I love reading all these posts and learning that I am not alone and not some CRAZY, super mean B*tch! on that note ...

The Skids are coming for the 3rd weekend in a row and so OF COURSE I'm already starting my Thursday night ritual of panicking and anxiety over: what am I going to cook (EXTREMELY picky eaters), are they going to be whiny and cranky because they have to be here again, are they going to do something THIS time to finally push me to my breaking point, and as always, how much are my SO and I going to argue and how many times is he going to tell me to relax or calm down or get mad at me for getting mad about something, this weekend.

My own children often get on my nerves (OBVIOUSLY lol, I have two youngs boys), and more so these days because I am 30 weeks pregnant with the hardest pregnancy of my life and SUPER anxious and uncomfortable. But SS13 and SD12 sure take the cake of getting under my skin... and it seems the longer their father and I are together, the less they like me, and the feeling is mutual.

I have been with my SO for just over 2 years and we have lived together for a year. I rarely spent time with his children before I moved in, however I'm sort of forced into getting to know them, as they spend Fri sat and Sundays with us. of course every blended family has bumps along the way, and it took me a bit but I have been bringing my issues to my SO's attention as of late with the hopes that things will change for the better before our daughter arrives in June.

I've talked with SO, seen a therapist and relayed mesgs to SO from therapist on things we could do, even brought him to see my therapist to find out first hand that my issues are not unreasonable or something we cannot work on with his kids. My problem is NOTHING gets through to him. He listens but just kind of nods his head to end the discussion. Or he'll defend Skids...

For instance, I expect my 5 and 7 1/2 year old to clean their own room up, put away anything they may take out, put their own dishes in the sink after eating, they even get themselves Cereal in the morning. They are polite and are expected to show respect to all adults and use please and thank you regularly. Seems simple, and it is. My SO has NO problem with MY children following said rules, he even enforces them... his kids on the other hand...

SS13 and SD12 still need him to run the shower or a bath for them (my 7 year old can do it alone) and then leave their dirty clothes all over the floor, spilled shampoos or soaps in the tub, and EVERY time the ENTIRE bathroom floor is soaked! SS13 cannot seem to do a thing for himself. He will text his dad at 730 am to get up and make him breakfast. Sit and wait for it, then hand his dishes to his dad to put in the sink. Leaves empty drinks or things like butter or Ketchup sitting out all day. He'll pout in his room if him and I are fighting and will text his dad to "come here" if he has something to say or needs something.

SD12 is a little more independent but a freakin entitled SLOB. Helps herself to WHAT EVER she wants WHENEVER she wants. Including MY things in MY bedroom. Leaves a huge mess everywhere she goes. Clothes all over her room (which SO cleans up), empty cups or soda cans in every room of the house, and eats ALL THE TIME. Not just snacks either! I spent $100 on Chinese food for the 6 of us and after his kids ravaged it and went to their rooms without so much as a thank you, my kids and myself picked over the leftovers and I put the rest in the fridge for lunch the next day. All that to go find that little miss entitled had snuck into the fridge in the midle of the night and eaten another full meals worth! LeaVing almost none!

SO and myself argue about these things often. I informed him that this house is not a free for all, if Skids want something, they can ask, as my children do. He tells me it's hard for them to break their habit of helping themselves. I say they need to clean up their room, he sneaks in and does it and says it's no big deal cus they don't live here full time. I say they can make their own Cereal or Bagels in the morning and he gets up and makes it for them, or a big full breakfast complete with waffles and eggs etc. He has an excuse for everything I expect from them or he'll just go do it himself. He feels I am too uptight, or strict, or hard on them, but when they aren't here he fully enforces the same rules with my children.

I honestly feel like he feels I have raised my children right and so he will continue to raise them in said manner because he doesn't want more lazy, rude, mouthy, entitled children (he appreciates how well behaved and respectful mine are)... and that his are too far gone to change now. I just don't know how to get through to him. He does listen to me and does try to enforce some of the things that really bother me, but he usually never sticks with it...

I love this man to death! He is an amazing father and a genuinely kind and good person. He goes out of his way to make me happy... so I WILL NOT allow devil Skids to bring us apart (especially since NOTHING in the world would make them happier) but I'm at a loss... and the stress is making my pregnancy harder ...