Space to vent, please.

[AnotherCountryMummy]

Preparing to get flamed by those who aren't stepmothers and just don't get it. But hoping there will be some who do. I just want space to vent. Here it goes...

Youngest SD (10) is suuuuch a drama queen. She's currently faking an asthma attack.

I know she's faking because every time her dad leaves the room, the fake wheezing stops. I listened outside for a while and she was silent. Then I went in to check on her and she told me she's all better and looked/sounded completely normal. In the time that I put two cups into the dishwasher and turned it on, Dad has walked in and she's suddenly doing all these big fake wheezes and shivering etc. Honestly she could get an Oscar for it. Then he leaves the room and she goes back to normal. It's ludicrous.

I know there's probably a deep, underlying problem that she feels she isn't getting enough attention from her dad. Which is awful and we will address that and I'll speak to DH about it later.

But right now I can't be arsed with this drama on my Saturday night. It's tedious, dramatic and unnecessary.

To be honest it's probably not even a step thing. I think I'd be fucked off if my own child behaved like this.

Flame me.

Just let her dad deal with it. Get on with what ever you had planned. Then talk to him about it later and suggest he spend some one on one time with her next time he sees her.

Agree with PP. Distract yourself from this tedious drama. Don't get involved. Leave it all to DH to deal with.

Thanks ladies, you're right. Hopefully it will have all blown over tomorrow.

No judgement here, have a glass of wine and relax. Let DH deal with it x

No judgement here. I hope you enjoyed a glass of wine and let him deal with it.

In hindsight I’d have suggested he take her straight to A&E. That way you’d have had some peace and quiet.

I did have a glass, thank you 🍷

I actually did suggest A&E! She looked panicked when I said it 😂

Definitely a good idea to say go to A&E, that will stop the dramatics 😂 my SD (10)can be like that, will get a tiny scratch on her ankle and is limping for the rest of the day, will forget she's meant to be limping and start running, I comment 'glad your ankle is OK now' she remembers and starts limping again 🙈😂 Drives me mad!

I future any signs of illness straight to bed... No tech obviously.. Await the miraculous recovery..

This is so funny! Mine is exactly the same. You'd think they'd be embarrassed by being caught out and stop, but mine will just keep going 🙈

Thanks everybody. Stepmothers often get a lot of hate here, so I was prepping to be told how uncaring I am. But I feel much better and supported now!

My 13 year old step daughter developed "stomach ache" on my birthday. Dad spent the evening in A&E. Needless to say, we didn't do much celebrating that evening.

No judgement here, good luck, from a fellow stepmum who's sd is also a huge drama queen. It's driving me mad.... and to drink. Cheers!

No judgement from me either. The number of tummy aches, headaches that have ruined days and weekends is unbelievable here. I ignore them all, as I do my own children if I suspect they are making it up.

Oh yes. I’ve totally disengaged from my partner’s kids but he has one who when we would all go out would get ‘growing pains in his foot’ or ‘a terrible stitch’ that were only cured by dad walking very slowly with him while everyone else went ahead. Then once back home, straight on the trampoline. I’d love to know why some kids do this - I’m divorced with a kid myself but my child is secure and doesn’t fake illnesses. Not my circus but I retain a passing interest in why my almost-stepkids did such things.