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my mum's "weird" boyfriend.

okay, i don't know if im overreacting, so im gonna need some thoughts on this.

my mum's boyfriend (28, a key worker) has been living with us for a little over a year now, and he's not a nasty person or anything, but these past few months we've butted heads often, and these last couple of weeks he's been pushing my boundaries and ****ing me off quite a bit. "little" things, but to the point where my mum has had to tell him to stop.

(i think?) he sometimes comes into my room with my mum to help her fold my washing on my bed when she's doing jobs around the house, but this morning she made him confess to me that he'd stolen the bag of chocolate out of my room that I'd put in a bag for my friend's birthday. didn't ask, didn't tell me until pushed to do so, and ate the whole thing in the time space between late last night and early this morning, when I was at my dad's house.

i was told he'd buy me a new bag of chocolate for my friend, but I was furious and upset; that wasn't the point. he'd come into my room, most likely alone, gone all the way to the back, rummaged through my bag and took the chocolate. my curtains were still closed and i had no fresh washing on my bed (signs my mum hadn't been in the room, and signs that he had NO reason to be in there). I have no idea what he was doing in my room alone, and as i said previously, he's not a nasty person, but i barely know him. not only do i feel this is an invasion to my privacy, there is stuff in my room (a female teenager) that I do NOT want him to see, and this has made me incredibly uncomfortable!!

am I valid in feeling my privacy has been violated, or am i overreacting?

Reply 1

Original post
by Anonymous
okay, i don't know if im overreacting, so im gonna need some thoughts on this.
my mum's boyfriend (28, a key worker) has been living with us for a little over a year now, and he's not a nasty person or anything, but these past few months we've butted heads often, and these last couple of weeks he's been pushing my boundaries and ****ing me off quite a bit. "little" things, but to the point where my mum has had to tell him to stop.
(i think?) he sometimes comes into my room with my mum to help her fold my washing on my bed when she's doing jobs around the house, but this morning she made him confess to me that he'd stolen the bag of chocolate out of my room that I'd put in a bag for my friend's birthday. didn't ask, didn't tell me until pushed to do so, and ate the whole thing in the time space between late last night and early this morning, when I was at my dad's house.
i was told he'd buy me a new bag of chocolate for my friend, but I was furious and upset; that wasn't the point. he'd come into my room, most likely alone, gone all the way to the back, rummaged through my bag and took the chocolate. my curtains were still closed and i had no fresh washing on my bed (signs my mum hadn't been in the room, and signs that he had NO reason to be in there). I have no idea what he was doing in my room alone, and as i said previously, he's not a nasty person, but i barely know him. not only do i feel this is an invasion to my privacy, there is stuff in my room (a female teenager) that I do NOT want him to see, and this has made me incredibly uncomfortable!!
am I valid in feeling my privacy has been violated, or am i overreacting?

Yep, you're right. Insist on having a lock on your door.

Reply 2

Yeah you're quite right to be very angry about this. It's obv not about the chocolates, it's about him feeling entitled to let himself into your room and rake through all your belongings for things worth taking, and who knows how often he's been doing if already and what else might be missing? You'd need to also consider it pretty creepy.

As above I'd insist on a locked door with keys kept out of his access since he has clearly demonstrated he can't be trusted and frankly your mum should be reconsidering this relationship and is probably utterly humiliated by this.

I'm in the same boat as him as my partner has a teenage daughter, I NEVER go in her room. As you say, there's things in there she won't want me seeing and things in there I don't want to see. Pretty sure as much as my partner loves me if she caught me raking and stealing things from her daughter I'd be told to GTF.

Reply 3

Original post
by Anonymous
okay, i don't know if im overreacting, so im gonna need some thoughts on this.
my mum's boyfriend (28, a key worker) has been living with us for a little over a year now, and he's not a nasty person or anything, but these past few months we've butted heads often, and these last couple of weeks he's been pushing my boundaries and ****ing me off quite a bit. "little" things, but to the point where my mum has had to tell him to stop.
(i think?) he sometimes comes into my room with my mum to help her fold my washing on my bed when she's doing jobs around the house, but this morning she made him confess to me that he'd stolen the bag of chocolate out of my room that I'd put in a bag for my friend's birthday. didn't ask, didn't tell me until pushed to do so, and ate the whole thing in the time space between late last night and early this morning, when I was at my dad's house.
i was told he'd buy me a new bag of chocolate for my friend, but I was furious and upset; that wasn't the point. he'd come into my room, most likely alone, gone all the way to the back, rummaged through my bag and took the chocolate. my curtains were still closed and i had no fresh washing on my bed (signs my mum hadn't been in the room, and signs that he had NO reason to be in there). I have no idea what he was doing in my room alone, and as i said previously, he's not a nasty person, but i barely know him. not only do i feel this is an invasion to my privacy, there is stuff in my room (a female teenager) that I do NOT want him to see, and this has made me incredibly uncomfortable!!
am I valid in feeling my privacy has been violated, or am i overreacting?

