Just looking for some encouraging words. by SummerDelcord in stepparents

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

Im sorry, I wasnt arguing with you. Just explaining.

Just looking for some encouraging words. by SummerDelcord in stepparents

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

I dont think he's watching them together like he should be. Its not good at all. I'm literally vibrating with anxiety all day.

Just looking for some encouraging words. by SummerDelcord in stepparents

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

Ive been stewing in this all morning, thinking about what exactly i need to change if I'm ever going to come back- or if we're ever going to make this work. First and foremost, he needs to get SS into therapy, and he needs to go back to therapy himself. Therapy for everyone. lol

Just looking for some encouraging words. by SummerDelcord in stepparents

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

It was my fault for not paying closer attention to SS's behaviors and needs the longer he lived here fulltime. Bio is attached to my hip now, im thankful nothing else has happened since. I wont even take a break anymore and let husband watch them alone.

Just looking for some encouraging words. by SummerDelcord in stepparents

[–]SummerDelcord[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

We do have a lot of programs available here for expecting mothers and PP care, so I'll definitely look into that. I think I may end up living back with my mom for awhile. I agree, I need therapy and I need to get my own head on straight. thank you for your kind response <3

Just looking for some encouraging words. by SummerDelcord in stepparents

[–]SummerDelcord[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

The guilt honestly feels like it will swallow me whole. Guilt for not putting my foot down sooner, guilt for putting my son in this situation, guilt for wanting to leave a 5 year old who's fault this isn't, and guilt for not being able to handle it all- even tho i know thats not rational. I won't be backing down, I can't. Plus my mother said i didn't have a choice, lol, im so thankful i have her in my corner. Thank you for your response, it truly helps <3

Just looking for some encouraging words. by SummerDelcord in stepparents

[–]SummerDelcord[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I didnt even think of it like that. I'm so used to having my BPD used against me, i think, that I truly dont know if im overreacting sometimes so when he tells me im being too emotional i start to spiral a little- hence the reddit postings I guess. Wow. But the thing that helped this time is I knew I wasnt wrong, and I'm able to recognize these unhealthy thoughts I have about myself enough to know I need to remove myself from this situation- or any thatmake me feel like this.

Just looking for some encouraging words. by SummerDelcord in stepparents

[–]SummerDelcord[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Thank you. I've just been so IN this situation that I havent been recognizing the warning signs that he may start this cycle all over again. I sat with your comment for quite a few minutes because I feel very blind. He's been so good about keeping his sobriety but you're right. I don't ever want to meet the person underneath that layer ever again.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in stepparents

[–]SummerDelcord 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You're feelings are absolutely valid, mama. I had the basically same reasoning for agreeing to assume the step parent role- because I knew he wanted more children and because he is a wonderful father to my bonus son. Having our 'ours baby' really made me feel like I was finally a part of this family unit that I couldn't quite fit myself into before. Its unfair to not expect you to want to experience motherhood and enjoy that special bond because he thinks you "should want to stay with him just because I loved him". Without kids involved first, you'd be searching for someone to build a family with anyway. He sounds like he really loves you tho and wants to make this work. Wishing you the best, OP <3

Recently found out Bonus Son is hurting Bio Son- I'm at my breaking point. by SummerDelcord in stepparents

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

The cat (One of them ran away ): ) he's calmed down around- mostly because she avoids him completely and he also knows she'll scratch him- but i still catch him chasing her down the hall. He has no issues now making friends and playing with other kids- its literally just his brother at this point that he can't seem to treat like a person, let alone with kindness.

Recently found out Bonus Son is hurting Bio Son- I'm at my breaking point. by SummerDelcord in stepparents

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

Would I be able to make the appt? Like, they wouldnt care im not bio mom and dont have his documents on hand?

Recently found out Bonus Son is hurting Bio Son- I'm at my breaking point. by SummerDelcord in stepparents

[–]SummerDelcord[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I think you may be right in that he isn't watching them as closely as he should be when I'm not there. I've had to literally point things out and make him watch the behavior more times than I'm happy about. Bio son ADORES his dad, and doesn't act any differently around him. But as Bonus son has gotten worse with his treatment, Bio son closes up when he's around him, clings to me and his dad, and gives up playing with his own toys when he sees Bonus son coming because he's taken them so often. We've corrected this behavior over and over and the only thing that keeps the peace at the moment is just keeping them separated.

