Step parenting and a second marriage continue to be challenging! And now, seven years after I was active on this site my own kids are teenagers, same as my husband's were when we got together. My husband's daughter, whom I named Princess on this blogs all those years ago is now almost 28. Married, two kids of her own, financially independent from us, not the state, but from us thank god.  My step son will be 26 this year and things are as bad with him as ever. He asked a year and a half ago to move back in with us to "save" up money to buy a house.

The good thing is, the trash bins we explore are ours. A few weeks ago, princess made an appearance at our home.
She did this, of course, while we were not home. We were at my folks' lake place with my two sons.
She knows, because she has been told for a year and a half that she is not to come to our house unless she has informed and been granted permission by her dad, my husband.
We have had salamanders as part of our family for years. They are rare and beautiful creatures, I am in awe of them. Did you know they have the ability to cross fire?

Highlights -
suspension for pee from school
pee refusing to return to school after suspension was over
pee losing his car due to smoking pot - not putting an impaired driver on the road
pee completely bombing out this trimester
my ex mother in law died, she was a true terror in my life for over ten years
my ex asking me for a job reference (he worked at my clinc) I gave them and they were glowing
my ex sueing me for child support
won the case against the state dept of revenue

"I know we are working out the child support, but is it possible you can give me money now? I have been trying to get a job for months and finally have a good opportunity for a position in the next couple of weeks. Unfortunately I'm havering (sp) financial troubles now."

That's a mighty tempting text to reply to. But I am not going to. This is testing my discipline.

So I'll share with you all what all my negativity toward hiim would love to say.