Family Forum / Parenting / Step Parents / July 2004

I had a chance to do some talking to my son today.  He was desperate
for clothes (seriously in need) and so we went to the mall.  I briefly
laid out what I *wanted* to see him do about school, without telling
him he *had* to follow that path.  I asked him if he was planning to

I was wondering if anyone could tell me what rights does a step parent have
when it comes to the care of children. I am getting married soon and my
two sons will have a step father. What will his rights be vs their
biological father,who is till involved in their life.

Been lurking here a few weeks, to get a feel. I have been living with my
girlfriend in her home for almost a year, with her son and daughter aged 12
and 9, and my two from my previous relationship (boy and girl aged 7 and 3)
stay here weekends. Things get stressful with all 4 kids, ...

I've been so stressed lately that it's good to have something nice to
post about.
Today's my birthday (shameless plug :-)  I just got back from a
wonderful afternoon at my brother's house, where he and my SIL had a

Thanks to those who replied with the helpful advice.  It's just
helpful in itself to know that the way i'm feeling does not
necessarily make me a selfish cow.  But there are a few things I
should clarify.

I just found out yesterday that my wife has secretly run up ten grand in
credit card bills.   Up till yesterday I was working my a.s off trying to
get out of nine grand debt for another credit card.  I finally paid off the
card and now I find out about the ten thousand.  I am so ...

I am new, have four bio children( boy 17, girl 15, girl 12, and girl 8)and
am 44. I have been seperated for 2 1/2 years, divorced 6 months. I have
been dating the same man for 2 years, no children, divorced, 58. We have
discussed marriage several times in the last 2 years.  One of ...

We all know (and a recent post mentioned about does it do any good to
get worked up over something) that sometimes you just get something
that bothers you about a relationship or spouse, that just sticks
there.  Big, little, important, insignificant, sometimes you just get

Okay.  I just lost all the posts from all my newsgroups somehow.  I
have reset them all, but I had a few I had marked for reply.
I am tired and cranky and a few of the issues that have been
discussed here recently have left a sour taste in my mouth.

Jenny T is trying to get ahold of you, but your email has been bouncing
whenever she tries. She asked me to let you know she'd love to hear from
you.
Let me know if you need her email addy.

My wife and I just started a new parenting website at
www.myparentingcorner.com and I just wanted to post in some newsgroups to
see if we could get some feedback, comments, etc.
If you like the site, bookmark it! We are posting to it everyday!

Making a new thread because I wasn't going to respond to Kim, changed my mind,
and now can't find the thread.
I don't believe in letting babies cry alone.  I did that once... when DS was
about 2 or 3 months.  I couldn't console him.  Nothing I did worked.  I put him

Hello all, I'm new to this and looking for practical advice before I
make some major decisions about my life.  I'm engaged, and the wedding
is not too far away!
About a year ago i fell in love with a man who had recently divorced.

I'm trying to get a sense of what I should expect from the situation,
vs. what I think I've earned and deserve not just as a stepparent but
as a human adult.
Background - met my wife in 1992, she had 2 girls from her previous