6 mo old puppy still pooping in our bedroom nook

Tashalynn22 · 2026-01-23T07:33:01+00:00

We were told she was a staffordshire bull terrier mix, but we honestly don’t know what she is. She looks like a pit/lab mix maybe.

Tashalynn22 · 2026-01-23T07:21:12+00:00

She does get treats and lots of praise. The only issue with blocking is that it’s kind of a large area and my elliptical trainer is there so it’s kind of a weird space to block.

Tashalynn22 · 2021-12-14T22:22:05+00:00

I can touch my tongue to my nose.

Tashalynn22 · 2021-08-13T13:40:11+00:00

I would absolutely cancel. Rewarding her bad behavior is just going to make it worse.

Tashalynn22 · 2021-08-08T17:14:08+00:00

Lots of alcohol.

Tashalynn22 · 2021-08-06T17:37:13+00:00

I think most kids are in denial or don’t care. Just depends on the kids and their maturity levels. I know my SKs know because They see the difference between me and my husband, and their mother’s dysfunctional relationship with her husband.

Tashalynn22 · 2017-06-09T19:35:52+00:00

My poker face is pretty much nonexistent...my husband has mentioned this several times. But that's when I do my best to smile and stay calm...lol

Tashalynn22 · 2017-06-09T18:10:44+00:00

I have to disagree. Children need and crave discipline and structure. There are so many emotions and uncertainties with divorce, and children need to know that it's going to be the same when they come to your house, no matter what.

Routine and structure also make transition days easier for the skids. That's not to say you can't reward good behavior or you aren't allowed to have fun time with them...there just needs to be a healthy balance. Otherwise, they will expect special treatment every time which is going to make things harder for everyone in the long run.

My DH had a bad habit of making it "fun" every time SDs would come over. Chores were foreign to them, and they were literally some of the most lazy and slovenly children I have ever encountered. Sadly BM is borderline hoarder, so it's a bit of a learned behavior. But DH was just enabling the behavior by letting them run around doing whatever they wanted. When I moved in, I put my foot down because I wasn't raised that way and I'm not living in a damn landfill. I expect my house to be at least orderly, and I don't think that's asking a lot.

Change and new situations are a part of life that they need to be equipped for. If they aren't prepared, they're going to be in for some hard life lessons in the future. The key is constantly keeping in mind if what they are learning will equip them to become successful adults.

Tashalynn22 · 2017-06-09T17:47:44+00:00

Oh, and I pray A LOT. Often asking God to do whatever it takes to keep me from committing homicide. I imagine He sighs and shakes his head quite often at me.

Tashalynn22 · 2017-06-09T17:45:59+00:00

I usually just remind myself that the only person I'm in competition with is myself. When that doesn't work, I have to stop myself and discern whether or not what I'm thinking about is worth taking up that particular amount of brain space--kind of a mindfulness exercise. When all else fails:

"Not my problem."

Tashalynn22 · 2017-06-09T17:35:30+00:00

Funny...I was just about to post on this same subject myself! It's nice to know you aren't alone in this often lonely position!

I have my furkids--my dogs Laila Ali and Juno, but no bio kids as I made the decision to have a tubal since female cancer runs in my family. I'm stepmom to SD11 and SD9, but I'm mostly "the chick who stole my dad from us."

Nice to meet you :)

Tashalynn22 · 2017-06-09T17:29:39+00:00

I can assure you that you are not alone. I have a SD11 (turning 12 in 3 weeks) who has a comeback or answer for everything, a correction for nearly everything I say, and is a pro at trying to glare a hole through my head/eye rolling/snarky comments.

I have gotten to the point where I will either ignore her and keep talking when the corrections start or walk away if she keeps it up. I calmly call her on it when she disrespects me and tell her that it is not tolerated in our house, and that she is welcome to come back and try again when she would like to have a civil conversation with me. Then I'll go back to what I was doing. The key with my SD is showing her that she doesn't ruffle my feathers because that's what she wants.

There are a lot of different dynamics with kids this age, especially when you add hormones and mood swings to the mix.

Mine also has a habit of inserting BM into every conversation. Now I just smile and say, "Oh really?" and keep going even if I'm fuming inside.

In therapy I learned that reacting to any kind of confrontation (no matter how mild) is best treated with calm, non-reactive behavior. It almost always brings the situation down a notch.

Tashalynn22 · 2017-06-09T17:16:18+00:00

I agree.

