I left on Sept 26 and it was the hardest thing I ever did. Five years of crazy BM, 4 skids under 12, and a fiancee that was a Disney Dad and a narcissist expecting me to do everything for everyone.

And I did everything. I cleaned and made lunches and did laundry and organized everyone. I also worked full time. I tried and tried to make it work for five years. He let the kids do whatever they wanted. No rules, no boundaries, no consequences.

My SD12 was starting to become a snotty mini-wife, determined to show me that she owned her "daddy". The oldest son was having rage issues and no one was doing anything about it. I kept thinking to myself: "These are not my kids. Why am I the only one that cares?"

Fiancee just wanted someone to play "happy family" with. As long as I did things his way, it was ok. When I started to stand up for myself, try to talk to him about the kids' discipline issues etc. all of a sudden it's "you hate my kids" or "you don't have kids, what do you know?"

If I wanted to leave for a night when the skids came, go to my girlfriend's, or just generally made other plans to go out for a few hours, he would get mad. I always had to be around. It would be his kids hanging all over him on the couch for hours, and me, oh probably cleaning something.

I started to get depressed, started therapy, went on antidepressants. I was slowly losing myself and living a life I didn't want. He was not supportive and really did not want to "deal" with me.

I have been reading here for over a year and there was a post that Echo wrote awhile ago to another woman that wanted to leave. I pasted it into my phone and read it every few days. It was all great advice and the one line that got to me was "Every day you waste with him and his spawn, is a day you cannot do over."

So here I am. Moved into a really cute apartment and got a puppy. My house feels so clean and peaceful.

Don't get me wrong, I still feel heartbroken in many ways - I have up and down days, but I know in my heart, I did the right thing.

Thank you to everyone here for sharing your stories and advice and wisdom. I would not have made it thru this step-parenting thing without you.

Epilogue: TWO days after I moved out, he had a new "serious" girlfriend and introduced her to the skids. Obviously he knew her before we broke up, but I had never seen or heard of her. I have realized that he just needs a "mommy" for these kids that he doesn't want to parent.

I am bruised and I am tired. But I am free.