Because of the occasional references to iVillage here in S-Talker land I surfed over there this afternoon while waiting for revised engineering drawings to review.

That is a far more comprehensive site than the more focused community at StepTalk.

Because of the size of iVillage it took me a while to find anything of note on Step Parenting. But, if I were to spend more time there I am sure I would learn my way around.

There is a thread there that is more than 310 posts long on nothing but StepTalk.

I was at lunch with my Mom and my nieces and nephews yesterday and the conversation with my SS12 and BS15 gave new ammunition for the lawyers.

SS10 stole things out of my packed boxes after he got in trouble not even a week ago for stealing money from DH's wallet. NICE, this kid really learned his lesson (he had to go to bed early 2 nights in a row).

He stole a Wii game and some home decor. I found the Wii game in his room and the decor broken on the living room floor.

It feels good to write this stuff out because its making me realize I am making the right decision.

Can somebody tell me? What punishments should happen for the following for a 10 year old boy?

-taking a razor to the bathroom wall
-stealing (money, jewelry, anything)
-stabbing the bathroom sink
-lying (everything out of his mouth is a lie)
-watching porn
-spitting in your SO's hairbrush
-smearing toothpaste all over the bathroom walls

I could go on and on, but seriously...How would you punish for these?

Just wanted some insight.

So before reading this, those of you who have followed my whole story, please think of my prior posts..

DH wants to be there for SD5's first day of kindergarten....not a problem. However, not only would he drive 3 hours to get there, but he would also miss a full day of work...unpaid, bc he is out of paid time off...

Opinions?????

I had a question as I'm trying to find a happy place....for those of you who had skids living with you and then turned the age of being able to go to college and be on their own, did your relationship with them improve or did it stay the same??
I think back to my days with my sister and how much we hated each other when we lived together. I went to college and when i came home on weekends/holidays I actually enjoyed beind around her and valued her. I'm wondering if this will be the same with the skids if the day ever gets here....

I am a little annoyed with my SD11’s BM. I live in a fairly small community and everybody seems to know everybody…I have a mutual friend with BM, no big deal, we actually have several mutual acquaintances. I am having dinner with a very good friend of mine and she mentions running into my mutual friend – they work together- and that this mutual friend proceeds to go into a whole speech about how BM is a super nice person. She is such a great mom and she is so wonderful.

So I posted a few days ago about my manipulative step daughter. For as long as I can remember we have had problems with her playing my husband and me against her mother. So, on saturday, once again, we got another phonecall from BM where my SD10 told her that I was talking about the BM. (this happened the day after we returned from a week long vacation at the beach with SD10) We RARELY even bring BM up, and all I can think of is that she may have overheard a coversation my husband and I were having.

Im wondering if anyone has any issues with life insurance policies when it comes to the SK's. I have two SD's. Both of them have two life insurance policies that BM's Mom took out for them when they were babies. BM has since taken over payments on the policies. My question is that BM asks us for half of the premium 6 times per year.