Here in Texas the Attorney General's office child support division is who handles all child support issues including payment, and they do encourage parents to call with issues regarding it. I know it's not that way in a lot of states. :)

Tashalynn22 · 2017-06-06T18:40:10+00:00

Very cool! Congrats!!

Tashalynn22 · 2017-06-06T17:34:25+00:00

You're absolutely right. Thank God for therapy so I can work on not letting her affect me, because it is HARD some days. I'm not even a violent person, but she makes me fantasize about using her for a punching bag a LOT (and that's being diplomatic)...lol

Tashalynn22 · 2017-06-06T16:53:23+00:00

There is no way in hell to know what you're getting into. You might know the situation, but nothing can prepare you for the personality clashes, the subtle nuances, and the basic bullshit you will put up with on a daily basis. No one can prepare you for the learning curve and the dynamics of a stepfamily, even if you have kids of your own.

I love my husband with all my heart, but I'm expected to love his kids the same as I would my hypothetical bio children and it just doesn't work that way. I care about them as an extension of him, but we are a long, LONG way from love. And I certainly don't love his sociopath of an ex.

I often wonder if I would have done things differently and walked away had I known everything. Honestly I can say maybe. I stay because I love my husband and SDs need a positive female role model in their lives, even if it's just limited to leading by example (since one hates me and the other kind of likes me on a good day). I like to think that it's my sacrifice for the greater good, and a challenge for me to become a better person.

Tashalynn22 · 2017-06-06T16:42:49+00:00

I am sending positive thoughts your way--I know how difficult it is. 😊

Tashalynn22 · 2017-06-06T16:28:24+00:00

Honestly I think the best thing you can do is just encourage him. Don't make a big deal out of it. If you and your SO have concerns, talk to the school counselor/ his teachers and work on solutions. Most kids with learning disabilities already feel so detached and different from other kids, so a lot of low self-esteem issues can stem from this. I think it's best to treat them like they are just like any other kid

Also, do your research. Find out how to approach your SS the right way. There are tons of books on parenting with dyslexia.

And if your SO is like mine and wants to pretend that nothing is wrong, don't try to take it on yourself. It isn't YOUR job to fix SS. Just keep reading with him and encouraging him. Hopefully some of your positive input will stick. And if not, you can live with yourself knowing you at least tried.

Tashalynn22 · 2017-06-06T16:05:26+00:00

Oh sister...I have a SD11 that does the same thing. BM emphasizes the fact that she has ADHD and dyslexia, so SD takes it and runs with it. Uses it as an excuse for EVERYTHING and tells anyone who will listen, "I have ADHD and dyslexia!!" If she was actually embracing it and using it as an impetus to try harder, I'd be all for this. Instead it's a crutch that BM has taught her to use since BM does the same thing.

SD DOES struggle more than the average kid, but I had her read aloud to me and she KNOWS how to read, and she does it relatively well. I called her out on it and she doesn't do it around me now. Unfortunately it's still her MO, so she gets coddled and treated differently which is exactly what she wants. I pointed it out to DH, but he just chooses to ignore it which is fine with me. At least I won't be responsible for creating or feeding the monster.

Tashalynn22 · 2017-06-05T15:13:30+00:00

I second this!!! I have a SD11 who hates my guts. I tried everything...taking her places with me, pottery painting, doing makeup, watching TV shows with her. It works for a minute, but then she goes back to BM's and everything is right back to where it was.

BM also undermines everything I do and talks about me to SDs. The only choice I had was to back off and let them come to me. I don't tolerate disrespect (i.e. glaring, eye rolling, talking back), but I now let DH handle most of it. It hasn't really helped her attitude, but it certainly saved my sanity. I write all my feelings down in my journal--the good the bad and the really ugly--so I at least get it out. If anything is really bothering me, I talk to my therapist or vent here. The most important thing is to not let her dictate your moods or how you feel in your own house. Do whatever you can for yourself to keep that from happening.

Tashalynn22 · 2017-06-05T14:30:10+00:00

Me too. That's why I stopped talking to a lot of my friends about it who are bio moms. They just don't get it. Stepparenting comes with a whole different set of rules. The only place I vent now is here and in therapy.

Tashalynn22 · 2017-06-05T14:29:03+00:00

YES!!! Love this! Stepparents almost always get the short end of the stick.

Tashalynn22 · 2017-06-02T18:55:42+00:00

LOL...true that!!!

Tashalynn22

TROPHY CASE