Blah.. another Judgmental Judy who has not lived for one second as a SM critiquing how it should be done.

Not even close to a "step monster". She needs to mind her own business.

I commented!!

Obviously this bestie that wrote the article knows nothing about blended families. I went through something similar to this. I throw my bio son birthday parties every other year. Its always been that way. I go all out and plan and pay for the whole thing myself. I've always been my son's primary parent and only responsible parent so this is just something I do for my kid. I did not feel obligated to throw my stepkids any parties. That's on their parents. If their dad doesn't see it fit or do it than why should I? If we want to be fair, their mom should be doing it, since I'm the one doing it for my own son. BM would always b*tch and complain about her kids not having big parties like my kid. BYATCH, who is stopping you from throwing your OWN kids a party? that's not my responsibility! The one time DH wanted to throw one of his kids a big birthday party, he expected me to do it all since I do it all for my own kid. I refused. HECK NO! Its YOUR KID, you do it! I will help you but the planning of the party and facilitating of everything is not my responsibility. So for the first time in DH's life he was responsible for throwing a bday party for one of his kids. He experience first hand how much work it is and how much money it is. He had to coordinate the party rental stuff, the food, the invitations, etc. Not only that, we all got to experience his bratty son's behavior at his own party and it was not pretty. He was being such an a$$ and talking to his guests like he was a mini dictator that he ended up getting beat up by one of the kids because he was so offensive. How are you going to get beat up at your own party? Then he threw a fit because not that many people showed up. He has no friends. Only his immediate family and my immediate family and a few of my friends and their kids came. Only one of his school mates came. Not our fault. He also threw a fit when the party rental place came by to pick up the tables, chairs and jumper. He cried and cried and whined to his dad, "WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?" as if his dad was a horrible person. the rental is only for a specific amount of time which was only the duration of the party, 5 hours. The kid is sucha brat. His own mom came late and left early. I feel bad for the kid but all of that is on his parents, not the SM. DH never wanted to throw a party again after that! LOL. He's thrown 2 other parties after that for his 2 other kids for their graduation.

I hate the term "bonus mom" or "bonus kid"... I think of a bonus as either a reward or an earned reward... that is not what comes to mind when I think of step families.

Do we feel accomplished?! Cause im about to crack open a hard cider, not sure what ill type after a few...lol

Ugh. What a horrible friend. Enjoying all the comments and commented myself

It's such a weird double-standard.

Many years ago when my adorable step niece (about 8 ) was visiting me she told me that she and her friends referred to their step dads as "fake dads". And this young woman (now almost 30) has always ADORED her SF. It was funny.

almost had a heart attack and stopped reading, I can not loose my temper this early in the morning...

I stopped reading where she commented why should you have a expensive party for your own kid and not skid...
easy bitch, because skid has 2 parents to pay for their party it's not my responsibility

Well they are deleting comments. I just checked it out seems anyone disagreeing is deleted. Most of my comments are gone. But those idiots talking about "you signed up for it" "we are whining" "if you cant handle kids get out" are still up. Thats bullcrap.