My current GF's X routinely refuses to cooperate when it comes to discussing and agreeing on courses of action in parenting matters. For example, her 15 year old has been caught numerous times texting in class, has lost her phone, has had the school call her mother in on the matter etc. The X when asked to help out in the correction of this by limiting her use of the phone in BOTH homes until she uses it reponsibly is met with "YOU DON"T TELL ME WHAT TO DO IN MY HOUSE".
This is an ongoing theme I hear and to me it seems like the chip on his shoulder is more important to him than being a good parent and taking corrective actions with the kids seriously. It is like he wants to promote the 'good guy' thing and forces my GF to be the 'bad guy' in disciplining the kids.
The latest incident involved the 15yr old and a group of friends walking into a neighbors garage and stealing alcohol which they then consumed in public at a local event. Word traveled and they were ratted out by other kids that had a little more sense it seems.
The issue of the "don't tell me what to do" again was the order of the day and he downplayed the serious nature to 'kids will be kids' and 'we all took a beer or 2 as kids' followed of course by the infamous attitude. I mean, swiping a beer from your parents fridge is a far cry from trespassing and petty theft and IMO this is at least ONE area where it should be a no-brainer cooperation is necessary. To me the best interests of the kids is to have punishments carry forward equally in BOTH homes.
My question is, can anything be done about this kind of behavior?
What would a good course of action be?
This is an ongoing theme I hear and to me it seems like the chip on his shoulder is more important to him than being a good parent and taking corrective actions with the kids seriously. It is like he wants to promote the 'good guy' thing and forces my GF to be the 'bad guy' in disciplining the kids.
The latest incident involved the 15yr old and a group of friends walking into a neighbors garage and stealing alcohol which they then consumed in public at a local event. Word traveled and they were ratted out by other kids that had a little more sense it seems.
The issue of the "don't tell me what to do" again was the order of the day and he downplayed the serious nature to 'kids will be kids' and 'we all took a beer or 2 as kids' followed of course by the infamous attitude. I mean, swiping a beer from your parents fridge is a far cry from trespassing and petty theft and IMO this is at least ONE area where it should be a no-brainer cooperation is necessary. To me the best interests of the kids is to have punishments carry forward equally in BOTH homes.
My question is, can anything be done about this kind of behavior?
What would a good course of action be?
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