Hi everyone! It's been quite a while since I've been on ST, I've missed you all! Just thought I'd give an update on my situation for those STalkers who I haven't had the pleasure of getting to know on here yet, here's a little background. DH and I have been together 8 years now. I have no bio kids, (my kids have paws & claws!) DH has two daughters, now 24 and 28. SD28, married, has a a 5 yr old daughter and 2 yr old son; SD24, currently living with baby daddy, had a son a few months ago. SD24 had been a pain in my butt since the day we met; SD28 and I got along so so, we had our battles, but were civil. BM is hardly ever in the picture, she only contacts the SD's when she wants something (i.e., $$$)

The reason I haven't been on is good - I rarely deal with SK issues! Yay me! I got a lot of great advice on here from ladies (and gentlemen too) and took it to heart...I totally disengaged with the SD's. Unless it affected my life or my funds, they could do whatever they wanted. DH still refuses to do things with them unless I go, but since he works almost everyday, we barely have time for ourselves and he's not pushing for the family get togethers as much. No pool parties to deal with, either.

Disengaging wasn't easy, but it was that or divorce. I unfriended and blocked both SD's on Facebook, I don't go out of my way to buy gifts or acknowledge birthdays, holidays, etc. At family functions, I smile and speak but only everyday chit chat topics. Occasionally, SD24 will text DH & I both pictures of the baby but I don't post them on my FB wall, nor do I post any comments about either SD. If necessary, I introduce myself as DH's wife, not SD's stepmother.

Is this what I wanted? No, far from it, but when you keep getting beat to death with the olive branch no matter how hard you try, then this is the best option for me. I tried for 6 yrs to befriend those girls, while they did everything in their power to make my life miserable. DH finally realized that I wasn't the enemy and saw what was going on. I don't know what opened his eyes, but I'm glad he sees that the girls are not the angels he thought they were. I am amazed anytime he says anything negative or doesn't offer to jump in and help them, especially SD24. He actually said she needed to grow up and learn how to deal with life! :jawdrop:

At this time, SD28 is still a SAHM, her & her husband's student loans piled high and now thinking about going back to school. I personally believe she's tired of staying home looking after the kiddos all day while hubby has a great career and often takes off on "guys only" trips without her & the kids. She has a degree in something already, not sure what she's looking to do now but she doesn't hold jobs down very well. SD24 we thought was on the right path and doing well, got her CNA, got a job at a hospital making good money, moved out of the grandparents house. Turns out she had to move out, she got pregnant by a young man she worked with at a part time restaurant job. He speaks absolutely no English and she doesn't speak Spanish....interesting. Ahh but Karma does have it's moments - she and the fiancé, as she referred to him, went to visit his family in another state recently. Evidently the family is not very fond of SD24, she hated the trip and had some very negative things to say about her future in-laws, lol. I've since noticed she is no longer talking about rings, marriage and fiancé has been demoted to boyfriend DH is not happy that SD24 is not going back to work as a CNA after her maternity leave, but instead she's going back to waitressing but made the comment that she'll have to figure it out herself.

For all of you dealing with SKids from hell, I hope this gives you some encouragement. And to all those wonderful STalkers who listened and offered advice when I was at my wits end, thank you!!