Advise
I need advise. My husband and I dated for 2 1/2 years before marrying and have been married for 1 1/2. He has two daughters ages 8 & 5. I have 3 ages 5,7,9. All girls. He has custody so they all 5 are with us Monday thru Friday. He is a wonderful daddy who is wry involved in all 5 girls lives. We both try to stick together when dealing with discipline and arguments and kid drama. At first his 5 year old, age 3 at the time, was the one who resented me. Wanted her mom an dad back together. I understand that emotion having three of my own. That has leveled out basically. Lately the problem has been with the oldest who is 8. She has became very angry with me. When I get onto the kids I get onto everyone involved. Which is generally a she said/she said fight. I pull everyone involved aside and try to find out by asking questions before dealing out the discipline. That hasn't changed. Its always been that way. Lately if I ask her anything it's I just want to not be talked to, I hate you being my stepmother, I can't stand you, can't you leave me alone, those kinds of comments. I am met with hatefulness from the time she gets out of bed. Getting her up in the morning until the end of the day she gives me cold looks. I don't understand what I have done and when I ask she just gets mad cause I talk to her. Her dad got onto her the other night because she finally did it in front of him but it hasn't helped. She is just more careful when she does it. They see their mom every weekend and I don't know if she's saying anything all I know is she says she can do whatever she wants there. When we ask if she wants to live there she says no she just wants me to leave. She tells me my daddy isn't happy with you, he tells her he is. It's a constant angry battle. I'm lost. I've tried the sweet sensitive and the stern. Help?!?
Yeah. When she said that he
Yeah. When she said that he said I want you to know we are very happy and neither of us hate you. It's been a constant for about 3 weeks. Prior to this she always got along great with the 7 year old. She spent extra time with bio mom over Christmas and has since said we hate her here. I finally told her I am sorry she's so angry but I can't treat her differently as far as by different rules from the other kids. Just am lost...
It's been hard. They were
It's been hard. They were always allowed to throw fits with bio mom and I'm very against fits. So it has been a learning experience. To a point my 5 year old has tried a few fits learning them from his 5 year old. At bio moms they sleep, shower, everything with her. So it is a constant fight.
I allow them to express
I allow them to express opinions, by against fits I mean throw theirselves in the floor kicking screaming throwing things. And no matter what people think of me I do not think that is ever ok. I have allowed them to have their space as they are all involved in extra curricular activities. They also do not share rooms. And usually when they decide to act out in that way they are sent to their rooms. This has been a change within the last month. Before that time we got along great. I am a very passive person and it takes me alot to get upset. At the same time I have had the same "rules" consistently. However I have tried to be patient with the way they are used to living as he has to do as well. I have never called my stepdaughter evil. She is a beautiful young lady and I adore her as well as the other four. I feel like she is a ring out for attention and pray that somehow she will get what she's looking for. I have tried everything I know and still will support her.