In the UK - PT 18 'Dark O'Clock'

[Sotto]

Hi Huddy, I'm glad you're having a better weekend and that was a lovely message from your SD, bless her. I had a nice Mother's Day text from SS this year and I was really touched. I think as a step parent you come to have no expectations for these days, so it's extra nice when they are recognised.

As for recent convos with your W. I think you are right not to react to her reactive behaviour as I think that would spiral - ie: if you do something, she would always do a little more etc.

Whether she was temp checking who knows? And comments like that are certainly ones to shrug off I think. For convos like the PPI, I wonder if revisiting the validation techniques might be a good idea as this convo ended in a negative reaction from her? Might it have been reasonable to say to her - as far as I'm aware we never had that, but if you want to check, go ahead. And if she persisted, to then say - this is your project not mine, and good luck if that's what you want to do....I could be wrong in thinking we never had it...etc

To me, it's about accepting she may want to do that. Helpfully letting her know what you want to know and being clear about your wish not to be involved - all pleasantly. From what you post, I wonder whether you may sometimes come across as a little huffy and obstructive in your interactions?

So, what plans do you have for yourself in coming months Huddy? Detachment is a work in progress for many of us and the more we can GAL separate to our WAS, the easier it is to genuinely detach more from what they are doing.

Hope you manage to have a nice day tomorrow even if you don't get to see the kids xx