Hello Girls....

Since I am always posting VENTY stuff, I thought I would post some good news now. Thinking that GOD has finally decided to give me a break in all of this at the moment, and giving me the chance to de-stress.

The EO and DH and a civil discussion yesterday. She is not interested in taking us to court, as DH reminded her that attorney's cost money, and should we have to go back to court, he will ask for a reduction in c/s, as he didn't ask for it last time when it was offered. So needless to say, that this will make sence and she will realize that this is just the way it is. She did whine and moan about how hard it is for her, but DH politely said, "well you made some decisions that have put you were you are, and whether or not you still feel justified, you have to live with them". The conversation remained focused on school tuition and SS. However, in the end, she did RAVED about how wonderful she thinks I am, how she feels safe knowing that when SS is with me I have his best interest in mind and I would never do anything to hurt him, and in respects of DH getting married, SS couldn't have gotten luckier to have someone like me in his life. I have no clue on how to take it, so I am not going to think anything about it, other than the fact that I do think she is lucky that I have taken an interest and I have done things a lot of step-parents wouldn't do, and maybe, in reality, she is beginning to see it?

I still don't feel guilty saying she is a LOSER...because that is the truth of the matter. She has issues...she will just have to work them out....but once again, we are back to a comfort level of little communication, or at least the communication is being limited to about SS.

She did take him back to the counslor, and she claims he opened up and the counselor wants to talk to DH and I about some things, DH said the EO didn't sound negitive at all, and said that SS really enjoyed staying at our house this summer, he loved summer camp and he felt that he was part of our family.

Could we be making a step in the right direction and has this been happening at such a slow pace that we didn't notice until recently? Anyway, I think this is good news....for an EO to have nothing but positive things to say about DH and I and how we deal with SS......AMAZED.....which probably explains the reason she has been showing signs of insecurity again, because SS is once again feeling comfortable with us.

We are not into the counseling thing with the 3 of us, but if it's for SS sake, then we will go once. In the past....SS's counslor has been fed a line of BS by SS and the counslor has allowed him to lie and not hold him responsible for his actions....which is why we stopped taking him there.....but maybe there is some maturity that is beginning to surface????? HUMMMM...it's interesting, but I must say, I am beginning to feel some sort of relief from the recent stressors.

Thanks for listening. I am of course cautious...but a part of me really hopes this is real and it's going in a positive direction.