Some days are better than others, (like the days that my SS is not here and he is with his BM) and other days I just wish he was 18 already and out of the house. It is the poor school work, the manners, disrespect, and of course the psychotic BM. My SS has reached the age where he thinks he knows it all, constantly playing video games, and lies constantly even about stupid stuff.

I feel really bad for him that he was dealt a bad hand in his life and that he got the BM he did, but I am a strong believer in that we make our own destiny and he has the power to change who he is. He does not need to follow in his mothers foot steps and end up like her a middle school drop out, in and out of jail, never having any money and a constant life of conflict.

My SS and I use to have a really good relationship, we would do many things together lots of outdoor activites, arts and crafts, family vacations, my DH and I make a decent living so we could afford to do all this stuff, where the BM as I said was in and out of jail has a long list of court dates for god knows what, and is never working steady and getting evicted from where she lives. My SS knew these things and we talked about them.

But in the past year our relationship just started going down hill, and as I said I do not know if it is the age thing or what, but I am just not one for lying and disrespect. and my SS knows this so now we have moved to a good relationship to a: I just tolerate him relationship. and he is always getting grounded for these issues. Sometimes I feel bad, but what else do you do? I will not keep letting him disrespecting people and lying to people, sometimes the lack of manners make me embarassed to bring him in public, like on days he comes back from visitation with BM's it is awful.

I have 2 step children one boy and one girl the girl is the oldest and I never ever have a problem with her she is an angel, very helpful could not have gotten luckier where she is concerned, she is 17 graduating HS this year and then off to college. just my SS is the only problem child and my DH and I have one together.