"It" has been taking a break.

My S-D's constant challenging of me and my authorit-tie (which is what I like to refer to as "It") has decided to take a break for a while.
How long will "It" be gone?? If I only knew........ I feel like I could be more prepared when It comes or when It show it's self. But that is not the case. I just need to remember to 'not take it personally (right?) and to continue to show and tell her how much I love her. (the not taking it personally is the hardest thing for me to do, but at least I'm aware of it).

On a good note- she really surprised me.

Yesterday, I picked her and her younger brother up from school and then took her to the dentist. My H met us there and her Mom was already there when we arrived. She was to have three teeth pulled. She was quite nervous b/c she was getting an IV and being put under for the first time. (Of course their mom didn't acknowledge me even though she was just four feet away from me. This made the kids uncomfortable. I hate for them to feel that way . But I still spoke to her. This made the kids less tense)

Anyway her mom told her that she would take her to her house that night and take the next day off to care for her. And that if she did not go with her that her other choice would be to stay home w/ me because Dad couldn't stay home from work. It is our week to have her but me and the hubby decided that if they wanted to- it would be fine. I work from home so the other alternative is to have her stay home with me. - S-D said, "no, I want to go back to Dad's" Her mom could not believe her ears...... Her mom said, "but sweety, Dad won't be home tomorrow either?, that means you would have to stay with AnotherMama?" S-D says back to her mom, "that's ok, that's what I want to do." (now I can't believe my ears, Holy shite!)

So her mom continues to tell her that really it is no problem for her to take off from work. And SD stands her ground. No joke, this happened for about five or six times or more. I could tell she was getting very uncomfortable. And I felt bad for her mom b/c she knew that I could hear her. This was not an easy thing to do. I am truly blown away.

I felt a sense of pride that I had been recognized. That I was recognized because I too, do a lot of "taking care of" for this child. Even if it was by the child herself. These are my interpretations. They're probably dead on wrong but oh well.....

But what she probably was thinking was that she would also get to watch a little MTV and E on the telly. And this is ok still. Because this still told her mother a very important step-parent thing. "Another Mama is not bad. She is not you. And I love you. But she cares about me and takes very good care of me too when I am with her. I am ok when I am with her."

But unfortunately her mom probably heard something different. Which is not the case at all.