Can anyone recommend a GOOD site -- message boards -- where I can discuss the issues I'm having with being a stepparent?

I've done a search all during my lunch hour and came up with nothing. Any help would be appreciated. Please e-mail me at april@ohkysteel.com or aprilreinhardt2@yahoo.com, or leave me a Private Topic here.

Thanks.

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April

The face of a child can say a lot -- especially the mouth part of the face.

My Blog

Oh April. I'm with YOU on that. I am a step-parent, too (15 yo DD). I have done searches myself in the past when things were "sticky". I'll see what I can dig up and let ya know.

Blessings.

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Suzanne (Atkins - 1/9/04)
195/168/145

Mary Kay PT'd me with a link to a great website which I've been perusing ever since yesterday afternoon.

After reading and reading and reading, however, my "problems" seem miniscule. It was just what the doctor ordered. Seeing other people's issues has given me a paradigm shift.

PT me if you want the link or e-mail me at aprilreinhardt2@yahoo.com or april@ohkysteel.com.

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April

The face of a child can say a lot -- especially the mouth part of the face.

My Blog

hmmm... my step kids are all grown... but the grief never ends... they have kids of their own... but ...well... the problems we encountered with them never REALLY seem to go away....

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kims SECOND journal is HERE
kims new blog
KIMS BLOG !!
SUGARFREE BLOG

being a stepparent is one of the HARDEST jobs in the world. i can say that, 'cause i am one. it's had it's up's and downs, but after 15 years...well, i'm pretty well adjusted. my stepson, i don't get to see and he's pretty messed up right now, but stepdaughter: after not seeing her for 7 years, she moved in! we're very close now and i wouldn't change that realtionship for the world. time and perspective helps.

hope things stablize for you soon, ms. april!

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Thanks, Dixie. May I call you Dixie?

I'm pretty well consumed by this stepparent thing just now and dealing with issues concerning just how I fit into the puzzle here.

I'm going to see my doctor in a few weeks and bring up the Wellbutrin idea.

Thanks for your input. Considering your background, I listen to what you have to say.

Again, thanks.

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April

The face of a child can say a lot -- especially the mouth part of the face.

My Blog

of course you can call me dixie!

i understand the feelings of being consumed by stepparent issues. i got married under fire, and at first, felt like the proverbial fifth wheel. i went from being single to being the married mother of three in less than a month. i was like 22. oh yeah, and we were in the middle of a custody battle at the time, and dh dealt with his feelings of guilt over the divorce by letting the kids run amuck...it's a wonder nobody got killed, let along dh and i are still together.

it has been a crazy ride, but i've learned a lot along the way i read every parenting and stepparenting book that i could find, at least at first. it does help put it in perspective, for sure! and when you deal with combined family issues, perspective is one of those things that tend to be in short supply.

if you are having trouble with kids doing what you ask, i would also suggest you check out "children, the challenge." it's an old book, but it is very helpful and has worked for everyone i've known who actually tried to follow the ideas they presented. it's the best parenting book i've ever read, and i've read quite a few.

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April: I, too, am a stepparent.

Kids all grown now, but I came into their lives when the youngest son was 16. It was a hell of a ride for the first year ~ including an arrest for selling drugs and time in jail for him; a car accident where he ran into a telephone pole near the house, drunk, getting "lost" in the mountains near our home and us watching the search and rescue team search for him while we waited in the base camp. He walked out on his own in the afternoon and confessed that he had been avoiding the rescuers all day "just to see if he could."

He is 39 now. Still abusing alcohol and living alone in another State. Others are 44, 46, 49. We just spent two weeks in Japan together for the oldest son's wedding. It was really good to be with all of them. The only trouble I ran into was when my dh forgot which wife he was relating to. (His ex was there. I get along just fine with her). Of course, I let him know with both barrels, I mean, gently and persuasively, ahem.

Glad you are getting some help from the website, and other here on the Boards. Feel free to pm me if you want to talk.

Peace, Peg

Dixie:

The doc put me on a low dose of Zoloft this morning. I will report back to him in 2 1/2 weeks.

Wish me luck with this. This was a very huge leap of faith for me. I have little tolerance for high-maintenance signs in myself, and I don't like this one little bit.

He told me to get over myself and just take the darn stuff.

We'll see.......

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April

The face of a child can say a lot -- especially the mouth part of the face.

My Blog

Hi, April

I hope that helps. If you get heart palpitations from it, try avoiding all caffine (coffee, black tea, green tea, cocoa, certain diet sodas). I couldn't even drink decaf during the month I took zoloft. I know it doesn't affect everyone that way.

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~~~Teelbee
Back to GOAL!!!
start weight: 176/goal range: 137-134/now: 138
Reached goal in Aug. 2003 - 4rd year of maintenance.

best wishes for this to be an answer for you APRIL.. certainly will help to journal the effects you get from it..physical AND emotionally speaking...
celexa that i took was said to TAKE THE EDGE OFF.. well it did.. but i think i was on it WAY longer than i should have been (2 years).. i kinda think the PA just lost track of WHY i was taking it.. she refilled... i took..

sometimes i think i could use it again.. but then i realize i am not in that dark place ... just have dark DAYS..*grin*
wishing you well...
kim

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kims SECOND journal is HERE
kims new blog
KIMS BLOG !!
SUGARFREE BLOG

Good Luck with the meds April, it isn't a miracle cure, but they do often help a LOT! Just takes the right dosing. . .go ahead--be high maintenance!!! I tell my daughter's teachers I ama high maintenance mom! I demand the best for her--but I will support them too. . .she is NOT allowed to be "naughty" as a teacher I ahve no tolerance for that!

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Lori

232/190/130
My other journal http://www.lowcarbeating.com/bb/showthread.php?t=1130

my favorite jammies have little patches saying
Hello - My Name Is HIGH MAINTENANCE all over them.

and WHY NOT?? We're women - we deserve to be! We have to take care of ourselves and everyone else.

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Mary Kay
2009 - 223
Valentines day goal - 214

Mary Kay....LOL!!!!

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April

The face of a child can say a lot -- especially the mouth part of the face.

My Blog