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I'm going to try and keep my feelings out of this article. I'm not going to say the same for the comments portion necessarily though. Keep this as a 'what would you do' in this situation mindset if you can. I won't be using names, but I will refer to the characters of my story as father (F), daughter (D), mother (M), stepmother (SM), stepfather (SF), stepbrothers (SB), and half brother (.5bro).
Divorce can be an ugly thing. But then again, there are some that are rather easy too..... Sometimes turns out that it was too good to be true. Often, a divorce is the best thing that can happen in a family. In my life, I've found that they usually are (specifically in the long run). I am a child of divorce. I am divorced too. All situations are different. Everyone has their own reasons and thoughts behind this process. That's not what this article is about. Whatever your opinion is about divorce has no merit here. So, please... Don't go there. Here's the story......
M & F have joint legal and physical. Both make the same (or close to) amount of money. There is no child support. In the beginning, M & F live in the same city (within 1/4mi) of each other. D's whole family is near there (within 10mi) along with her school and friends. M gets together w/SF and with D's permission (after a LONG 'get to know each other' period) SF moves into our home (M, already pregnant w/.5bro). F even comes to M's & SF's babyshower for D's .5bro. Everything seems well and M, F, & SF all keep open communication. F meets SM which has 2 boys. SM is very good to D. Things moved a bit faster with F & SM then it did with M & SF as far as marriage and moving in together... F moved aproximately 50mi away from D's family, friends, M, SF, & .5bro to live with SM. SM has similar setup with her ex for custody. SM and her ex live aproximately 20mi from each other. SM's family also lives out their way. SM is a health nut to the extreme and tends to show that a regular grocery store is not good enough (because preservatives are the devil).... Sorry, that was part feeling.
Just recently, D says to M, 'I'm done with my supper. I've had a lot to eat today. And F says I'm not supposed to eat cheese. F says I need to be on a diet.' D is 49" tall and weighs 48lbs on a GOOD DAY. M asks D, 'Are you told that you eat too much?' D looks down and away before saying, 'No.' The next morning, grandma makes D's lunch. D tells grandma what F normally puts in her lunch..... Cucumber slices (1/2C), 5-6 whole grain crackers, and yogurt (1/2C). D's also said that F doesn't let her have a snack between when she get's out of school and dinner (which means between 12p-6p) D gets nothing to eat. At M's house, D is constantly eating... Generally fruits or some kind of whole grain. M & SF don't tell her no when it comes to food... Especially if D's asking for an apple and a cheese stick. D is extremely active. M & SF feel (as well as D's Drs) that D needs more than average caloric intake (for her age group) because of her activity level. D was recently diagnosed with ADHD w/acute anxiety. F was recently diagnosed w/ADHD as well.
What would you suggest in a situation such as this? (see poll)
