Hello all! I'm new to the blog and likewise new to being in the role of a step parent. I'm trying to remain positive about the experience, but am still having many conflicting feelings (resentment, guilt).

A little background info: My SO and I recently began cohabitating; two weeks ago his BD7 came to live with us. This was very sudden and unexpected as BM abondoned the poor girl with people she had known only a few months. SD was supposed to have stayed with the people "for the night", three weeks later BM is still MIA. I had a feeling something like this would eventually happen, but thought it would be years away, so am still adjusting to the situation. I'm still fairly young (24) and was not quite ready to give up my social life and going out w/friends on the weekend, but SO works on the weekend (usually nights), so unless we're doing something kid-oriented I'm stuck in kidland. None of my friends have kids. There's a reason I haven't had kids of my own yet either. But like I said, I knew this was a possibility, so am trying to remain positive. Even though SO and I are not yet married, we are very commited to each other and I do love SD and want the best for her. However, I have a strong suspicion that she is ADHD - can't sit through anything (even dinner), always asking random questions that don't even make sense half the time, never watching where she's going, easily distracted. Maybe this is just a product of her chaotic childhood, but I think there may be more to it. Problem is, SO thinks she's "just a kid". Also, I feel like I'm being more of a parent than he is. I do interactive things with SD, answer her questions, etc. He tends to ignore her the first 5 times she asks a question and then yells at her for repeating the same questions over and over. He also sends her to her room so that he can be left alone. He bought her a board game and then refused to play it with her. So that leaves me, and no, I don't want to play games or do most kid stuff, but I do b/c that's what parents do. It's just frustrating. There's more to the story, but I'll digress for now.

Sorry to make the post so long, but if anyone has any advice or tips for people newly in this situation I would appreciate it!