Why the hell is it that every single parenting item just HAS to be an argument...but ONLY when it comes to SD12?? I can say/do/teach the exact same thing to BD and DH doesn't even bat an eye...but I try the same parenting lessons on SD and suddenly it's none of my business. We've had SD fulltime for over 6 years and I still can't give DH any input on how to parent the kid. So, that's why I've disengaged, even as a full-timer. Oh, and I raised my own BD25 so I have many lessons learned from my parenting experience.

Karma is really going to kick my ass again because I can't stop wishing SIL would become a SM. This woman's life couldn't be more perfect with her 2 bios, 1 marriage, no steps. But of course, she feels emboldened enough to criticize and judge the step life we live as a complicated blended family. What bothers me is the complete hypocrisy as she is constantly begging others to "please recognize the child crisis!! We're in a crisis where so many children need foster families!!

SD12 has lived with us fulltime for many years. The closer she gets to the teen years, the more I notice things go missing around the house, or she's hiding something. Always. Mostly small things like my art supplies, soda, a cutting board (yeah, I know!) Yesterday, I couldn't find a DVD. I looked everywhere and asked DH to help look. I was annoyed in general about losing the DVD so I made a passive aggressive remark that "A lot of things have gone missing in this house lately." I didn't come right out and say it but DH knew I was referring to SD taking things.

I have a BD25 so it's been a long while since I've dealt with a Tween. SD12 is still in after-school-care programs. It's expensive. Half the time, she doesn't go there and other times, she should REALLY be at the library instead, given her failing grades. My BD25 was babysitting other kids when she was 12. Maybe I'm old fashioned now but kids these days seem to never ever mature!!