Trouble after moving in with girlfriend and her child
I recently moved in with my girlfriend of over a year. I have 50/50 custody of my child while she has full custody of hers.
It has been a really hard adjustment for me as I am having some real issues that I feel may be impacting my mental health early on, but am having a hard time being able to determine what may just be the usual issues of a big change, or what may be an underlying and permanent issue.
For clarification, our kids mostly get along pretty well for the most part. The issue is my SO’s child is very loud in nature, and extremely tantrum prone. Her child often annoys mine and he will run off when hers throws a loud fit. Our parenting styles differ greatly, and while I’d never tell her how to mother her child I don’t always agree with how she handles situations as discipline is pretty nonexistent.
It’s to the point I really do not look forward to going home after work and am constantly on edge tending to and wondering about my child’s state of mind that it is crushing mine.
I also have little to no time to myself anymore as I’m in a way back to full time parenting since her child is always with us.
I have no idea how to take care of myself in this situation and I’m having a hard time with the constant meltdowns as mine never displayed this type of behavior.
I’m seeking advice how to navigate this change for the benefit of my mental health and how to accept a vastly different parenting style which I feel may lead to additional outbursts because it often leads to her child getting their way. I also don’t know how to approach my child and this change for him when I hear how frustrated he gets with the new living arrangement.
Thank you for any advice, and criticism is also welcome if you feel it’s warranted.