Hi all,

I guess you could say I am new here. I have been lurking for several months and finally joined a couple of months ago. I'm not really big in to blogging so I hope that isn't a daily requirement? lol. I will try to add some things as I go but, I'd rather spend my time here offering support and discussing step-parenting issues. Even if that means ranting and raving, (oops, I meant 'venting') LOL. I surely know how good venting can be, so totally no offense meant. I truly feel for each and every one here.

Okay, a little about me just for background purposes, lol. I have been with DFH 8 years. He wants to get married. 8 yrs ago would have been great to him, lol. I chose to wait until his 2 children are 18. (1 year to go, lol.) More on that soon. He is a very charming man who is generous beyond words, patient, kind hearted... etc., etc., etc. As a matter of fact, some of the things I find so endearing about him are also the things I find soooo frustrating, lol. It has not been an easy road for us. There have been many pitfalls. Some things I will not elaborate on, others I probably will in time. It has been a wild ride so far, lol.

He has 2 kids. The oldest is 22 and the youngest is 17. The oldest has been diagnosed with a personality disorder and is LD so there are MANY issues going on there. The youngest is a casualty of massive PAS on the part of BM, so again, some issues there. The BM???? WOW, there are no words to describe her. I see that seems to be a common theme here so I guess I'll feel right at home, lol.

Now the part that will undoubtedly make many of you stand up and ask WTF? I'm sure some will think that I have no right to even be posting. (Judging by the latest happenings here.) But, here goes.... I do not have any kind of relationship with his kids. I haven't even met them face to face. (Though I have had phone conversations with them.) This has been MY choice and it has been a difficult one. I have many reasons, which in time I will share with the group. For those of you judgmental types, I have but one thing to say.... walk a mile in my shoes. Oops, I lied, two things.... tread very carefully because I always give as good as I get, lol. Let me just say that there has been MUCH BM drama over the last 8 yrs and I felt it in the kids best interest to keep my distance. More to come on this subject.

Lastly, I have read nearly every post and blog over the last several months, and I want to say that I can identify with damn near every single one of you. I hope to become a valued member of this board and I hope to be able to offer support without harsh criticism. I ask only the same in return.

Forgive me in advance if I don't find my way here every single day. I will try to be a contributing member though. It's just that I have so much going on in my day to day life that it can be difficult to find the much needed 'ME time' that we all so desperately need. Still, I look forward to getting to know all of you and please know that I appreciate all of your experiences and opinions.

Hope you all have a wonderful day!