Ugh, I feel like the evilest of evil stepmoms right now. SS is 6 and almost done with the first grade. The last few weeks, he has been argumentative and overly emotional. No matter what DH and I say to him, he comes back with, "Actually, it's this way," or "Actually, it's that way." And he's crying at the drop of a hat! My husband got on him about his lack of attention with a toy that he just HAD TO HAVE and SS started bawling and moaned about hwo his dad hurt his feelings. Is this just part of normal things that 6 year-old boys go through? His dad and I are noticing it more and more and wonder how long it's going to take before he cries in front of other kids and gets made picked on for it.

We also have a year old baby and it makes me INSANE when SS talks baby talk to his brother or says, "Oh, he wants to be by me," especially when we've moved the baby to a safer spot than where SS is playing/sitting/etc... (just safer for the baby, that is; SS doesn't play in viper pits!) I just want him to shut up! It's as though I resent my SS for being half his mom. I often remind myself that he's half DH and that's why I love him, but this kid gets on my last nerves some days.

Another question for those of you with younger stepkids and newer babies: did your SKIDS "revert" to wanting some baby treatment? SS asks me to sing a baby song to him before bed and pretends to be asleep when I'm done.

We have him every other weekend and certain week days each week. I feel like i need a break from him, especially because the schedule has gotten changed for about the last six weeks and we've had him for at least part of every weekend. How can I be so awful? Nothing makes my husband happier than having our whole family together, but I'm dying to be selfish on a weekend with just DH, baby, and me.

It kills me to feel this way. Any insights? Thanks!