Alright I have been a step-dad to my step daughter for six years. Her Dad is absent for her life, and has been for 4 years. The last time he saw her he actually called her a slut, because she said she liked a boy. She is 12 now.

We are close and she is just like my daughter.

However over the last year we have gotten super close. She asks me for advice, and tells me nearly everything. She doesn't talk about boys she likes specifically, I think her real Dad created fears for her she cannot get past.

She comes to me to ask, its not like I prod her for information. So as far as all the "big" advice items she will talk to me. She has made comments to me that she is closer to me than her Mom sometimes. She feels comfortable enough to vent to me when she is angry.

I have spoiled her some but I also set proper boundries when they need to be set. At the same time I do a lot of things to help her, well lets not mix words I enable her laziness at times by doing things for her. I also buy her things she wants. Yet I do require her to clean her room, do her homework, chores and things I ask.

So here is why I am confused. When we are at home, and no one is paying attention she acts normal like we are close, as if I were her Dad. Yet when anyone else is around she practically ignores me or at the very least acts like she is annoyed. This is not all the time but most of the time.

In addition, she talks to her friends about her Mom, and things to do with her Mom but never me. She writes things at school, her artwork, ect about her Mom but not me.

I know I sound like a little kid, when I say this but I can't understand.

Is she embarrassed by me?

Is there anything I can do?

Why would she ask me everything, talk to me about everything but want to keep me as her secret?

Thank you
Confused