11.03.09, 06:53 AM 48 replies
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My step daughter is coming in from Maine. I have never met her. She is 13 years old and her mother has poisened her against me (I have done nothing, she is angry that I am 26) I will be spending all of Staurday alone with her. Give me some suggestions as to what I can do with her to win her over.

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11.03.09, 06:53 AM Flag ]
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  • My step daughter is coming in from Maine. I have never met her. She is 13 years old and her mother has poisened her against me (I have done nothing, she is angry that I am 26) I will be spending all of Staurday alone with her. Give me some suggestions as to what I can do with her to win her over.

    48 replies [ Reply | Watch | More
    11.03.09, 06:53 AM Flag ]
    • maybe times square?

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      11.03.09, 06:56 AM Flag
    • Wait a minute! How old is her father? My father married someone only 9 years older than me and it's disgusting!

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      11.03.09, 06:58 AM Flag
      • he is 41.... its not a big deal I am double her age.

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        11.03.09, 06:59 AM Flag
        • you're twice her age now. when she was 1 you were 13 times her age. it may matter to her less as she gets older, but when she's 20 you won't be 40, and it seems different.

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          11.03.09, 07:15 AM Flag
        • Wow, I am 26 and with a 1yo. I can't imagine having a 13yo - stepdaughter or not.

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          11.03.09, 08:26 AM Flag
      • no it's not, it's life. men often trade (down) for a newer model.

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        11.03.09, 06:59 AM Flag
    • you can't "win her over" in a day. ask her what she would like to do, spend some time and give her the opportunity to get to know her.

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      11.03.09, 06:58 AM Flag
      • ^^get to know you, i mean.

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        11.03.09, 06:58 AM Flag
        • You have to understand... she really doesn't luike me....

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          11.03.09, 06:59 AM Flag
          • she doesn't have to like you, and she won't in a day. if you're going to spend the rest of your life with her father there's time.

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            11.03.09, 07:04 AM Flag
          • Take her shopping and buy her something she wants (within reason). A little bribery never hurt.

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            11.03.09, 11:40 AM Flag
    • Don't push the girly-bonding thing or try to buy her things. Ask if there's anything in particular she wants to see or do and if she says no (which she probbaly will), do activities that don't require talking - movie, ice skating...

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      11.03.09, 06:59 AM Flag
      • ita. ask her 1st what she would like to do, have some suggestions in case she says I dont care.

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        11.03.09, 07:12 AM Flag
    • Skating in Rockefeller Center. Take the subway. Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. Eat in a diner. Walk through Grand Central. Buy something inexpensive at Bloomingdales. (I would suggest "Bloomies" underwear, but I wouldn't go there.)

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      11.03.09, 06:59 AM Flag
      • ^^oh, definitely go check out the MTV studios.

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        11.03.09, 07:00 AM Flag
    • Dylans candy bar

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      11.03.09, 07:03 AM Flag
      • dylan's, serendipity, magnolia bakery, hanging in the west village (if she's the kind of girl who'd be into that), go to yoyamart, walk on the high-line, go see a movie, go ice skating, get mani/peds, etc

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        11.03.09, 07:20 AM Flag
    • Forget about her mother, and forget about trying to "win her over". Being a step-parent is HARD, and when your step-dd is a teen, I can't even imagine. Focus on being positive, loving, and resepcting her space. Don't react if/when she is very difficult. Plan some fun stuff, but don't be mad if she refuses to do it. You are at the beginning of a long, hard process that can end up being really wonderful. But it is HARD.

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      11.03.09, 07:03 AM Flag
    • Jesus--whose brilliant idea was it for the two of you to spend a day alone together on your first meeting? That's a lot of pressure for both of you. I'd play it by ear--13 is a funny age and if you don't know her or what she's like...she could want to spend the day at the Planetarium or at Bergdorf's. I'd have a list of possible options, but don't beat yourself up if it isn't the greatest day ever--it's a real challenge to win someone over in a day and 13yo's know when you're trying too hard. Good luck--I hope it's a good first step.

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      11.03.09, 07:03 AM Flag
      • ita. it is a lot of pressure. i'd plan for something like a movie so that you don't have to actually talk to each other.

