I let a 19 year old, stupid (literally) punk ruin my life on a daily basis. He is the biggest jerk I have ever met and, lucky me, I live with him. He is my step son. Why do I allow this person to push my buttons & make me unhappy in my own home? I want him to go! He makes bad decision after bad decision & refuses to listen to any advice. I don't want to hear "normal teenager" again! I think if I do I will scream!!!! Why is this what everyone says instead of doing something to change the behavior??? It shouldn't be normal!

www.poopsenders.com I am very tempted to send BM a package myself... may have to discuss it with DH and see what his take is on it...

}:) So besides the issues I am having with SD17 and SD17, the elder SD21 came home (from Uni) for a week of holidays. I have had my issues with SD21 as she is lazy, unhelpful and thinks that the world revolves around her. Her father does not see this (or does not want to!) and thinks nothing of it. We have been talking about marriage for the last couple of months and decided to let the skids know and what they think. The younger skids seem to be ok with it, don't want to involved in the actual ceremony but support it to a degree, which we are all happy with.

My mom just passed away and I am a mess. Before you send me too much sympathy let me say we didn't have much of a relationship. She threw me out at 15 and so the relationship died a lot longer before the body that was walking around did. But I'm still upset--finally grieving that I didn't have a mom. And no I was not a bad kid, I got good grades and had a job at 15. My mom wanted to marry a 24 year old and she was 42 and she didn't want me around anymore. She threw out my 18 year old sister and drove my foster brother back to the boys home.

My grand daughter is a good wee girl and has an amazing stefather.
But this is what just happened when the 3 of them... my daughter SIL and G/daughter were in the rather crowded apartment complex pool...
Miss 4 yells to S/Dad in the pool " R....! Dont do that in front of a child!!" everyone looks at SIL and all he was doing was swimming away from her..... poor guy. I think my DD is STILL laughing.

One of those lighter Stepfamily moments.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/OPINION/07/05/granderson.bratty.kids/index.html?...

Thought you all might appreciate this. Spot on article.... especially this quote,

"As a parent, I can empathize with how difficult raising children can be. There are challenges, especially within the framework of divorce, when parental guilt can sometimes blur what should be the best decision.

It's been a while since I saw this again, cracks me up everytime...maybe it'll help one lady smile.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_faInfFMtr4

UGH! So mad. BM brought my SS home the other day. She also nearly tried to walk in my house. I don’t think so missy! How can she think she would be welcome on my porch, much less in my house? It was less than a month ago, she totally went off on DH about something stupid. She never did apologize.

Anyway…that is not why I am mad. That is just annoying. I am mad, because she actually looks good. LOL and GRRR. She lost at least 30LB. and is tan. I am not used to seeing her little butterball self, looking like that.

The last time I went to therapy was when I was married-about a year or so prior to my divorce. It helped me recognize the abuse and propelled me out of there. I'm thinking it might help me get through this difficult time and decide if this the life for me. Or at least to better cope w/my feelings.

Are you a parent or a friend? There is such a fine line between the two that it is often confused. How can someone expect their children to have respect for them as parents when the focus is placed on friendship? Like my fiance for example.

This is the discussion I had with my fiance last night after dinner. He thinks that you CAN be both a parent and a friend I think the opposite or at least I disagree on how HE is doing it. You can be both if done the correct way. I believe Be a parent FIRST and a friend LATER.