I've been away for five days, and finally got home to internet access and enough time to call DH for more than 10 minutes.

This week in BM-land:

A package of doughnuts went missing. Neither kid (SD15 and her half-brother7) would fess up, so BM took an actual leather belt to SD15 and spanked B7. Now, I can understand taking a belt to a 15-yr-old - if the child was stealing, or deliberately setting fires, or torturing animals, or something else totally out there. Not for refusing to confess to something minor that she didn't do! BM also called her a miserable fucking brat to her face.

I've know this girl for five years. She was a bit of a brat (not bad, just spoiled) as a tween, but has really grown into a lovely young lady - high grades, honors band, polite and cheerful. She has her issues (sexting in the last year) but I've never met the bitchy manipulative brat BM claims she is.

BM has also reverted to "You'll go live with your dad over my dead body!"

So much for hoping that SD15's therapist would possibly be an objective third party who we might get to testify in a custody case. Both the therapist and BM blame SD15's sexting issues on DH not being in SD15's life enough. SD15 has a full-time stepfather in her life, so it's not like she doesn't have a male influence. No wonder the therapist hasn't called DH back after a half-dozen calls to her office - she's blaming HIM for the results of BM's emotional abuse.

BM got on DH's case about me again. How dare I, a woman who NEVER wanted children, establish a relationship with HER daughter!??! I can't be sincere. I'm just trying to manipulate SD15 against her own mother! Even worse, how DARE I never ever talk to BM?? She even went so far to interrogate SD15 about me, looking for dirt. SD15 threw me under the bus, but I don't blame her - BM's conclusion was predetermined. BM: "Why doesn't SM ever talk to you on the phone?" SD15: "I don't have her phone number." BM: "Why not?" SD15: "Because SM doesn't want you to be able to call her directly." At least the girl is truthful! I have talked to BM (rarely) on the phone, but only when DH is present on speaker, and only ever about SD15 - BM claims I have never done so. Classic case of BPD, with gaslighting thrown in.

SD15 is ready to come live with us, but thinks it's too late to make it happen before school starts. She's right, but if she says the word, we'll start getting ready for January. Here's hoping SD15 is ready to go in front of a judge. She's legally old enough to drive in her state, if they trust her that far, she should be allowed to have a say in where she lives.

BM resents my very existence. I don't care if BM exists, but her ability to make people I love miserable pisses me off.