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Kimberly
Super March 2021

Fh’s daughter is holding our wedding hostage

Kimberly, on January 24, 2021 at 1:47 AM Posted in Community Conversations 0 27
We’ve had a lot of drama with FH’s 17 year old daughter over the last 5 months. She was supposed to be one of my bridesmaids along with my 9 year old daughter and her twin brother is FH’s best man. FH talked to his kids about this before we officially asked to see how they would feel about it. We didn’t want to put them on the spot and make them feel they couldn’t say no. Daughter acted happy and excited to be in the wedding. So a few weeks later we asked them to be in the wedding and things were great. Or so we thought. About 5 months ago everything fell apart.
A little history... FH’s ex-wife died suddenly when his kids were 7. An obviously very difficult time for them to lose their mother like that. FH had them in therapy for 3 years to work through their feelings and grief and he thought they had done that as best as possible. There are still difficult moments in their lives and we recognize that. This past August was the 10th anniversary of her passing and their grandparents (ex-wife’s parents) always want the kids to go to the annual memorial service and this past year was no different. However, FH has not gone to the annual services in many years because as the kids got older he didn’t feel it was appropriate for him to be there. He always told them if they wanted him there he would go. They never said anything. Well this year apparently daughter did want him to go and was very angry with him that he didn’t go. She never asked him to go, didn’t even tell him she was going until the day before. At this point a lot of other stuff came out and she said she hated that me and my daughter moved in with them. She isn’t comfortable with her role in the wedding and she doesn’t even want to go to the wedding. She doesn’t want to be anywhere near us and she is going to kill herself.
Wow. Over several months, very expensive therapy, and many meltdowns we are now at a place where she isn’t living with us. She is living with FH’s mother in her one bedroom apartment. And she has to decide if she wants to be a part of the wedding or if she even wants to attend the wedding. She has until our RSVP deadline of Jan 29th. Then the other day I got a text from FMIL asking if we have an alterations appt for daughter and that she is on board with everything. I didn’t respond but called FH who immediately called FMIL to tell her that if this is daughter’s decision that she has to come to us and tell us. He then called daughter and told her the same thing. She acted shocked that FMIL had text me that and told FH that she thinks she knows what she’s going to do. But didn’t elaborate. Then tonight she said she needed to come over to get something. I thought maybe she was ready to discuss the wedding and her plans. Nope. Not a word. She is going to wait until the deadline just out of spite. She is basically holding our wedding hostage. We’ve already gone through the back and forth of should we cancel or not and decided that we weren’t going to let her dictate our future together. But it still is so hard. I just wish thinking about my wedding could be a happy note but instead this is what I get to worry about on a daily basis. I’m sorry this was so king and I appreciate anyone that made it to the end. I just needed to vent.

27 Comments

Latest activity by Michelle, on January 24, 2021 at 9:34 PM
  • C
    Dedicated November 2021
    Claudia ·
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    Listen, I can't speak to what your future daughter is feeling, I can only tell you that I lost my mother at a really young age and I still, to this day, have a hard time with it. A little more compassion wouldn't hurt. She is still a teenager after all. Weddings are a one day event, this young lady will be in your life forever.
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  • Rebecca
    Master August 2019
    Rebecca ·
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    She's not holding the wedding hostage, she's holding herself and your relationships hostage.

    And she's 17, during a pandemic and a lot of upheaval and grief. You don't "get over" grief - you just... learn to live with it. A friend of mine describes grief as a ball in a box. On one side of the box is the button that triggers ALL THE FEELINGS about the person you've lost. When they are first gone, that ball is *HUGE* and basically just sits on the button. As time goes by, the ball shrinks, but it bounces around, and sometimes hits the button. The longer it's been, the smaller the ball, the less the button gets punched, but sometimes... sometimes, that ball just hurtles straight on at the button, and BOOM... you get what happened with your FH's daughter.

    While I don't think her behavior is appropriate in any way, I also understand it.

    I think this calls for a family therapy session, not a WW post.

    I would also have the dress altered so that she has options, either way.

