I don’t really know how to put this. SD9 lives with her mom during the week because they go to school there and me and DH work. For a few weekends, SD9 absolutely does not want to see her dad on the weekends. It’s the only time he gets to see her. She always throws a fit and wants to stay with her grandmother (who literally lives beside her moms and who she sees every day). It breaks my heart for DH because she does this every weekend and somehow BM overrides DH on how she needs to come on the weekends meaning she will let SD have her way 90% of the time.

Just wanted to share my update, things have been better and worse. My husband and I have been communicating on a deeper level and making progress in ways we've never experienced before. This has allowed us to be a parenting team. My hope for us is restored! It was really just figuring out our roles and being respectful to each other's boundaries. It would be even more helpful if he communicated his needs more clearly, but we will get there, we are getting there.

So all of us (BM, her husband, & my step kid’s little sister, my husband, me, step kid’s grandparents and aunt and uncle) are all going on vacation. It was decided last minute that me and my husband are going because we found out we can take off work then. BM told SD9 that we were going and she said “i thought it was just us” with a pouty face which basically implies she doesn’t want us to go. How would you feel? I would like a family picture but since she doesn’t want us to go I feel sad. She honestly wants to do stuff with me so I don’t understand why she’s acting this way.

Yesterday we were all (me, my husband, BM, her husband, SS, SD9, and their baby sister from BM and her husband) eating after SS6's basketball practice. SD was playing the "raise your hand if" game. She said "raise your hand if you love (my nickname)". She raised her hand, SS and their baby sister did, along with my husband. I said "Aww y'all are so sweet." but didn't even think about saying "I love y'all too", because I do. I have told them I love them also before, but at that moment I didn't even think about it. Was this rude of me?