I’ve been feeling happier lately in this whole stepparent world. And I think this happiness comes from simply giving up. The more I step back and keep away from the hope of having a positive impact on SD15, the better I feel and the easier the visits go for me.

SD15 was rarely made aware of my anxiety, but my mind was always spinning with questions about her well-being and various interpretations of her actions. I also worried over her father’s parenting choices and over her mother’s manipulation. Now I just don’t.