Man, SO's daughter has really amped up the entitlement a notch!

So for the good things:

1.  SO has been generally more pleasant and affectionate.  She has really emphasized spending time together when I am home, so much so that it cuts into my personal activities a little.  But I can live with that, it is nice that she is expressing an interest in being together.

2.  SO is starting to warm to the idea of visting me while I'm on assignment, since SOD-GD (Signficant Other - Grandaughter, aka SO's daughter's daughter) has gotten a little older, and SOD is finally starting to let some other people baby-sit.

3.  SO has largely ended the "sex diet" she put me on last year.  I think she realized that this was a bridge too far, given all that I do for her, and how little she typically does for me.

4.  SOS (Significant Other - Son) graduated high school.  No idea what he is going to do, but at least he has his diploma.  He has been looking at getting a part-time job at least, but he's not going to college and won't be launching anytime soon.  However, he is at least a generally pleasant person, and doesn't overtly cause trouble.

5.  We had a brief family vacation that went pretty well.

Now the bad:

1. SOD (Significant Other - Daughter) has really taken her entitlement up to a new level.  For reasons still unclear to me, she wanted to move to a different apartment.  Of couse, she did virtually nothing to get ready for this, so it was a huge panic when moving day arrived.  I ended up having to rent a U-haul to get everything done in one day.  Because she is so broke, she couldn't afford to have the utilities on in both apartments for a few days.  This would have been helpful, since it would have allowed them to move over the span of a few days, and not do everything all at once.  But....nope.  Total panic.

2.  SOD is already complaining about the new apartment.  Apparently, she and Sperm Donor are taking over someone else's lease.  Rather than do a walk-through to ascertain the condition of said apartment, she and Sperm Donor signed a document transferring all liability from the previous tenants to themselves.  When they entered the apartment for the first time, they discovered it reeked of pet urine.  There was also some damage to the walls, enough that the apartment complex will probably ended up charging them. 

However, when I did my walkthrough, I didn't really think it was terrible.  Yes, the apartment complex would have professionally shampooed the carpets if they had turned the unit over themselves, but they wouldn't have replaced the carpet or bathroom floors.  It's kind of the "It is what it is" situation.  It's a middle-class apartment, it's not going to be perfect, and you sometimes have to wait a while for the smells to work themselves out.  Needless to say, though, SOD is not happy with the place, and will be moving out as soon as the lease is up next year.  Which means another move for them.  I paid to rent a Rug Doctor, which did help some with the smell and mess.

3.  SOD is working 1 day a week now, and Sperm Donor works about 30 hours a week.  He refuses to pay the rent, so SO is going to have to float that bill.  Apparently SOD and Sperm Donor pay the utility bills, but those are small compared to the rent.  They are still enjoying a lifestyle well beyond their means, thanks to SO's subsidy.  They smoke cigarettes like a chimney, smoke weed multiple times a day, are buying new games for their X-box on the regular, and Sperm Donor still has his Vanity Truck that doesn't run.

4.  SOS is still acting out trying to get attention, since his sister SOD gets all of SO's time and money.  He has started smoking more pot, drinking, and lies all the time.  Mostly this doesn't affect us, it's just annoying but could lead to problems down the road if an agressive cop tried to take him to task for possessing marijuana (pot is still illegal here, but is a low enforcement priority).

Overall, I am happy and can deal with the problems.  Having SO and SOS live with me doesn't really cost me much, but not paying rent frees up SO to pay SOD/Sperm Donor's rent.  SO justifies this by stating that if she doesn't do this, SOD/Sperm Donor will be homeless, and will eventually move in with us.  Trust me, I DO NOT want that to happen.

I am frustrated that SOD is so entitled and ungrateful.  She didn't thank me for the family trip, the U-haul, the Rug Doctor, or the many hours I spent helping them move (Sperm Donor didn't say thank you either).  I try to just view it this way:  when it comes to the hard work and financial aspects, I am like a real dad.  I probably didn't thank my dad for family trips when I was a kid, the times he helped me move, etc.  When it comes to the "rewards" part of being a parent (respect, gratitude, etc.) I remember that I am a just step-parent, and it never crosses these kids' minds to say thank you, because I don't really exist to them.  I guess the main thing I get out of my "relationship" with SO's kids is that they don't activiely interfere in my relationship with SO, which is more than some on here can say.

For her part, SO is very appreciative, and did thank me for all that I did, so I really appreciate that.