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  • J
    Master 0000
    Judith ·
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    Stepchildren can be hard. But at some point she needs to get past her mother's death, and the changes as Dad puts his life together. She is of an age to understand, he did not " just move you in" to their house. Father is the king of that castle. They are growing up is the family home, and leaving. Father loves and takes care of his two children there. But has a right to go on with his life, and bring you there, without permission from them. Kids often rebel at this ti.e with none of the loss of mother issues . Many kids going through a long course of therapy develop a few dysfunctional things. One, is that they are the center of the universe. Therapist, dad, grandmother, to some extent teachers, all focus attention on her as long as she is NOT completely accepting of the loss, and give her more control than most kids get. After surgery and therapy, at some point you need to resume your life without people constantly catering to you. And she is at that point, or overdue. At no point does she get to control Dad's life. And you are right, she should not hold your wedding hostage. Time for her to be told that the wedding goes on, with her or without her. That if she cooperates and sees to her dress and grooming, you and her Dad will be happy to see her with you, a family. And if she does not do what she needs to, then you will still do the wedding, and with no fussing or coaxing for her to join you. She has had year of it. If the wants to be treated like a young adult, she needs to stop sucking her fingers for comfort, and doing childish things for attention. She needs to do what she would for her prom, and she is fully capable of it. And she needs to know when she acts her age, Dad will pay attention. But he is not going to lose his life any more, bevause she wants all his attention. She is 17. Time to get herself up, not to go on a sit down strike. Dad isn't going to drop you to be free to care for her and her twin as young children. Don't set dates and make bargains and concessions. She can have helpto get to appointments and such from MIL, her gram, but if she is ready, she will walk. If she is not, you all will go on without her. She needs to do it. Without coaxing, or extra attention for dysfunctional behavior. Or she will lose what she wants. But dad is not giving you up, or giving teen daughter mommy's role in the family. Have courage, and don't be manipulated. Be wonderful to her when she is nice, forward, and functional. And you and Daddy ignore her when she is not.
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  • Mrs. Spring
    Master April 2021
    Mrs. Spring ·
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    That is rough. I wouldn't call it holding your wedding hostage. Sounds like she's not respecting your future marriage.
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  • T
    Super April 2021
    Tiger Bride ·
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    Oof, this is tough. How long have y'all been together? Has she liked you in the past? I wonder if it may be her own version of "getting cold feet" as the wedding approaches.


    I do think at some point she has to get past it but I also know 17 is a tough age for a lot of people and this is a big change. I'd move forward and maybe have a dress just in case (perhaps something stretchy-ish that might not need to be altered?)
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  • Michelle
    Master April 2021
    Michelle ·
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    I’m so sorry you’re going through this- step children can be tough sometimes. I don’t think she’s holding your wedding hostage, she’s holding your relationship hostage. Let her work through this & accept her decision in the end. Don’t let her stop you from planning.
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  • Tone
    Devoted July 2021
    Tone ·
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    How long have you and your FH been together? My father married my stepmother when I was 13 and I was completely unhappy. It felt like her kids and feelings were more important than his own childs and that is no way to start a marriage. I know that 17 is a rough age and grief never goes away, with the 10th anniversary coming up she’s probably feeling a lot more of it. Is there any reason she may think that her father is trying to “replace” her mother, because if thats the case then I can understand why she’s acting out. Love and compassion can go a long way. I know she’s still a child but she’s a person to and the best way to solve issues with teenagers is to talk to them like they’re adults. Work through what her issues are and try to fix them otherwise you may always be the evil step-mother in her eyes.
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  • Kimberly
    Super March 2021
    Kimberly ·
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    Thank you, Judith. This is exactly what is going on. FH learned through all of this that during those 3 years of therapy she never participated in any of it. She went every time and sat there and did nothing. And that’s what she is doing now with her therapy too as far as dealing with her issues. She loves going to therapy that costs us about $200 a month because she gets validation and attention. But she told FH that she will not try to be happy as long as she lives in this house. That’s why she now lives with FMIL. It was her choice to move out.
    We are going on with our wedding either way, we just don’t know if FH’s daughter will be there.
    To be perfectly honest at this point I don’t want her to be in the wedding. But of course if that’s the choice she makes I will support it and welcome her into that role.
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  • Kimberly
    Super March 2021
    Kimberly ·
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    Wow thanks. They have done many family sessions. She will not allow me to be a part of them.
    I do understand grief and I understand much better than many others as I lost my grandmother at a very important time to suicide. So yeah I get it. But I also know how manipulative and selfish FH’s daughter is.
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  • Kimberly
    Super March 2021
    Kimberly ·
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    FH and I have been together for 4 years. We already have a dress for her. It’s a dress she picked out.
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  • Kimberly
    Super March 2021
    Kimberly ·
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    Yeah we are going on with the wedding either way which sucks to think FH’s own daughter may not be there, but he wants to go ahead with it.
    If she decides to go ahead and participate in the wedding I will absolutely support that decision and welcome her into it.
    The reason we decided to ask her to be in the wedding is because I was going to have my daughter in it no matter what and FH wanted his son as best man. Obviously we weren’t going to leave her out.
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  • Kimberly
    Super March 2021
    Kimberly ·
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    We’ve been together for 4 years. He and their mother divorced 5 years before she died. It’s more because his daughter has never worked through her grief. She never even tried. She still isn’t trying.
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  • Kimberly
    Super March 2021
    Kimberly ·
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    Oh and she will not talk to me about anything. I can’t be part of any kind of college discussions. I can’t be part of any of the family therapy sessions. She just refuses to participate if I am part of it. That is her manipulative and selfishness.
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  • Dana
    Savvy October 2021
    Dana ·
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    It sounds to me like she's just struggling. What she went through is something you never really get over. Maybe she was pretending to be OK to make you guys happy but finally got too overwhelmed. Honestly I would consider the "step-mom talk". You love her and her father. You're there to join her family not replace anyone. And give her time... My mom went through the same thing and wasn't on good terms with my now grandma until she'd almost moved out.
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  • T
    Super April 2021
    Tiger Bride ·
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    I was trying to be sympathetic to her, but with your updates it sounds like she's intentionally manipulative. I'm sorry you're going through this 😞
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  • Michelle
    Rockstar December 2022
    Michelle ·
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    I agree with this 100%. No one knows what another is truly feeling or how they are coping with something. You can assume all day based on outward behavior and conversations but that is only one small facet. Perhaps she hasn't found a therapist she feels comfortable opening up to. That makes a world of difference and people keep their struggles bottled up until they do find the right help.
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  • Rebecca
    Master August 2019
    Rebecca ·
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    She doesn't get to dictate if you're at a family session or not if it's YOUR family therapist.


