Hi, everyone. I have not posted for a few years, but I have finally found the One. How do I know that he is the One? I am willing to put up with a lot that comes with him in order to be with him-forever.

We blended 2+3=5 kids (and a doggie child) together fairly recently. I am really struggling with the fact that my newly acquired daughter (SD10) has inherited three despicable traits (you can probably guess from who):

1. Drama queen to the nth degree;
2. Addiction to expensive things and activities;
3. Addiction to people/friends (around the clock)
(as well as lying, rejectful talk, etc.)

We are simple people. Yes, we both make a decent income (I happen to be a doctor), but we believe in a simple life- work, family time, a few special outings a week (as a family), but we do not have a party over all the time and we are very frugal (grow our own vegetables, stay on a modest budget).

SD10, on the other hand, thinks she has hit jackpot since I came along and wants to go out with me and buy everything she sees for herself, her friends and if we do not allow her to have any and ll of her above listed addictions, she spins her head around like the Exorcist child and rages and ruins all the fun for the rest of us and upsets my hubby.

Here is the catch: her mother is a raging alcoholic who ran away with a loser 22 years younger than her (who she thinks has family money but who smokes his family money) and NEVER wants her daughter over, so I am pretty much It for SD10. Neither of the grandmas want SD10 over EVER, she is truly a problem child (tries to set fire to houses, pepper sprayed and hit her mother, etc etc). Her mother dropped her off at our door one night and has barely seen her since (it's been months now). She exhibits ALL of the symptoms of a bipolar disorder in children (including nightly bedwetting).

I really want to do right by all of us (including SD10), but I do not know where to start. So far, we have set 3 nights a week "Quiet Nights" with no friends over after 5pm, and hubby has had some talks about her $$$ addiction. I am giving her a $30 a week allowance so she can start the notion of budgeting. Any other thoughts?

I feel almost like she is my adopted child or foster child, not a step-child, since she really and truly has NO MOTHER. She started off by calling me "Mom", but since the rules went into effect, she has reverted to telling her dad that "she is not my mom". Yes, but the "mom" abandoned her, and now it's just me. Help. Walk me through this.