Hi everyone - I am new to the site but seem to have the same problems as everyone else. To give you a little background, DH and I have been married for almost 7 years, together for over 9. I have two SD's. One is 11, almost 12 and one is 14. We also have a BD that is 4.
DH and BM have joint custody of both girls with DH being named as the primary. They spend a week with us and then go to their moms for a week and we rotate and alternate most holidays and their birthdays. Christmas Day is split so that both parents can spend time with the girls on that day.

BM doesn't like me much and never has. Even though we went almost two years getting along, we recently had it out and that was the end of our civility. Its unfortunate that it ended but I got tired of being lied to and it turned out she was altering the emails I sent her and printing them for SD14 to read. Of course she was editing them in her favor so naturally I end up looking like the "evil-SM" and that just drives a bigger wedge between me and SD14. About a month ago SD14 decided to go live with her mom and I have to say I breathed a HUGE sigh of relief!
SD11 is still close to me and even sent me an email yesterday to tell me "Happy Mother's Day" - I only hope she keeps her sweetheart personality. She continues to do the week-by-week schedule.

I don't want to get too long-winded on my first blog but BM always tries to compete with us and copies just about everything I do. On one hand it is frustrating but it truly is sad that she doesn't have her own ideas. I try to let a lot of things go but it is SO hard being a step-parent. There is a fine line that we all walk and most people truly do not understand it. We want to be here for our Skids but we don't want to send the "I'm taking BM's place" message either. And trying to stay the course and be the "I'm here for you should you need me but not trying to invade anyone's territory" parent proves to be very difficult at times. I have read a few of the entries and think that being a part of this group will only help me in my current role. At least now I know that I am not alone...