Hi. I'm new. My DH is traveling for work last week and this week. I'm pretty sure my SD decides that when he's gone it's time to torture the SM. She doesn't have her license yet, so we get to play taxi for her to school, all her sports activities and social engagements. When DH is here, it all seems to work out better, not perfect, but better. But when it's just me trying to pick her up from school, there always seems to be a hitch. I get to her school and she isn't there. I spend my nights running around trying to frantically find her and when I do, I get, "I forgot you were picking me up, so I called... (fill in blank of other relative here.)" Or "Oh, practice went late and then my friend took me to my GP's house instead." Every single time. It's the same thing. She makes me so mad that we finally ride home in total silence. I get the whole "let the natural parent be the disciplinarian" thing. But it's tough when he's not here.

I'm new to all this. She just moved in with us less than a year ago. We went from having no kids except for every other weekend and a few weeks during the summer and at Christmas, to having all 3 kids full time a year ago. Can you say step-whiplash? I have very few friends in our new town so far since we moved from out of state. I have none of my side of the family here either. The MIL and FIL are not exactly supportive. They are very negative and critical of everything we do. I think I've been calling my mom and crying on her shoulder at least daily. I'm wearing her out. So here I am. Comments? Suggestions?