Hi Linda! Thank you so much for your thoughtful response with so much good advice. I have to say this is the first time I have felt heard as well as a person being able to give me constructive criticism and advice all in the same reply. So thank you! It is so helpful! I just wonder why it got so bad for me once we had our daughter. In the past I never had this amount of a challenge being able to deal with him. We were able to co-exist and have some fun. As he got into his teenage years and once I had a daughter of my own I just started to feel like he was almost an intruder every time it was our weekend. Is this normal? It would be much easier on me if I could just let go and try to enjoy but these days it seems impossible no matter how hard I try. I also try not to make it known to stepson but I am sure he can feel my energy (as we know kids are smart). It’s such a hard situation. Nothing about it makes me feel good but I also can change how I feel. ... View more

I 100% feel the same way. We have a 15mo old and I am newly pregnant but sometimes as sad as it seems I feel like it would still be easier to do it by myself than to have to keep dealing with his son coming over for long periods of time. It’s such a hard situation and I always tell people if I could go back in time I would have never dated a man with a child. I am just not cut out for it. I also feel like it got worse when I had my own kids. I hope you find some sort of happy medium especially with the new babe. I am also so sorry you are going through this, know you are not alone nor are you a terrible person for feeling that way. Juelsrose ... View more

Hi April! I was just reading your forum regarding your stepson and it sounds exactly how I feel. It almost was too similar. Stepson’s age, the sneaky weird vibe, his mother also loves 1.5 hrs away, we have a 15month old and I DREAD when we have him. Me and my husband also have a lot of the same arguments. I would love to connect with you if you would be open to it. It would be so nice to talk to someone that knows how I feel. Most just don’t understand and make sure feel like a terrible person for your feelings. It’s hard. Anyways..  ... View more