I'm trying not to be overly excited, but we had a really good weekend with SD19. She called Saturday to say that they were in our area and wanted to know if they could swing over. So over she and BF came. They wound up and went to the local fair with us that evening. She has a new job and has to buy some clothes so I gave her some money from my slush fund and % off coupons to help. She was extremely appreciative, DH then treated her and BF to the evening at the fair from his slush fund.

Our house has had MONTHS of tension between SD9 and me. Everyone in the family still treats her as a baby! and to i just see through it. she does the whole "im thirsty and hungry act" every 15mins.. she is 9! she is more then capable of getting her own drink and snack. At 9 years old i am very sure you understand your actions and would have everyone around your finger, she knows she can do this because it works and she gets away with it.

I know parents get defensive when other people tell them how to parent (even when it's the child's OTHER parent), but I'm starting to assert myself in situations where FDH's parenting (or the lack thereof) is cramping my style.

At what point should a step parents say enough from being the receiver of the hurt, pain and or anger from stepchildren?

Since I am new to the 2nd wives club, and Stepmom world, I started a meetup for San Diego county. I would love to meet you and chat if you live in the area!

I was at a chain store that sells farm equipment/tractor stuff etc. when I saw an elderly gent come in to buy a pedal cart for his grandkids.

I had to shudder b/c GG bought Prince Hygiene at the time 6 1/2 (now 8 1/2) one of those. It was in lieu of a motorized vehicle which was a no-no; especially in light of how the three skids treated the ATV that *I* bought them one xmas (and that the Behemoth spoiled as a surprise)

My husband called SS about his mother's CPS threat. There was some muffling and SS starts saying, What do I do? I don't know what to do. He was crying I was crying too because I felt so bad for him. I told him to call the people at CPS and ask them what to do. The bitch is so stupid she left a voicemail we can use as proof. SS said ok and hung up. My husband and I are really upset right now. I cannot even share any of this with anyone for support. All I have is this site.

As mentioned before, SD16 wants to have nothing to do with her father, me and especially not her baby sister (my DD5 mos). She's stated loud and clear to CP that she doesn't want to see us, however now that she's found out from SDs13 & 19 that we're all going to the European country where my DH's mother lives, she all of a sudden cries to her sisters that we're so mean and how much ahe wants to see us and go on holiday with us. :sick:

I'm really starting to despise when both BM and DH tend to parent only during crises.

Don't get me wrong, I'm sure that they still have their influence as parents, but don't seem to EVER do the day-to-day following up in order to ensure that their children are on the right track. Rather, they wait until things are so bad that it's near impossible to help guide them in the right direction.

For Father's Day FDH and I planned to take FSD9 to the opening of a museum exhibit we all had been excited for, we planned to go on Saturday, the day before Father's Day.

We called BM today and she just goes, "oh, we're going to the beach for the weekend".