Dear Valued Users,
It's with a heavy heart that we announce the permanent closure of StepTalk.org on August 31st, 2025.
This decision wasn't an easy one. For over twenty years, StepTalk has been a source of support for stepparents around the world! However, over the years, the costs associated with maintaining and upgrading the site to remain secure, meet current standards and maintain availability have become unsustainable.
We are incredibly grateful for your support, contributions and the community you've helped us build. Your engagement has made StepTalk.org a special place and we cherish the memories and connections made here.
We would especially like to thank Aniki for volunteering to be a moderator and for caring so much.
Thank you for being a part of our journey and we wish you all the best.
Sincerely,
Dawn and The StepTalk Team
I do not miss
I do not miss those days. Once they get older it gets better but it does seem to last forever. I remember wanting to put them into a full length body-condom the entire time they were here. Children that age are walking petri dishes. The good thing is that your BD is developing a killer immune system right now!
One thing - make sure they learn to cover their mouths when they cough or sneeze NOW. For some reason my skids parents believed it would hurt their feelings to get on them to do it (because they were insane when it came to the slightest whiff of discipline over anything) and they will let it fly even in public. I kid you not. Perfectly normal well-dressed middle class young adults suddenly open-mouthed coughing and sneezing at will. The looks of horror from the people around them are frightening and often people will exclaim indignantly in surprise but the skids don't get it. They take great offense and believe people are picking on them. No joke.
The worst
Before we got full custody (forced into it due to BM's drug issues) of my 2 SDs, they came home from visits with BM with HEAD LICE EVERY TIME. Luckily, I never got them for some reason, but it would take weeks of cleaning and treating them to get rid of the lice, only to have to do it all over again when they'd go to visit her.
Once they came to live with us we bleached their hair and dyed it fun colors. No more lice since.
Ohh wow..
Head lice is something I would have to put my foot down to. I wouldn't let it anywhere near my house. You are much more patient than me.
Daddy should decline
Daddy should decline visitation if the Skid is infectious. The primary advantage that an NCP has is the ability to decline visitation. You nor DH should expose your infant to an actively ill elder non resident sib.
Let BM deal with the sick Skid.
This!
This is exactly what I have said, time and time again, but he is too scared of "starting" something with BM to stand up to her and say no for once.