"Baaaaaahwaaaaa ha ha ha ha!" (sound of evil stepmother laughter)

DH has finally, FINALLY decided to ground the Thong-ager over her constant manipulation and dishonesty. The final straw was when she lied to his face about finishing two very simple assignments she needed to complete in order to change her C in social studies to a B. Skid in same class made an A.

He is going to ground her for a week. No going anywhere except to school and church, and no cell phone (she is a serious textaholic).

GEEZ LOUISE HOLY MACAROONS, it's about friggin' time!!!!!

He's sort of shaking in his shoes, thinking about the oncoming tantrum, but I told him hey, she'll get over it. Bawah aha aha aha. The princess is going to throw a FIT. Yelling, bawling, accusations... meanwhile I'm taking other skid to a movie (she made all A's) while he and Thong-ager have it out. I hope the house is still standing when I get home.

On different topic -- on weeknights, I am an early-to-bed kind of gal. I like to hit my room about 10 PM and read for about half hour. Skids are allowed to stay up until 10:30, and then they have to go their rooms. Lights out at 11:00. They are up by 7 each day.

He left town on business two nights in a row. First night, I said, "Mind your bedtime and put yourselves to bed as per usual." (I had to program a reminder in DH's cell phone so he will monitor this simple task.) I get home yesterday, and Skid 1 (not Thong-ager) was crashed out on couch sleeping -- oops, missed our bedtime, did we?

Last night at 10:28, I march into game room and told Thong-ager, "Go to bed." She whines about remaining 2 minutes. I say, "Tough. I want to go to sleep, and I can't do that knowing you may be up all hours. Turn off the computer and go to your room." She gives me more lip and suddenly feels inspired to do some picking up in the game room. I say, "Pick up and go to bed. Why must you make things so difficult?" Woooooo. That got under her hide, but she made movements toward her room. When she left for school this AM, she was giving me the cold shoulder. Big freakin' deal, like I care anymore.

Side note -- she knows she is going to have some sort of talk about grade with DH tonight. She probably thinks he will express "disappointment" and take away her allowance. Surprise, surprise, Sugar Pops!

After words with me and anticipting discussion tonight, she left little sign on our door for DH, who got home around 11:00. "Welcome home, Dad! I love you!" Puke puke puke! Nice try, but it ain't gonna work this time, dearie! 9And if you think this is a jab at me, well, guess what? I don't give a rat's ass anymore! I don't even take crap like you have dished for me off friends, and you sure as hell AIN'T my friend. I've changed my whole life for you, and you are about as appreciative as a baby reptile!)

Skid 1 decided to take a shower at freaking 10:20. Well, her hair was filthy and sprouting dandruff, so yeah, it was time. I had to wait until 10:40 and knock on the door to tell her, "Get out of the bathroom and go to bed." Even then, when DH got home at 11:20, I woke up long enough to hear him tell Skid 1 "Lights out and go to sleep." Good gravy.

So... it's a new era at my house. I am going to stop whining at DH to enforce basic house rules they already know and just stay on their ass about the basics every day. DH is also stepping up to the plate, now that he "gets it" to a certain degree.

They are going to hate the new, assertive me. They are used to me slinking around under my own roof and begging them to do the simple things like making their beds and turning off the TV during study hour. No more. I'm going to be on their ass about this stuff like stink on a skunk. In a word, I am and will be an "Evil Stepmother." I haven't wanted the title, but they haven't left me a lot of choice.

I've just figured out that I'd rather have the fear and loathing of these little monsters now than have them flunk out of school at 18 and then live on my couch for the next 10 years. I've learned something from reading the blogs of others in here -- and that is to make things difficult enough that adult skids NEVER think about going home again!

They will love and appreciate me for all the things they have given them, or they won't. If I am too nice to keep the peace, it comes at the price of my self-respect and sanity. DH may need to grow bigger balls (I am giving him some points for the grounding), but I think my Stepmother Balls have just been hatched.