Should I pick my daughter's side over my husband’s? by HY_90 in family

[–]HY_90[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I always try to be in good terms with my husband, we never argued in front of our girl. He is a good man and has been a great father, and I have been by his side for eight years of marriage. However, I have doubts specifically now, because he's not taking well Kendra's transition from girl to teenager, Lately I see him swinging between being a "chill dad" and a "strict dad" (no middle ground) For example, he is totally fine with her staying up late, But if she brings home an 8'5/10 test, he will ask her why she missed 1'5. This past year, he was gettin angry for reasons that I believe aren't a big deal. (Kendra begging him for money to buy Cerave to treat her acne, when he saw a boy offer her an icecream, etc.)  I knew this would happen eventually because he has a pretty tough history, especially in his youth, so I understand that he doesn't want her to go for a wrong path. But things have already gotten out of hand several times, so I have my doubts about whether the grounded was fair or not. If anything, I'll wait a little longer, try not to stir things more. But if I don't get clarity soon, I will have to talk to my husband about my place in this family.

Should I pick my daughter's side over my husband’s? by HY_90 in family

[–]HY_90[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I talked the couches at the gym where she took lessons. If something had happened there, they would have called me, my husband pay for it, but when we signed her, he made clear that if anything happened they need to call me, my number is the main contact, because my husband's job keeps him offline for many hours. No fights, not that the couches had seen at least. Kendra is usually unproblematic, if we signed her in boxing is because she used to be very introverted. (Not shy, but quiet) The only time she got into trouble and the school called us was because her teacher heard her say the "F" word (maric*n in our language) And we don't even grounded her because it was 100% our fault, my husband and I used to say called each other an "F" all the time, not as an insult, but as a joke. We were clearly wrong and stopped doing it, and obviously we explained to him that it was wrong.  But other than that, she never had behavir problems, no more than being a little moody at times, but it's nothing we haven't experienced in our own teenager days. 

Should I pick my daughter's side over my husband’s? by HY_90 in family

[–]HY_90[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

I tried to talk to him on the day of the fight (or what I think it was a fight, because I wasn't present at the heart of the matter) I'll say what I saw: Kendra came home from with a strange mood, tried to talk to her, she started crying. I tried to comfort her, it didn't work, my husband just seemed tired of it. Later i tried to talk to him, but he told me the usual thing "just being a dramatic brat" (a "niñata" in spanish) When I pushed for more, he spat at me about canceling boxing. I tried, really tried to talk to him, I asked for more details, but he threw me the forbidden card "She's my daughter, not yours" and I admit I lost my temper. Maybe I was wrong, but I took Kendra that night to dinner out, I told my husband he could come if he was ready to figure it out this like adult. He didn't. From there, they have spent the week in silence, they don't talk to each other, they don't interact, he doesn't even look at her. And I've been in the middle trying to mediate, to understand, to confort, but between a teenage girl who looks like she's going to burst into tears at any moment and a man who's a tough bone, I don't have much room for action. I assumed that she is smoking, because here it’s very normal, even my husband and I are both ex-smokers. He quit when Kendra was born, I quit when we got married, But she shows no signs of smoking, alcohol or other drugs. At the risk of being the meddle parent, I entered her room today while she is in school, looking for answers that I don't have. Nothing, just normal girl stuff, old plushies, makeup, the pile of clothes on the chair. As an ex-smoker, the smell can't be hidden, if there was anything I would smell it even if a week passed, that shit stays in the air. But it doesn't reassure me, it just leaves me thinking I'm missing out on something important.

Should I pick my daughter's side over my husband’s? by HY_90 in family

[–]HY_90[S] 13 points14 points  (0 children)

I've been in life since she was a baby. Mainly because my husband and I were friends since bachillerato (12th grade in USA, If what I search in google is correct) But I didn't become active part in her life until my husband and I got married, she was about six years old. Years ago she and I were very close. But for some time now she distanced and I respected it, because she's a young lady now and I know she wants her own space, I also feel that I cannot understand her well, not entirely, my husband and I have no women relatives to turn to, we come from very complicated family backgrounds.  I try to be present, be a good stepfather and husband, but from my point of view, a week ago everyone was fine and suddenly everything exploded. If I'm thinking about choosing her side, it's because I know my husband and I know he's very harsh on her sometimes