Sometimes I feel rejected by my SS. He is only 4.5 so maybe the things he does aren't intended to make me feel bad, I don't know, but it is starting to really get to me.

Today we went out to eat and we were fine the whole day. On our way to the restaurant DH asks "who is going to want a hamburger?" and SS says "you and me but not YSM." So DH says, "that's not right, ask her if she is hungry." So he asks and I say yes and he says ok we all get hamburgers. Dinner goes well, then as we were walking to the car DH tells SS to get in the car from my side. He doesn't want to and whatever, we are in a car parking lot with cars on both sides of us so whichever side he gets in on doesn't really matter. I don't say anything because it's no big deal, but as soon as DH said, "Hey, get in on YSM's side," SS turned to me and looked at me like I was going to slap him or something and just started shaking his head.

Then we are in the car and SS is falling asleep. Let me explain that we are in my husband's pick-up so he is sitting between us. Well DH says, "if you are going to fall asleep, lean on YSM because I can't drive with you leaning on me." It's a stick and DH can't shift gears. Well again SS looks at me and just shakes his head. He starts nodding off so DH asks me to move him over so he isn't leaning on him and while I am doing this SS wakes up and starts getting upset. So I tell him to lean on me because daddy can't drive and he says no, so DH is starting to get frustrated and tells him that if he doesn't lean on me then he can't fall asleep because DH can't drive. Well SS just looks at me like I have a knife in my hand or something and starts scooting closer to DH. Whatever, but it makes me feel bad. Maybe it seems like a little thing, but every weekend is like this. We are perfectly fine then out of no where, SS refuses to do things with me, starts ignoring me, says he and DH are going to do something and I can't do it too. DH is pretty good about telling SS that that behavior is not acceptable, but it really gets to me and I don't know why he gets like this. It makes me not want to try anymore. I mean, I try really hard to do fun things with SS, give him time alone with dad, just be nice and have a good relationship with him but whenever he gets like this I feel like my efforts are in vain and why bother? Sometimes I attribute this to him being just a child, but how do I know this is going to get any better. This could just get worse and worse, and what do I do then? I see so many of you who have such shit relationships with your steps and I don't know if this is just a kid thing or really the beginning of a long life ahead.

Or maybe it's all nothing, and I need to stop being so emotional, take some midol and be done with it. :?