I'm just pondering the current situation with ss. Although the Christmas holiday went relatively smoothly,  he pulled another vanishing act as soon as we returned.  Basically cried off all his contact for the 2nd week , including the grandparents visit with their envelopes of cash,  which I thought rude.

I'm pretty disengaged with all that goes on with ss13 these days . so I don't often get bent out of shape. However I did feel a flush of anger and frustration for dh, but mainly dd 7 last night.

Ss bailed last minute on coming to stay,  again. This is becoming regular, weekly. But the notice is getting shorter,  and the bs excuses are leaning towards the permanent now.

Literally 15mins before he was due to be here ss texts dh 'is it OK if i don't come'

dh says not really we are waiting for you and we've made you dinner.

Feel like I've got to watch the time in order to avoid bm. Yes there is no love lost and I do not want to see her. So normally it's blinds down stay out of the way.

Yesterday all of our neighbours and friends were having a water fight in the street. At quarter to the hr. I thought nope, I'm not leaving dd out here alone or missing the fun. So I stood on the opposite corner with a friend. Bm swung by to get ss. I swear she was craning her neck so hard I thought she was going to mount the kerb and hit my car!

So it wasn't my finest hour and I am ashamed of myself and sorry about it all, and now I don't know what to do...

This is partially related to step life, as the fall out is unbelievable! :( 

My brother left his marriage last year. He has full custody of his daughter.. since leaving he's had nothing but abuse from her whole family.   You name it, false social services claims,  false non molestation applications,  he had his firearms confiscated while they investigated the claims.