So the kids have been at their moms house since Christmas Day… the LONGEST stretch that she’s had them since DH and I were married. (Usually she only sees them every other Saturday to Sunday… two flippin days and one night total, not a “true” measure of their behavior by any stretch of the imagination) And they’ve finally gotten comfortable enough at her house to let their natural little personalities fly!

She calls up last night borderline hysterical…
Mother Russia: “Oh…*SS3* is horrible little monster!!!”

Because of the events that occurred at christmas and our wedding we have had enough. or so I thought. DH told BM that he was going to take her to court. Finally, he's standing up for himself as a father. Or so I thought. I have contacted a lawyer and he wants to meet with us. Now DH is giving the "we don't have the money" excuse. I told DH to take my tax return and use it. Told him we don't need to go on vacation. After being blown off regarding the lawyer issue I asked, "if you have the money, will you do it?" DH responds with "i'll think about it" Really?

has anyone tried just changing your number and stopping phone communication completely? She will have an email if she needs to get ahold of SO but otherwise she won't have any other way to communicate with him. Any body try this and had major backlash? Just wanting to be prepared.

SD13 LOVES the violent video games that she gets to play at BM's. Funny, they can't afford a phone, cable, a bed or Christmas presents, but SF can buy all the latest Call of Duty/HALO/World of Warcraft trash. Anyone who doesn't believe that those types of games wear off on kid's behavior needs to witness my SD after a week at her BM's. She pokes me, BS7 and BS2 in the arm or back constantly and then laughs. The other day she jabbed me with a little stick and loudly snickered, "Shanked!". She swings her fist and lands it about an inch in front of my (and little brothers') faces.

I sound about 100 years old just saying this, but is it me or do tweens/teens disrespect adults more often today than in the past? I am in my early 30s and I can remember being very respectful of adults growing up. I didn't insert myself into grownup conversations, I didn't make snide comments or be rude to adults. My parents would have killed me.

BM is at it again with her lies...
DFH and I have been not one step short of cooperative with her, and have allowed her to throw her tantrums, we take bundle of joy when we can get him and even when she chooses to do something else...
DFH had SS2 24/7 until BM found out he and I were together and happy...since then my life has been a train wreck..so this week, this is what she has done;
1. she is holding DFH in contempt for:
a. taking SS2 to the beach and bringing him back 'damp and uncomfortable'

Okay I have something I am ashamed of ... I want to all the skids clothes and toys they got for Christmas from BM.

I thought I would be fine after I felt only pity for her ... then I realized ... All of her garbage is in MY HOUSE!!!!

Help me get over this stupid, petty, thing ...

Last night I found out why my H didn't want his son 11 to come back home on Tuesday night......there was a game on last night! That is just wrong! He didn't want his football time interupted. grrrrr
Stay tuned for more grrrrr moments to come......

I have a 14-year-old step-son. His father and I have been married for 2 and one-half years. He lives with his mother(who is my good friend) full-time. We have him almost evry weekend and half of the summer. He has been diagnosed as having ADHD, and I certainly agree with that. However, he does not like the zombie mode (as he calls it) the medication puts him in. As a young adult, I understand his decision to not medicate and try to work around his disorder. The biggest problem is that he does not show me respect. His father lets it go because of his ADHD and says it's best to ignore it.

My SS5 will say "I love you" all the time. He recently went through a phase when he would repeat it over and over to everybody. I always say "I love you too" because honestly, how do you say to a five year old "I have a complicated set of emotions that usually range from tolerance to acceptance of you"

Anybody else feel weird about saying "I love you" to skids?