Even though the SK's don't appreciate it, I do it for DH. It makes him happy to see his kids and he can't throw a party by himself. I try to rise above the feeling I get after none of the stepkids ever say thank you and I do it without expecting anything in return. I just don't expect to be treated badly when they are here. It always surprises me. Time for another heart-to-heart talk.

We are building a house on another lake (farther away) so we need to keep the boat which is nearly new.

We have good intentions when we set it up, but the unexpected change of plans, stepkids wanting to do something different caused everything to get mixed up. We were not prepared for a boating day and did not have the boat launched or gassed up. We already bought tickets for everyone for the water park had a cabana all decorated by the pool.

I was totally blown away by this outcome. DH getting mad because he had spent an hour looking for the keys and I was upset because he had taken off suddenly with SD without first discussing a meeting place. I was left to guess where I would eventually see them show up. That place is very spread out, the water park, campground, marina, all very spread out.

I was upset because of the change of plans and the being left out of the conversation when they changed it. Deserted back at the waterpark wondering when they'd be back and where to meet.

I could only guess where the meeting spot would be and since DH was planning to launch the boat, I went to the place I knew that takes place. Unfortunately, he parked it a long ways up the hill, out of view and was fumbling with the spare keys and never came down. I finally took the shuttle back up and found him. What a last minute goofy take off when it finally did occur. DH told his kids in advance that we don't have the proper anchors for this large of a lake but do they listen and back off? They do not take no for an answer. DH relented and it all unraveled from there.

Not only was an extra hour wasted looking for keys and for people, but once we got out on the lake and the anchors didn't hold, we drifted into the trees, and the existing anchors got lodged under some tree stumps. We almost wrecked the boat. DH tells SD and me to raise the awning and she has no clue how to do that, and it ends up coming crashing down on top of my shoulder. Ouch, I now have a painful mark where the frame hit my shoulder. Let's just say, the Skid's got what they wanted. I got the shaft.

I totally agree about planning the minimum for them since they never say thank you. I should not have homemade any food, or decorated. We should have just ordered pizza and that's all.

The main key has a red float keyring attached to it, in case it falls in the water. All the dozens of spare keys all look similar and he would have to try each and every one to get the right one.
The problem is he took off with SD, who knows nothing about our boat, left me out of the conversation and ends up wasting everyone's time.

My phone wasn't with me because I was swimming, it was back at the camper, a shuttle bus away. I did walk it one way, since SD was riding in my car acting like the mini wife

. She enjoys causing trouble, and she hit the jackpot yesterday.

LOL. You're right. Let them come looking for me. hiding out in the cabana. I wonder if they would bother to look for me before sailing away? If I didn't have the keys they might have done just that :?

That's not the only time I was left behind that day. After boating it was decided to go up to the restaurant for dinner. I suddenly find myself all alone waiting and wondering at the campground. Did they go without me? Again? I decide to head up to the restaurant and I see a far away DH and SD walking together, probably one of her gossip sessions that I am not privy to.

I don't know how old you are, but a 36 year old doesn't normally take the stuffing out of her sandwich with her fingers and put it in front if her father and expect him to eat that. Ish.

Maybe you should google Emily Post on both if those subjects, eating off of other peoples plates and calling past bedtime or before 9 am and see what she considers rude. Goodnight.

I wanted to show the difference between what's normal and polite (example party with my kids) and what is bad/rude behavior (his kids).

I would update that rule to add "WITHOUT PERMISSION"

Table manners is what separates us from the animals

Thank you 3kids & Sandye. I appreciate you turning this website back to what it was intended. A network of stepparents supporting and advising each other.

Parties take planning and the waterpark is what is in this campground, as well as the marina. DH already told his kids on the phone prior to them coming that we can't go boating because we don't have a dock built yet where our new property is and this lake at the campground isn't good for fishing and we don't have the proper anchors for this lake. After they got here and swam for awhile at the waterpark, they behind my back, coax DH into taking them out on the boat. They took their fishing poles along and bought their fishing licenses the day before, obviously not caring about what we had already told them.

DH doesn't have his own cell phone at his own choice. He's not into long chats on the phone like SD is. After being retired he is enjoying the fact that is is no longer available 24/7 for intrusions from outside of our household. SD can e-mail him, she does it all the time.

Thank you Catmom! Yes, SD was acting like the mini-wife all day long. Doing things she shouldn't be doing, saying things she shouldn't be saying.

I haven't even finished telling the next saga before the thread went haywire.

Amen to that sister!

I throw some barn burner parties, it's what I do! It's called a 'Set it all up and then get dumped on party'. (In real life, and in cyberspace). Sorry you missed it.