a minute”, which means never.
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It makes me so mad I end up shouting at her, and then she gets upset and goes running to her mum.
My partner defends her. This leads to endless arguments and she then feels torn.
Sometimes, I think my step-daughter likes making trouble. I know I am not her dad, but I’d like her to treat me with respect.
DEIDRE SAYS: Raising your voice and getting angry with her isn’t helping. If anything, it’ll make her behaviour worse.
The three of you need to sit down and chat. Draw up a list of chores and ask your stepdaughter for her input too.
My support pack Stepfamily Issues should help you handle this situation calmly. Contact Family Lives (0808 800 2222, familylives.org.uk) for advice.
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