So I am rapidly heading into my 40s and I am realizing that I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up. I have been remarried for about 2 years now, my ex and his new wife still live 2 blocks away. My husband is still a puppet for his mother and his ex wife, but there is a little more tension on those strings now.

My son is officially a teenager, with body hair and acne, and a whole new personality, which is actually a change for the better in a lot of ways. My daughter who is ten is getting really close to hitting puberty. The questions have begun. "When am I going to get boobs, everyone else in my class is wearing a training bra except me", etc.etc. I look at my beautiful daughter, and I so badly want to find a way in to inject her with the confidence that I have only found in my 30's. My stepson's are still a ways off from puberty.

The other day though, the older one (only 9) put his hands on my daughter to try and get the gallon of milk away from her. This is the first time that has ever happened in the 4 years I have known them. He used to like to bully his younger brother, but that has been stopped, thankfully. When I saw him with his hands on her I wanted to tear him apart.

I was feeling a little overprotective I guess. I just don't want these boys who are one and two years younger than my daughter ever thinking, that she is someone they can push around. I mean yes, right now, she is taller than them, but I know in just 4-5 short years that will change. I am only 5' 2", I hope she ends up taller than I am but I know the odds. I don't want these boys who will definitely be at least 8 inches taller than her by the time they are 16 thinking they can push her around. I want her to know that as a young woman, she does not have to tolerate pushy men.

I did not lay a hand on the boy, but he knows now in no uncertain terms, I will not allow my daughter to the object of bullying, and I hope she knows she can stand up to them if need be.