Hi, 

This is my first blog although I have been here for a while. 
I got married fuve years ago. My SD is 12 and SS is 15 now. I always thought we had a good relationship and that they love me. I love them too with all my heart. I watched them grow and develop. I am always there for them, for school issues, for emotional support, for help with friends and even with dad. I thought I was doing well enough to nurture and nourish them. 
 

I haven't had anything to do with my skids for 7 weeks and it turns out that if I don't make any effort then nothing happens! I think my DH has text his son a couple of times, not sure if he replied... I am loving the peace and quiet. I'm also not feeling one bit guilty - and that's what I've come to tell you lovely people as I think in the outside world this would induce a horrified gasp!

I should clarify, transition *to* our house is the worst.  Transition to our house fills me with dread and anxiety. Transition *from* our house provides me peace and joy.

Would you want a 13 year old teenager (being diagnosed with autism) living with you full time if he has had numerous outbursts of being violent (in social disagreements as he struggles to regulate emotion or sometimes instigated by himself) and ignoring female boundaries at school (putting his hands on females even though he had been asked not to) his excuse being he didn't think anything would come of it? I do not feel comfortable with this at all, it is repeated behaviour that has been addressed by me, the school and his father many times but it continues.

Hello, ST community... 

It's been a while since I've been here.  After a long and painful last few months, so much has happened!!!

First... partner and I have been working together to drop the guilt (particularly my partner) and do what's gotta be done.  This has been a success, but ultimately we cannot control what kids do.  They are still little people and make choices in their behaviors and actions.  That being said, this whirlwind of a last few months has gained us SO much insight... 

Teens tend to have attitude. I get it. I'm sure I did it on rare occasions (but was never allowed to get away with it).

SO got a call today from SD25.

First post, long time lurker.  I'm paranoid about getting "found out" that I'm on here posting my grievances of step life so at this point in time, I'd prefer not to share particular details (ie number of step kids, ages, boys/girls, etc) but rather share my feelings and experiences in hopes of getting reassurance from strangers on the internet that I'm not in fact alone in my feelings. It's so hard when I don't have any close friends who are in blended family situations so it's easy to feel very isolated.

Happy Friday, STalkers! It's a breezy 53° here and I have the windows open to enjoy the fresh air. Aaaahhh... Short work day for me since I had to work late last night (oh happy joy...). Who is ready to start the weekend? *yahoo*

Eff off to:

It’s the look the skids (SD much more than SS) always had whenever I mentioned anyone in my family, when any of my friends or family (who were always extremely kind to them, by the way) were around, when I said anything about my job or other activities, when I pointed out where I worked as we drove by. Glazed-over eyes and no comments.