UPDATE

after much hesitation and reassurance from my nan and my friend's mum, i decided to speak to my own mum about the matter. however, as much as i tried to keep my composure, we ended up having a long, heated argument about it, in which my feelings were invalidated and i was called dramatic and that i was overreacting, which i feel was unfair on my own behalf.

my mum defended her boyfriend over her own daughter, and brushed the situation off, and i feel she was not willing to try and understand the point I was making. she insisted that i do, in fact, "know him well" and that I was over-exaggerating in my dislike for the situation, claiming that "it's my house, and he can go wherever".

i don't know what to do, as she refuses to let me permanently move in with my dad or nan, and I don't feel comfortable not having the support of my mother. it really is bothering me, and my gut is telling me that it's not right, nor is it normal, but her words make me feel unreasonable.

Reply 4

Original post
by Anonymous
okay, i don't know if im overreacting, so im gonna need some thoughts on this.
my mum's boyfriend (28, a key worker) has been living with us for a little over a year now, and he's not a nasty person or anything, but these past few months we've butted heads often, and these last couple of weeks he's been pushing my boundaries and ****ing me off quite a bit. "little" things, but to the point where my mum has had to tell him to stop.
(i think?) he sometimes comes into my room with my mum to help her fold my washing on my bed when she's doing jobs around the house, but this morning she made him confess to me that he'd stolen the bag of chocolate out of my room that I'd put in a bag for my friend's birthday. didn't ask, didn't tell me until pushed to do so, and ate the whole thing in the time space between late last night and early this morning, when I was at my dad's house.
i was told he'd buy me a new bag of chocolate for my friend, but I was furious and upset; that wasn't the point. he'd come into my room, most likely alone, gone all the way to the back, rummaged through my bag and took the chocolate. my curtains were still closed and i had no fresh washing on my bed (signs my mum hadn't been in the room, and signs that he had NO reason to be in there). I have no idea what he was doing in my room alone, and as i said previously, he's not a nasty person, but i barely know him. not only do i feel this is an invasion to my privacy, there is stuff in my room (a female teenager) that I do NOT want him to see, and this has made me incredibly uncomfortable!!
am I valid in feeling my privacy has been violated, or am i overreacting?

In my opinion, If they wanna enter your room and move something from your room, They should got your agreement or let you know at least. This kind of behavior is not respect you privacy. You should angry and tell you mother and her boyfriend" I don't like it." I also angry and feeling unwell when I go back china for hoilday that my carpet is cut by my mother without my agreement. This kind of thing also happen many times in my home and I told them my feeling many times. But nobody listen.

Reply 5

Original post
by Luna12378
In my opinion, If they wanna enter your room and move something from your room, They should got your agreement or let you know at least. This kind of behavior is not respect you privacy. You should angry and tell you mother and her boyfriend" I don't like it." I also angry and feeling unwell when I go back china for hoilday that my carpet is cut by my mother without my agreement. This kind of thing also happen many times in my home and I told them my feeling many times. But nobody listen.
And I think you should talk to your mother at first. Told her you wanna add a locker on your door with a strong tone. You should let them know you are very angry and feel unsafe with their behavior, you don't wanna this kind of affair happen next time. if it happen again, you will do something. If they don't know this, they will just think you feel OK with their rude intrude.

Reply 6

Original post
by Anonymous
UPDATE
after much hesitation and reassurance from my nan and my friend's mum, i decided to speak to my own mum about the matter. however, as much as i tried to keep my composure, we ended up having a long, heated argument about it, in which my feelings were invalidated and i was called dramatic and that i was overreacting, which i feel was unfair on my own behalf.
my mum defended her boyfriend over her own daughter, and brushed the situation off, and i feel she was not willing to try and understand the point I was making. she insisted that i do, in fact, "know him well" and that I was over-exaggerating in my dislike for the situation, claiming that "it's my house, and he can go wherever".
i don't know what to do, as she refuses to let me permanently move in with my dad or nan, and I don't feel comfortable not having the support of my mother. it really is bothering me, and my gut is telling me that it's not right, nor is it normal, but her words make me feel unreasonable.

To be honest, you mother's words is true in some way. She own this house and she have right to charge this house. she have right to let her boyfriend enter any room as he want. And you can't do anything change without her agreement. I think you should leave this house when you are a adult or argue with you mother.

Reply 7

Original post
by Anonymous
UPDATE
after much hesitation and reassurance from my nan and my friend's mum, i decided to speak to my own mum about the matter. however, as much as i tried to keep my composure, we ended up having a long, heated argument about it, in which my feelings were invalidated and i was called dramatic and that i was overreacting, which i feel was unfair on my own behalf.
my mum defended her boyfriend over her own daughter, and brushed the situation off, and i feel she was not willing to try and understand the point I was making. she insisted that i do, in fact, "know him well" and that I was over-exaggerating in my dislike for the situation, claiming that "it's my house, and he can go wherever".
i don't know what to do, as she refuses to let me permanently move in with my dad or nan, and I don't feel comfortable not having the support of my mother. it really is bothering me, and my gut is telling me that it's not right, nor is it normal, but her words make me feel unreasonable.

