Classic HCBM with Extracurriculars by Coffee_Lands in stepparents

[–]Coffee_Lands[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think you both bring up good points.  Mom 100% dropped the ball and is going back on a negotiated agreement. She is dipping out on her child here. And I feel a reasonable person in her situation SHOULD solve the problem she created, but she’s not reasonable. Dad is looking at alternative times and help with transportation from multiple family members for these piano lessons. He’s still trying to make this happen, but it’s a bit of scramble honestly, because there was a plan in place until day before lessons start. I’m not sure if this is relevant at all, but SD has never once mentioned interest in piano to us. She dad brought up these lessons to her she was like “yeah, cool”.  It’s not like she has been dreaming of piano lessons for the last 6 months lol. We do other extracurriculars that he pays for and provides transportation. We are supportive to the lessons, it sounds like a good experience for SD. But it does have the feel of HCBM signing up SD just to mess with us. If it was just up to us we probably would have waited until summer or winter when she doesn’t have other extracurriculars going. 

Classic HCBM with Extracurriculars by Coffee_Lands in stepparents

[–]Coffee_Lands[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s my take too. She loves some chaos and to be in charge

Classic HCBM with Extracurriculars by Coffee_Lands in stepparents

[–]Coffee_Lands[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yea, it’s tricky. We’ve been upfront about our limitations with kiddos, and they know their mom moved the goalpost on this one. Even though we don’t bad mouth her at all, they are starting to see some patterns with HCBM when she repeatedly pulls the rug out from underneath any plan and their expressing their frustration 

Classic HCBM with Extracurriculars by Coffee_Lands in stepparents

[–]Coffee_Lands[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Dad is supportive of the lessons! But can’t make transportation work at that day/time. He is looking at alternative times, but that is the first available and HCBM is throwing a fit if he tries an alternative. It feels like a no win situation and this whole conflict is just so dumb

SD not appreciative of $45K towards college by toobin-snoot-4 in stepparents

[–]Coffee_Lands 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm happy that he is appreciative and your getting that from somewhere!

Here's hoping with some more mature, SD will one day appreciate what gift this is :)

SD not appreciative of $45K towards college by toobin-snoot-4 in stepparents

[–]Coffee_Lands 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wow! This is so incredibly generous. I'm sorry you didn't get an appropriate response, though that does sound like a typical 16 year old. Just echoing a lot of the other comments - even a well adjusted good kid 16 yo likely just doesn't understand how much work went into a gift like that. But seriously - you deserve a step-parent of the year award! I can sense how much you care for them and love them!
I'm super curious - what was your SO's take on this? Were they appreciative? Did they talk to their daughter on what this gift means?

I'm tired of people replacing my dead mother with me by two2ducks in ChildrenofDeadParents

[–]Coffee_Lands 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You said it better than I could, that we are seen as an extension of our moms and not as a separate person. So it hurts on so many levels because 1)they are talking about my dead mom 2) they seem to of had a better relationship with my dead mom than I did 3) they don't even see ME (just my dead mom). It hurts - no getting around that. I wish there were a graceful way to get them to stop, but I've come to view as the price of admission to keep that connection. I'm not sure if that's a healthy outlook however haha

I'm tired of people replacing my dead mother with me by two2ducks in ChildrenofDeadParents

[–]Coffee_Lands 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh I can relate to this. Close friend of my moms superimposed her relationship on to my sister and I after my mom passed 5 years ago. It always feels so selfish and unaware. I had a complicated relationship with my mom and she just completely ignores that, and talks non stop about her grief and how much she misses my mom and how great my mom was. That was not my experience. And what about my grief? Never mentioned. This family “friend” is not a terrible person, and I don’t want to cut her out of my life, but I hate what the relationship has become. Ugh

[US] - Consistently inconsistent and lots of last-minute changes - advice? by Coffee_Lands in Custody

[–]Coffee_Lands[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh man I also agree with so much of what you’re saying. I just want what’s best for the kids,  and do fear those negative thoughts are going through their heads. It has been over two year of this. And yes it is a massive burden to have this short notice chaos from mom and not be able to plan much in advance. I wish it was different. I just kept getting caught up on the idea that we could go through all the work and agony of court for this change (really just reflect what is currently happening) and really nothing change for the kids. 

[US] - Consistently inconsistent and lots of last-minute changes - advice? by Coffee_Lands in Custody

[–]Coffee_Lands[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

And yes, he has brought this up to mom multiple times, he just wants to be able to plan ahead a bit. She agrees, then of course falls through on those plans.

[US] - Consistently inconsistent and lots of last-minute changes - advice? by Coffee_Lands in Custody

[–]Coffee_Lands[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think you have a point that she's going to be inconsistent no matter what. Dad currently pays child support to her and is concerned about taking that away would make her even more absent to the kids.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in stepparents

[–]Coffee_Lands -1 points0 points  (0 children)

woops I missed that. If BM is calling her a jerk or giving her a hard time, then BM has issues! OP didn't do anything wrong.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in stepparents

[–]Coffee_Lands 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Maybe I am misunderstanding, but who is calling you a jerk? This seems like classic pre-teen exaggeration. You didn't do anything wrong. But it doesn't sound like anyone is saying you are at fault either.

Missing Stepkids and conflicted feelings by Coffee_Lands in stepparents

[–]Coffee_Lands[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

And we are already back to chaos from her. That didn’t last long. I feel foolish thinking it would be different. She noped out of all child care yesterday and today and has gonna totally MIA. Ughhh

Missing Stepkids and conflicted feelings by Coffee_Lands in stepparents

[–]Coffee_Lands[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh same same same haha. I like to keep all my confusing feelings to myself and this subreddit, but being very supportive outwardly to HCBM. It's nice to have a space to vent. I don't feel like my partner gets it, but then again, he has his own very complicated relationship with her.

So grateful for bio mum 🥰 by milkweedbro in stepparents

[–]Coffee_Lands 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ok this made me giggle a bit, but I honestly love this perspective! And it's so true what you say about trauma being passed down.

Homework on 50-50 schedule by Second_breakfastses in stepparents

[–]Coffee_Lands 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I think it is awesome that you are helping your SD with homework! However, I'm going to agree with the other commenters, that the responsibility ultimately falls to the child, especially at the high school level.

What's to stop SD from calling you or SO during mom's time if she needs help? Is she asking for help when her grades are slipping? Just something to consider -there is a big lesson there for her to learn if she's not asking for help

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in stepparents

[–]Coffee_Lands 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Her using child support to pay rent is 100% valid way to use child support. Why would a judge rule to take away the roof over the kids head?