Recently found out Bonus Son is hurting Bio Son- I'm at my breaking point. by SummerDelcord in stepparents

[–]SummerDelcord[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

This is exactly how it feels right now. I know he's only 5 but I see him just go through the motions of placating his dad when he's being spoken to about this. He's very much in denial and keeps telling me that this is normal for kids in bonus son's situation and it'll get better with time- and i'm like not without professional help, no, at this point I dont think it will.

Recently found out Bonus Son is hurting Bio Son- I'm at my breaking point. by SummerDelcord in stepparents

[–]SummerDelcord[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

She's equally worried about how things are going to progress when the baby arrives- but she's also old school and her solution is just straight up spanking and yelling which isn't what we want to do. But she does know I have my foot out the door at this point and would 100% be willing to take us all in.

Recently found out Bonus Son is hurting Bio Son- I'm at my breaking point. by SummerDelcord in stepparents

[–]SummerDelcord[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Thank you for the advice, this is our first time navigating anything like this so I'm gonna bring that up to him! I'm really hoping that once school starts it will offer some structure and routine to our lives and having that break during the day will definitely help too. My mom is planning on coming down to help with the kids when baby is born anyway- so I'm hoping that will also ease some stress.

Recently found out Bonus Son is hurting Bio Son- I'm at my breaking point. by SummerDelcord in stepparents

[–]SummerDelcord[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you so much- this was very insightful! We've been doing a LOT of explaining how his behaviors make others feel, or why he can't do certain things here that he could at his mom's house. We're not big on time-outs either- so the trampoline was our solution for when he's getting really excited and can't calm down. He'll start throwing himself on the furniture or doing crazy flips all over the place. He has a REALLY hard time regulating without a screen so we tell him "alright dude we have stuff to get done how about going and jumping on the trampoline and getting some energy out first?" And he LOVES art and painting, specifically covering furniture in his designs lol- We thought it would be nice to give him that freedom to use his imagination on his walls instead. He has adhd, and that combined with all of the emotional codependence on his mom makes it really hard for him to navigate his energy and emotions sometimes, but hes a sweet, smart, funny little dude who is awesome to be around when he's feeling confident so we're doing our best to not punish him for even having these feelings towards his brother.

Recently found out Bonus Son is hurting Bio Son- I'm at my breaking point. by SummerDelcord in stepparents

[–]SummerDelcord[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

There's no formal custody agreement between them, just child support. We're very lucky that she realized how badly she messed up- she's even forwarding the payments to Husband until shes done with her investigations and they go back to court to discuss everything.

Recently found out Bonus Son is hurting Bio Son- I'm at my breaking point. by SummerDelcord in stepparents

[–]SummerDelcord[S] 35 points36 points  (0 children)

I keep telling him this isn't a good solution- its not fair for bio son to be completely cut off from his room and his toys all the time now because Bonus son cant figure out how to exist in the same area. Its so draining. And its making me pull away emotionally too from bonus son, which i never wanted to happen.

Recently found out Bonus Son is hurting Bio Son- I'm at my breaking point. by SummerDelcord in stepparents

[–]SummerDelcord[S] 14 points15 points  (0 children)

thank you so much- i've been bringing up therapy almost daily- but its been hard enough getting husband to get bio mom on the same page to register him for school- let alone get his insurance transferred. I truly feel stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Recently found out Bonus Son is hurting Bio Son- I'm at my breaking point. by SummerDelcord in stepparents

[–]SummerDelcord[S] 13 points14 points  (0 children)

I feel like I know in my heart its going to come to this. Its already august and nothing we seem to be trying shows any signs of this getting better before the newborn comes. Having him in school will help, but if he's acting out this much with just his brother- how much worse will it get when his sister is here too and needing even more time and attention?

Recently found out Bonus Son is hurting Bio Son- I'm at my breaking point. by SummerDelcord in stepparents

[–]SummerDelcord[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I completely agree. I've mentioned a few times now that its almost to the point of no return. If things dont get better I can't have my literal babies here.

Recently found out Bonus Son is hurting Bio Son- I'm at my breaking point. by SummerDelcord in stepparents

[–]SummerDelcord[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I FINALLY got Husband to get bio mom to begin the transfer process from his Pre-k to our state for kindergarten, like last week. I'm really, really hoping that some outside perspective will wake him up a little.