If she won't agree to a lock then install a webcam?

Reply 8

Original post
by Luna12378
To be honest, you mother's words is true in some way. She own this house and she have right to charge this house. she have right to let her boyfriend enter any room as he want. And you can't do anything change without her agreement. I think you should leave this house when you are a adult or argue with you mother.

Nah, that's BS. Teenagers should have their privacy and it's deeply weird and disturbing to have a near stranger rummaging through her things

Reply 9

If she wish and can,she also can add a locker compulsory.I hope her mother's reaction will not too strong. I wish her mother can say some angry words to let her move to her dad or grandma's house. Parents should care about their daughter's privacy, but some bad parents don't. maybe she should use law??(i don't know about UK law, I heard they have rules about that???) But You are right, Privacy is important for teen.

Reply 10

Original post
by Anonymous
UPDATE
after much hesitation and reassurance from my nan and my friend's mum, i decided to speak to my own mum about the matter. however, as much as i tried to keep my composure, we ended up having a long, heated argument about it, in which my feelings were invalidated and i was called dramatic and that i was overreacting, which i feel was unfair on my own behalf.
my mum defended her boyfriend over her own daughter, and brushed the situation off, and i feel she was not willing to try and understand the point I was making. she insisted that i do, in fact, "know him well" and that I was over-exaggerating in my dislike for the situation, claiming that "it's my house, and he can go wherever".
i don't know what to do, as she refuses to let me permanently move in with my dad or nan, and I don't feel comfortable not having the support of my mother. it really is bothering me, and my gut is telling me that it's not right, nor is it normal, but her words make me feel unreasonable.

UPDATE 2 (final!!)

sorry for late update😞

i came home the next day and found that my mum's boyfriend had..bought me flowers, chocolate, and was going to buy me a takeaway for tea? he also apologised and said he wouldn't "do it again". even my mum was singing my praises when i came home, which really confused me, considering the last time I'd seen her she'd been yelling at me for overreacting and not taking my feelings into account. because it had all been so easily brushed off, i began to doubt myself, and felt guilty for what i was starting to believe was a "tantrum" myself. however, when I told this to my friend's mum, she reassured me that i had no right to feel bad, as it was me they were being inconsiderate towards, which set me back on track!

i later spoke to my nan again about this new revelation, and she told me she'd had a firm lecture to both my mum and her boyfriend, in which she had managed to win the odds in my favour (don't know what I'd do without her!).

i still am opposed to my mum's boyfriend, as this was only the biggest incident (there are others, but this was by far the worst i think!) and we still regularly butt heads, but thank you all for your advice and reassurance on the matter!! it's all very appreciated💓

Reply 11

Original post
by Anonymous
UPDATE 2 (final!!)
sorry for late update😞
i came home the next day and found that my mum's boyfriend had..bought me flowers, chocolate, and was going to buy me a takeaway for tea? he also apologised and said he wouldn't "do it again". even my mum was singing my praises when i came home, which really confused me, considering the last time I'd seen her she'd been yelling at me for overreacting and not taking my feelings into account. because it had all been so easily brushed off, i began to doubt myself, and felt guilty for what i was starting to believe was a "tantrum" myself. however, when I told this to my friend's mum, she reassured me that i had no right to feel bad, as it was me they were being inconsiderate towards, which set me back on track!
i later spoke to my nan again about this new revelation, and she told me she'd had a firm lecture to both my mum and her boyfriend, in which she had managed to win the odds in my favour (don't know what I'd do without her!).
i still am opposed to my mum's boyfriend, as this was only the biggest incident (there are others, but this was by far the worst i think!) and we still regularly butt heads, but thank you all for your advice and reassurance on the matter!! it's all very appreciated💓
Just to be sure, maybe hide a camera in your room when you're not there or idk if there's a way to have an alarm go off if he opens your bag/looks through your desk?

Reply 12

I'm glad things seem to have calmed down anyway.

Sorry I'd meant to reply before but forgot, when your mum kicked off the first time you spoke to her over this, I strongly suspect it was out of shame and anger at herself that she was letting out. I'm not saying that made it ok to take out on you but this event must have been absolutely humiliating for her, def going by the way she pretty much frogmarched the guy to admit what he had done. Imagine how awkward their conversation beforehand must have been?

I'd also meant to add that most parents are generally not ok with their children having locked bedrooms, for whole variety of parenting reasons and many households just don't want locks in the home at all. But when you have someone in the household who everyone knows can't really be trusted it's an awkward conversation that has to come up one way or another.

Reply 13

Get a lock

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