I married my husband 11 years ago and his daughter lived with us full time has a child. BM only a problem at holidays and had no financial or physical custody. So, sometimes I forget I'm a stepmom...but sometimes, my SD goes out of her way to bring that reality back in full force...like a wall of brick breaking my nose...over and over.

So, my uncle recently got married, had a destination wedding in Florida - and we decided to go early. We went a week early spent 3 days at Disney world and 2 days at Universal Studios, then off to the beach for a few days and a wedding.

When we booked the trip, I didn't think a thing about the fact that I was paying for 3 people to spend a week in close quarters, because I was so excited about the trip. It was going to be the 3 of us and my cousin (who's my best friend). Got a townhouse in Orlando for the first part of the trip with 3 bathrooms and separate bedrooms...enough for everyone to have their own space.

Here's the kicker...I paid for the entire trip.

Now, my SD never really wanted anything to do with Disney, mostly because I'm a fan of it...but she loves Harry Potter, so she was going nuts over Universal.

About 2 weeks before we left, I invited her over and made her "Butter beer" from a recipe I had looked up online (it's the drink they drink in Harry Potter). When she took a sip, I could tell she liked it, but immediately she said "this is terrible." And at that moment, BRICK WALL...

I went into full-on panic mode...what have I done? I've paid for this person who has never really accepted me to travel on my dime for a week while doing everything in her power to hurt me...that's what I have done.

And, let me tell you...it was a nightmare.

Everything I've read on this site, from the inappropriate holding of hands and giggling and touching of dad's shoulders while walking thru Epcot, to telling me something I like was horrible, to even saying things like "I'm not going to let you make me feel stupid" in front of my cousin - which of course, made ME look stupid...she was a nightmare. She wouldn't shower or brush her teeth (she's 21 years old). She told her father when we got home that she "woyuldn't come around for awhile". She didn't want to go anywhere I wanted to go, didn't want to eat what I wanted to eat...I call this "opposite child"...it was out in full force, and I started to loose it.

By the end, she couldn't even make a sound without me loosing my mind. I had gone completely insane, thought I might need to see a doctor about this strange anxiety that had overcome me, and maybe have my hormone levels checked. I started to snap at her, and would chant in my head "she's a person, be kind" over and over and over...nothing worked.

Finally, when my husband asked me why I cared if she bathed before we got on the plane to go home, I had it. We fought, and in the mirror, I saw her smile...then I knew I wasn't nuts, I was being a victim...and I'm not a good victim.

I got home, took a few days, talked to a few friends with step daughters, and realized...she's playing...not me...dad, and he's buying it.

#1 I will never take her on a trip again
#2 We cancelled Easter...or rather, I made other plans on Easter so we won't be having it
#3 I need time to heal, and I'm okay with that

Since we got home, she's been to my house while I was at work to talk to dad about me twice, and has been texting him non-stop. When he told me yesterday, I showed him her texts to me...all about Disney and Harry Potter...all nice.

I need space, I'm taking it, and I feel like a horrible person, but I know this is a game to her and my life to me.

I don't know if I need advice, but I'm pretty sure I'm not crazy...feel free to weigh in.