My first blog so I am going to go back 10 years. Met DH and he told me he had 2 girls 8 and 11 at the time. He also had 3 older kids from a previous family.

I moved in and the fun began. BM was jealous even though she had a new partner and has been seperated for 6 years.

So Out I go to get in the car for a family outing , SD8 runs ahead and sits on the front seat. Asked to move by DH and amid howls and tears gets into the back. SD11 says Mum and I decided I would sit in the front in her car and SD8 sits in the front at Dads.

Up comes SD8 s birthday.DH buys her a camera but SD 11 must have one too even though she already has a camera. ( it is not the right colour)

I marry DH. SD now 9 and 12 are allowed by BM to come to the wedding but she rings halfway through and wants them returned home. Adult SS from first marriage takes them home.

bring back the cameras. They are being used to take photos of the new possessions in the house! Of course these items are mine as I have combined our things and given the extra fridge, bed, washing machine etc to adult SS. Asked why the photo taking. BM told us to , she wants to see what DH has.

Next a lodgement with cs for extra payment, claim DH must be earning more than he says, he has all these ‘new’ things in the house. Lodgement unsuccessful, finding she has been overpaid and has to return some money .

Saga continues, excuses each time it is Dad’s access weekend . The girls have a party can’ t come over . Mum is sick she will be too upset without them , on it goes. 

I am an exteacher. The skids are behind at school. Complaint I helped the skids catch up with reading , it was apparently unfair to do that. They didn’t seem to mind the attention. DH is told he should pay for a tutor so they can catch up.

Tries lodging for extra cs again as she has the skids more often. 

Backfires again and cs is reduced again. Sends SD now 13 over howling and sobbing begging for money to go to a private school. We have excellent, free, public education here. DH caves and says he will pay some but by this time he is on the pension and he really cannot afford private schooling.

SD do not visit for the next 5 years. They do not invite DH to any graduation or life events. DH and I continue to attend and watch their weekend sporting match but are usually not spoken to by SD s . BM friends turn their back on DH at these events. SD attend a pre Christmas gathering once a year . They bring a gift for others but nothing for DH .DH giives them a gift.

Now SD are 22 and 19. SD 22 visits and checks how her father is going. I think she has some sense that her BM was manipulating her. SD 19 doesn’t visit apart from the Christmas gathering, she doesn’ t ring DH on his birthday. 

Enter SD now 49 from the first BM . She is very jealous of young half siblings. She is the one who wants to know whether DH has his will right and what is in it for her. ( very little, actually the man has gone through 2 divorces and 5 kids) DH tells her the house is mine( it is I paid for it) . SD 49 rarely visits, will we see her again now she knows she isn’t getting the house!

Then there are SS 46  and SS 44.