Yes, sadly it is tradition to give children in this family weapons and no training or rules about their use! I had boy cousins growing up but they were brought up to handle guns properly so this is like the wild west show over here with a dash of scary comedy capers. Caught him shooting into the pump house this afternoon! Said he saw a rat in there, but doesn't have enough sense to know that if you shoot the pump you have no water!!! When I caught him taking shots at the animals (goats, sheep, chickens) I got rid of all of them. Shame, cause it was one of the things we wanted to have when we moved to the country! After many warnings and repeated lapses I have gotten him to understand that cars and houses are not targets, so that's something, I guess. Feel so frustrated because anything I (or other step parent says) is said to be harsh, cruel and just mean. Hoping to "run into" a counselor this year at school and drop a bug in their ear and see if they can suggest anything to bio parents, but it is a thin line to tread cause bio parents are (intentionally or not)ignorant to his capacity for danger and both can be riled up in defense of this cute little scary man-child.

Hmmm, will definitely check on that! Thanks for the suggestion - would be great if he could get enough training to get a job!

Kids weren't in the picture (except for every other weekend) when we got married. Only in last two years has bio mom given up and given child to dad. Dad says he will be leaving when he graduates school and this is a nice dream that better come true or I will be out of here. If I didn't have my great dane and a gun of my own and a well developed sense of hearing and intuition I would already be gone. Guess it all comes down to the fact that I love the father and I want my husband and our life back. I can hang in there and wait for the return of normal life if there is progress being made and I guess I am just looking for a way to make some progress in my limited capacity as a step parent.
And the running away is always an option - just hoping it doesn't come to that - but momma's got a bugout bag ready! Journalism, huh? You in that field?

The six words exchanged are between me and the boy....though with a military husband stationed in another part of the state, sometimes that may be all I hear from him as well! Dad is reaping unfortunate rewards of divorce, multiple deployments and remarriage that are the perfect storm. Don't want anyone to get the idea that bio dad is a slacker - he's not. And he is a good man with head and heart in good working order. He is simply inheriting a full-time needy child on top of a full-time 14 hr/day demanding job. He is physically and mentally exhausted when he walks in the door at night and he has 3 hours to raise/tend child and eat/shower/sit down before lights out. It's Parenting 101, many years overdue, and we are both pedaling as heard as we can. And he had exactly 16 hours stateside before inheriting his boy. Trying to catch up on lessons he should have learned in early childhood along with what you would be teaching any 17 year old would is a full-time, teeth-grinding job all by itself. Dealing with mental deficits that no one has bothered to acknowledge, quantify and address is probably the most unfortunate puzzle piece, as any state-supported programs probably would only be available until age 18. Perhaps he will excell in his upcoming deisel mechanics course this year and be able to pass the army entrance exam when he graduates.

Thanks Devlin-100 - I am thinking PMs are private messages? Appreciate the info!

:? Didn't see anything in my messages....would love any info/ideas at all!