This happens all the time to me. Well, most of FH and BM's conversations happen when I'm not around, but when she calls and we're home - it drives me insane. I am the biggest thorn in her side and I can't seem to do anything right. I can't help it that because of her laziness as a mother, that I have to pick up her slack. Do I want to raise two little girls who aren't mine? No, not really, been there done that. But I chose my FH and everything that comes along with him. I am ALL in - period. I don't want to be responsible for EVERY school project, every school activity that involves a parent, every sporting event, all homework, all Dr visits, etc......................ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am the most involved with the skids and I'm the STEP parent! How did I get here? Why do I take this? Don't get me wrong - FH is a very involved parent, but let's face it, like most fathers there are just certain things they leave up to the "little woman". And FH works alot. I am damned if I do and damned if I don't. Damned by BM for doing "too much" and damned by FH if I disengage because of BM's opinion that I'm too involved and she's feeling left out. I don't want her to be left out!!!! Leave ME out for a change when there's something that may not be all that much fun, but there's nobody else to do the "hard" chores, but EVERYBODY wants to be there for the fun stuff. BM was bitching last night because of an activity at the school that she can't attend that I'm going to attend. Believe me, sometimes I don't want to go. PLEASE somebody else go! The skids will be talking about holiday traditions in front of their parents. WHAT holiday traditions?!! I'm new here! BM- Please take my place and go to this! I'm begging you to go! But, oh I forgot, you have missed so much work that you're positive that you can't get off work on Nov. 24th to attend. Don't be hungover for the next couple of weeks and maybe you could get off!!!!!!!

Gosh, I sound like such a harpy right now. I know, I know. You guys are thinking "Why should I go?" Well, I fell bad for the skids. I feel bad for any child that can't have a parent attend something. In this day and age where both parents have to work, it's hard for parents to attend everything. I chose to work from home to help FH out with his business and in my career I can work from home. This was something FH and I discussed, and he pays me very well for the work I do and that includes the flexibility to attend the skids' school functions. FH loves me for the dedication I have to his children that BM never had. And when BM did not work for the past three years, she did not attend anything. NOW, when she's working, she wants to attend. I think I may be making her feel inadequate as a parent and she's feeling pressured to attend more things and give the appearance of disappointment when she can't attend. WELL GOOD! If me being "super mom" can get you up off your ass to compete with me - then HOORAY! I am not competing - there's no competition. SHE is the MOM. The skids love her because they have to and they love me because they WANT to! See, no competition.

Okay, I feel better now. I am off to the office to get some work done before I HAVE to be back home to get the skids off the bus and then do homework, feed them, bathe them, read to them, and then tuck them in. All of those activities are on the "okay list" of what BM says I'm allowed to do. Shew.......