THIS IS AN OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

To let everyone know- "It" is officially here and "it" has officially started!!!

You guys know what "it" is? Right! Right?????



Well if you don't know- don't get too excited because this it's not a good thing by any means...
"It" is what I like to call the time when a 12 - 13 year old girl is questioning your(stepmom) judgment non-stop and when that said girl thinks she is on just your (adult) level and starts treating you as such.
I knew it was coming.... I have been dreading it. I thought it was here last month but she has been going back and forth with her attitude. And she didn't seem as consistent with her stance. But now she has officially started struggling with her place in our family, and the place I have in her father's life. This is simply enough to endure but throw in there that her Mom doesn't like me. Along with the fact she is also struggling with the question of who to emulate herself after and of course she should pick her mom, (but in that she still holds the conflicting view that if she picks her mom to identify with) then she feels as though she will not be liked by us (b/c we don't get along with mom so well.)

For you moms out there, How in the hell do we explain this to our husbands????

I can't go through everything she does, how she says it. I do try my best but he is having a hard time seeing most of it (some, he does see). And I am having difficulty explaining it. But "IT" is there. And it is almost gone into a full blown all of the time sort of thing....

I am trying to listen to what she is trying to say when she is doing it but DAMN!!!

I did the same thing at the same age to my stepmom. The memorys are horrible. I hated her and I didn't respect her, and I was on my "mom's side". I understand her my Step-d. I get her when she is doing this. But it hurts. And it is emotionally and mentally draining.

So What have I done???? I have pulled back and I am sitting in silence with her. I don't ask her many questions about school and about her friends (like before) The conversations we have.... I answer her questions and I end it there. I respond with short answers and divert the conversation or leave the room. To not take this personally is above and beyond where I am right now. Although I am trying to stay calm and grounded, I am still frustrated. This past week was the first week in three years I can honestly say I dreaded the kids coming over. (this indeed is sad)

Is this right thing??? I HAVE NO IDEA. We"ll wait and see.

Any advice?

WoW! What a week.....

We have gone to baseball practices/games, riding lessons, guitar lessons, gymnastics, boy scouts, appts w/ counselors, talent shows, birthdays, Dr's appts, and a had all sorts of friends come and go.......Needless to say it was quite the busy week!!!!! It was a good week had by all. It was tiresome but well worth it. And to especially to see the effort everyone is putting in is amazing..... We work well together (now watch next week fall apart after I just said that) I love my family. And I love our home.