I guess I must have jinxed myself on here when I said that I was happy that I am not allowed to watch SD per BM's crazy, controlling issues. I was actually at the point that I was happy I'm not allowed (after 4 years of not being allowed)! I'm now super pissed because apparently 2 weeks ago BM told SO she needed him to take SD this weekend so she can do something I assume with her new bf (IDK b/c SO didn't tell me why). Well SO works this weekend (he works the weekends he doesn't have SD b/c again I'm USUALLY not allowed to watch her).

I'm just curious if other SMs on here have skids that seek attention constantly and how do you deal with it? My SD drives me crazy with her constant need for attention. My 3yo son doesn't require as much attention as she does (she is 10). I also have a 10 yo son and he also isn't as desperate for attention. I have personally started disengaging most of the time (thanks to the wisdom of other steptalkers). Therefore, I try to ignore her constant gimmics to get attention but she makes it hard to ignore her.

I am just curious about how other moms handle kid's birthdays. What birthdays do you think are a big deal/special age? Personally I had a big party for each of my boy's 1st birthdays and just small parties for the other birthdays so far and feel like 13 and 16 and 18 are big ones. When I was growing up my parents didn't go all out with expensive elaborate parties on our birthdays and it never bothered me. I guess I'm asking because SD's birthday is coming up and she will be turning 10.