AIBU to think being a good, caring step parent..

[ElenorRigby]

is the most thankless task ever?

Not a step-parent myself, but I take my hat off to you. Mind you, parenting is pretty thankless at times

YANBU.

i see my role as step parent the same as my role as parent, i have a little 8 year old DSD who needs me as much as my DD and DS need me, just cos she only lives here at weekends doesnt make her needs any less.......parenting is a thankless role anyway but a very rewarding one!

Agree, Jamie! Being a parent, step or otherwise, is a rather thankless task! You just have to get on with it and do your best and hope that when they grow up they realise you are not in fact, a "mean poo pants"

Hequet Indeed. Or a "kill-joy swine " (nugget from 6 year old today)

YANBU.

I have been saving very hard to take everyone, including DSSs abroad for the first time this year. Was a nightmare getting time off in school hols etc, as DH and I get our Annual leave allocated to us in blocks and we have to swap if we need to change it. Passports have been sent off for and paid for by us.

DH's XP has now decided she doesn't want them to go. Reasons? 'You have never taken them abroad before, why should you start now?' and 'We're going to Devon. They can't have two holidays'.

All plans ruined, can't book. Kids devastated (including my 3 year old).Why did I even bother?

ANYWAY...that's my weekend. What happened in yours?

Agree that parenting is often thankless!

But YANBU - I take my hat off to people who take on other people's children; it must be even more stressful!

Being a step child is often pretty ropey.

I agree with you ladies it is a thankless task especially Hequet you have to just get on with it and Bonkez too it is rewarding ,most of my friends are step parents and they do a fantastic job

It is a very privileged position to be entrusted with someone else's DC.

YANBU, not a job I would ever touch.

If I found myself single would only be interested in childless men or men with grown up children I think.

If you love them too much you are trying to take their mother's place and if you don't love them enough you are an evil witch.

That's crap citybranch. Passports are bloody expensive too. Why did she agree to it if she didn't want them to go? I could understand if she didn't want the kids to have time off school - fair enough, but her reason is rubbish! She is taking away the chance for them to have a holiday with their half siblings and your half of their family. Why on Earth shouldn't they have two holidays?!?!?

Their mother is only 50% of their parents though. Can't you get their father to tell her that she agreed, it's booked and paid for and that they are going anyway, no option.

OP, YANBU - sometimes I realise just how my my dp has put into making our little family work and feel guilty that I don't appreciate him as much as I probably should.

Look on the bright side: your DC(s) get extra brothers and sisters who can teach them things and look after them and you didn't even have to be pregnant and give birth!!! What a bonus!

Stepchildren are just fine, IME. Their mother is the problem

YANBU - although it does get better dsd3 is turning into a real credit to DP (and I - I think I am allowed to say that!). Her mother and relations haven't given a stuff since she made the huge decision to move 500 miles down here with DP and I a number of years ago. She gets on fantastically with her two little sisters (massive age gap) and I love to see all three of them interacting and dsd becoming more confident and independant.

However, it wasn't all hugs and kisses and we have had our Jeremy Kyle moments with shrieking and insults - I'm thinking that that's probably par for the course for a 16/17/18 yo girl though!

YANB at all U ER !

Citybranch - that's disgusting behaviour, so pointless, so spiteful and so controlling. Would your DH consider applying for a specific contact order perhaps ? I can't see a judge agreeing with her crappy and selfish reasons why your step children shouldn't enjoy a 2nd holiday.

Not always, surely, Bonsoir?

it absolutely is!!! It’s a bit like my gym sessions. I’m putting all the work in yet nothing is changing 😂😂

Note to self stop eating.