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Why can't all four of my parents just shut the hell up!

Asked Nov 26, 2007, 12:04 AM — 13 Answers
Okay to make a VERY long story short... My mother and father never got married and broke up before I was born. My dad and mother have both remarried. When I was 12 my dad asked me if I wanted to live with him and I said yes (I'm a people pleaser and I didn't want to make my dad sad... Plus I kind of did cause I had some issues with my mom back then since my little sister had been born). The custody battle went on till I was I think 15 or 16 years old. I ended up decideing to stay with my mom right at the end of the battle.

Long story shorter... My dad and mom hate each other, my step mom and dad like my step dad, and my step mother mildly gets along with my mom...

And because there is so much distaste for one another between my four parents.... I always got to hear SOMETHING negative about the other! I'm SICK OF IT! I love all my parents (well... I have some issues with my step dad but yeah...), and I don't want to hear them talk smack on each other!

Ever since I told my step mom about a story I put on the web that I didn't particuarlly want my dad to see yet, but wanted her to critique (I asked her not to show dad), and she did (her telling him started what would end up being a fight that would last a year and a half), my mother tells me all the time that I can't trust my step mom cause she will ALWAYS tell my dad everything and that my secrets can never be safe with her.

My step mom and my dad both make my mother out to be a money hungery *itch (and she's not). To add on they make my step dad out to be a freaking saint! Saying that they know him well enough and that he is such a great guy and that if I ever needed him he would be there for me and blah blah blah... My step dad escapes from our house everyonce and a while to smoke crack, and he has cheated on my mother TWICE! So basically they act like my mother is the devil and my step dad is the great man... THEY DON'T KNOW ANYTHING!

Basically, coming down to the question, how do I tell my parents... I DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT! My dad is big on respect and "Won't be disrespected by and adolescant" -.-'' and my mother is a bit hard at listening.... So how do I tell my thick skulled parents that if they want to talk $hit to say it to each other... NOT ME! I love them all! I don't want to hear it!

13 Answers
NowWhat's Avatar
NowWhat Posts: 1,933, Reputation: 1335
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#11

Nov 26, 2007, 10:15 AM
You don't have to accuse him of anything. Just point blank tell them that you really feel uncomfortable about discussions coming up with the other parent involved. You wish to be kept out of it - good or bad. That it makes you feel uncomfortable because you love them all.
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N0help4u's Avatar
N0help4u Posts: 16,954, Reputation: 9423
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#12

Nov 26, 2007, 04:35 PM
Tell them that you are the *kid* and it is wrong and unfair of them to put you in the middle of their adult problems. Not that you are a kid, but it might get them to put things in a little better perspective.
Also I agree with your mom that your step mom can't be trusted to not tell your dad everything. I won't tell her anything that I didn't want getting back to my dad.
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RubyPitbull's Avatar
RubyPitbull Posts: 3,581, Reputation: 3322
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#13

Nov 27, 2007, 02:59 PM
I am sorry I didn't see this thread yesterday. BiW, I had the same problem when I was your age and it carried on into adulthood.

I tried this tactic when I was your age first. I remained very calm and quiet and looked them straight in their eyes and said: "I am going to tell you what I tell her (him), she is my mother (he is my father) and I don't want to hear it. Your issues are between each other, not me. I love you both equally but please leave me out of it." Then I would hang my head and slowly go up to my room. You would think that would work but it didn't completely stop it. My parents were very angry with each other and totally self-involved.

Finally when I hit my 20's I found the perfect solution for myself. I would completely ignore what they were saying and talk about something completely different. You could just talk about a problem you are having in school or with a friend that you can pretend you need them to impart some important parental wisdom on. You can talk about a homework assignment you have to complete and ask for help. Talk about a conversation you had with one of your grandparents -- the parent of the person you are speaking with. Talk about something funny that happened with your brothers, your friends, an incident at school. Talk about something that was in the news and encourage discussion about it by asking questions. Ask their advice about something. My point is, just arm yourself with enough subject changing material ahead of time so that you won't be floundering for a topic change. Usually a funny story or joke is a good way to take their minds off the negative topics. Either they will go along with the change of subject, or question you why you are changing it. If they question you, then use my first tactic that I used as a teenager that I mentioned above. If you can muster up a tear in the eye while quietly telling them how you feel, neither one will get angry with you. How can you get angry at your kid who is crying and hurting? It should really make them think about what they are doing to you. If either one responds and talks to you about it, then you can go on to tell them how upsetting it is for you to have to listen to him/her bad mouth your mother/father. You could tell them Dr. Phil says it is the worst thing a parent can do to a child. The problems between parents need to stay between the parents. Then stop talking and let that sink in.
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x-PunkPrincess-x's Avatar
x-PunkPrincess-x Posts: 4, Reputation: 1
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#14

Nov 27, 2007, 06:58 PM
Just come right out and say it... SHUT UP! That's the way, it works when my parents are fighting.
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