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        11.03.09, 08:02 AM Flag
        • or go to blockbuster with her and let her pick out a couple of things to watch. where's your dh going to be that day?

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          11.03.09, 08:04 AM Flag
        • I think it's a good opportunity to spend face time together but you're right--might be a good idea to block out a little downtime too and not spend all day racing around.

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          11.03.09, 08:08 AM Flag
          • if i was being forced to spend the day with someone i had never met and had issues with, the last thing i'd want is to have a "girl day" at a spa or even go shopping with. i'd want something safe and impersonal.

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            11.03.09, 08:37 AM Flag
            • Definitely, especially if she has an issue with OP's age--she doesn't want her to be like "OMG! Isn't that one of the Jonas brothers over there? Let's go get mani-pedi's!"

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              11.03.09, 08:48 AM Flag
      • Seriously!

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        11.03.09, 08:32 AM Flag
      • ITA. Your DH really shouldn't put this much pressure on you to spend alone time with her esp since you have nevr met.

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        11.03.09, 11:42 AM Flag
    • How about a movie? Will give you a couple hours where the focus is not on the two of you.

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      11.03.09, 07:32 AM Flag
    • I am curious as to how you managed to marry her father without ever meeting her. Does she have a good relationship with him.

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      11.03.09, 07:41 AM Flag
      • says volumes about the man she married

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        11.03.09, 07:57 AM Flag
        • np: or about the woman he divorced.

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          11.03.09, 10:49 AM Flag
          • np: it says a volume about all 3 of the parents (mainly the two non-step parents). Sad.

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            11.03.09, 11:36 AM Flag
    • Plan a girls day, maybe a mani/pedi and lunch. Be careful not to try too hard and do not badmouth her mother at all or make any type of comment like "What does your mom say about me?" because it puts them on the spot and they get defensive. Or ask her what she would like to do when she gets there. Tell her that you have some money set aside so is there anything she wants to do?

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      11.03.09, 07:48 AM Flag
    • Take her shoe shopping on W 8th.

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      11.03.09, 07:56 AM Flag
    • Museums. Lunch. Sightseeing. Dinner. Movies. Done.

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      11.03.09, 08:01 AM Flag
    • I would keep it as low-key as possible. Movies or shopping, for example. Don't try too hard to win her over, just demonstrate through showing rather than tellling that you're a sane, trustworthy adult. And remember that 13-year-olds tend to be moody as hell, so if she doesn't seem thrilled to see you it isn't your fault.

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      11.03.09, 08:06 AM Flag
    • Hijack! How did your parents react to you marrying someone who's 41? I am 26 and engaged to a 48 yo. It doesn't help that my parents had me young and are only 49 yo. My mom knows about the relationship, but I have yet to tell my dad his age.

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      11.03.09, 08:32 AM Flag
      • I am 24 and married to a 43 year old. Parents love him and always have. We have 2 children.

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        11.04.09, 08:54 AM Flag
    • Why did you and dh get married without his dd coming to your wedding?

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      11.03.09, 08:37 AM Flag
      • np: it's possible her mother wouldn't let her.

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        11.03.09, 11:39 AM Flag
        • If dh has any type of custody they could have scheduled the wedding on one of his days with his daughter. Its really weird that they never met.

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          11.04.09, 08:16 AM Flag
    • Is this post even real? How did you marry a man without ever meeting his daughter? She didn't come to her father's wedding? WTF? Something about this post seems fake to me

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      11.03.09, 08:44 AM Flag
    • Is she sporty or girlie?

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      11.03.09, 10:44 AM Flag
      • yeah, which spice girl is she?

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        11.03.09, 11:18 AM Flag
      • we could give you some better ideas if you gave us a clue.

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        11.04.09, 08:14 AM Flag
    • my dad married somebody the same age as my oldest sister. Ick! But I got along great with my stepmother. I hope she'll give you a chance

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      11.03.09, 11:21 AM Flag
    • I understand her, although she should be angry at her father, not at you. If she had a baby right now, the age difference between her and her baby will be the same as between you and her

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      11.03.09, 11:32 AM Flag
    • how did her mother poison her against you? by telling her your age? that doesn't sound like poison, it sounds like the truth.

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      11.03.09, 11:37 AM Flag
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