    In her own sessions, yes, but not at the family's.
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  • C
    Super December 2021
    Casey ·
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    Rebecca's first post and her reply are 100% on point. She's "waiting until the deadline out of spite"? She has a dress and the wedding isn't held hostage- you yourself said you're moving forward with your plans with or without her (which I agree with btw.) So, honestly, I don't see what part of the wedding is being held up/held hostage. I understand you're upset, but either she'll go or she won't, and her attendance really doesn't effect any planning aspects.



    Now, you probably didn't like the first part of my reply so I'm sure you'll really hate this part but I think it needs to be addressed.I want to point out that in this thread you've said she's: selfish, manipulative, making no effort to heal, wasting your money, and that you don't actually want her in the wedding.
    She's 17, you're a grown adult, and you're about to be apart of her life for (theoretically) the rest of yours. You're about to take the role of a step parent. Feelings are always valid and you needed to vent but family therapy sounds to be really needed (again, Rebecca on point.) Your feelings are valid but so are hers. No one gets to put a timer on how anyone else heals, not how long they grieve. Annual, decennial, etc. Anniversaries tend to bring emotions back strongly. Ten years is indeed a long time, but that's exactly it, she could be thinking "wow, my mom died ten years ago, I've missed her for 10 years, I still hurt, is this pain going to be the same for 10 more years? 20? Forever?" New marriages often raise fear in children of losing the parent marrying, there's a global pandemic, she's got a lot going on.
    My point is that I think you need to take a step back and breathe. I understand it isn't as easy on the inside. So, feel those feelings then let them go. I would suggest maybe faculty therapy with just dad at first, then you, but the therapist will know best.
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  • Samantha
    VIP October 2022
    Samantha ·
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    She will never get past her mother’s death. Ever.
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  • Samantha
    VIP October 2022
    Samantha ·
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    Thank you for saying this.


    I will add: one of my children, that I birthed and raised put me through the ringer in every way imaginable when she was 15-19. It was HELLISH for me. It was even harder for her, she was hurting from her dad leaving us for his pregnant mistress who was only 20 (so cliche!), adolescence itself is an upheaval, we were dealing with a massive drop in standard of living that mean giving up a lifelong activity, and I had to work two jobs to keep a roof over us. I cried so much, there were so many fights. She is 23 now, we are so close. She’s my maid of honor. Teenagers in general are going through a lot, this past year has changed so much for them, and wedding stuff is a huge trigger for her. Even if she loves you, teenagers can be...not great..when regulating emotions. Stay on target, keep up with the planning and let your FH engage with her emotional stuff.
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