After years of financial and personal anxiety-- stepkids' mom repeatedly threatening to take DH to court for more when we were in danger of not paying mortgage and were drowning in debt-- I have finally separated my money, put the house in my name, protected myself. DH pays me a pro-rata share of his income in "rent" and what he does with the rest is up to him.

I have disengaged.

Stepson has moved out of our house. He's his mom's problem.

Personal question, perhaps, but if your spouse pays child support, how much does he pay and what is his income?
My Dh earns 40K and has paid $900/month plus their health insurance... plus he had to buy plane tickets to see his kids. His ex-wife is constantly implying he is a deadbeat and threatening to go to court for her "due" has her friends have been urging her to do.. but she's too nice.

My stepson (20) apparently got a parking ticket at his community college this spring. He wrote a letter appealing the ticket and I just found it in our junk drawer. I found it really shockingly disrespectful.

He argues that he only parked in the illegal spot because a maintenance truck was using two spaces and he was already running late for class and didn't have time to look for anything else and concludes with "I don't see why I should I have to pay for your employees' ineptitude."

I have a son (10) and another son (5) with my DH. My DH has two kids who are 18 and 20. I was raising my 10yo as a single mom before I met DH and let me tell you-- being a single working mom in the world's most expensive city is easier than blending a family. But you know that!

My 10yo son is "twice exceptional"-- very gifted, but with some neurological issues. He can be difficult. I know this. He can be annoying x10 and has difficulty with boundaries. But I feel like over the past 5 years we have ALL continually vilified him.