It's been a while since I posted. Things seemed to be going well... But then again, maybe that is the time to start worrying...

I don't know how I feel at this point. My SD20 had been coming along pretty well. There were ups and downs, but overall, it seemed like things were clicking along. She is (mostly) taking care of her baby. Little one is almost eleven months old and growing like a weed. She is an absolute cutie, but I haven't really had a lot of interaction since my SD seems to be totally threatened by that. (She has literally charged across the room to interpose herself between me and her daughter when I bent down to tickle her.) Since they both live in my house, I sometimes find this rude and disheartening.

She completed a semester of college (that I paid for), and is mad at me. I told her that going forward, I would only pay the cost of the local college's tuition prices. The difference is astronomical - she wants this online college where one course costs the same as the tuition for a full semester at the local college. She has been dragging her feet getting enrolled in the local college. I told her, I don't care - go where you want, to live in this house, you have to go somewhere, and this is my contribution. End of story.

About a month ago, when I started the reminders about getting registered for fall classes, she copped a major attitude. Then she packed up her daughter and went to visit Protoplasm, the baby's father. She spent the weekend down there and came back smelling like well - like a grown woman living in a dirty, un-air-conditioned space that hasn't taken a bath in three days - la YUCK! And of course, little one has a cold. What do you expect? Arriving "home" she displayed a wicked little attitude, and while I was out on business travel, she announced to her father that she was going to move back down to live with Protoplasm... (Who lives with his parents). HA.

DH called me a little distraught, but also resigned. "I guess we'll get her packed up and moved out then." was his comment. Um no. We don't assist her in self-destructive actions or in actions that have no benefit to little one. If she needs to move out so much - she can figure it out herself, and the, “no-Protoplasm on the premises” rule still applies. If that boy comes on my property, I'll have him arrested for trespassing, no discussion, no excuses.

By the time I returned home from the business trip, instead of moving five hours away, SD is talking about moving about 15 minutes away to a townhouse with a girlfriend. huh? So, I asked her, “and how will that benefit the little one?” No answer. And - will you pay for one half the rent or two thirds? Since - you and your daughter will be using two bedrooms and your friend will only be using one? And will your friend understand no late night parties, no band jam sessions, etc. - even though she is paying rent too? And what about food? And what about... (etc. a run down of how will you manage this).

Well, apparently, the end result of actual thought is that she is not moving out. Stupid me! But really, I don't know how I feel, good, bad or indifferent. SD is running dangerously close to me not giving a rat's butt. Saturday, we were sitting on the couch and little one reached over to me from her Mom's lap and pulled herself into my arms. I was a little surprised, but proceeded with a most enjoyable cuddle. SD looked on with a sour, squinched face, but didn't interfere. That makes me want to make sure that this little one gets a chance in life. If it weren't for that, I don't know. I am well sick of being the pariah in my own home.