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Quick background. My wife and I have only been married for a year and a half. She has two kids 17 and 14 who always have been and always will be her only reason for living. They are all she had for a long time.
When we decided to get married I bought a house in her kids school district because she didnt want to move them. I didnt want to live here but did it for her. I bought a big enough house for us all to be comfortable. At the time I had a college age son living with us. Because he would be leaving first I put him in the basement, knowing that when he left I would make that my "man cave". Well, her kids started in on her asking "what right does he have to do that ?" Now that the basement is empty its starting again. She likes to say "That is SO selfish. They are CHILDREN". I mean if they didnt have their own rooms and the whole rest of the house to hang out in they might have a point. Its a 3500 square foot house. They have room.
Yes. My wife does help pay the bills, but I work 50-70 hours a week, and quite honestly I dont enjoy the company of kids, hers or mine as much as she does. I need a place thats mine. Oh yeah.... when I say that I get "you've got the garage". Generous, huh?
You're not being unreasonable. I think you should so whatever you want with the basement. You said your house is 3500 square feet. Don't you have a spare bedroom or two upstairs that they kids could use to hang out? Its also not going to kill the kids to walk 3 blocks. The 17 year old is practically an adult.
Last edited by KylieEve; 09-22-2010 at 03:03 PM..
Reason: .
I can only imagine. Doesn't you wife have a car to transport the kids?
She has a car, I have a truck. She drives my truck to work so the kids can drive her car. 3 blocks. Normally not a problem, but on the occasion that I will have a day off I have to justify why I need my truck. Its MY truck ....
3500 square feet and they're whining because you want some space to yourself? The kids have no talking room, no pun intended.
Heck, if I were you, I would not only claim the space, I'd make sure the door locks, too. Nothing that couldn't be broken or kicked in should there be an emergency, but enough to make a point.
Kids need to learn boundaries. When I was small, my father's studio had a doorknob that locked. The studio was his place for his work. Heh, I painted a sign for him, "Do not disturb. Man at art."
She has a car, I have a truck. She drives my truck to work so the kids can drive her car. 3 blocks. Normally not a problem, but on the occasion that I will have a day off I have to justify why I need my truck. Its MY truck ....
You have to fight with your wife and her kids for your own vehicle?
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