As some of you might know, I have a teenager step-daughter that has been getting into trouble. Our relationship has plummeted since the last escapade... I am sure everything she says will be a lie, and she is sure everything I say will be criticism. Hubby is doing NOTHING to help here. He's afraid of choosing sides, so stands idly by while we "duke it out".

Well, its gotten to the point where she blatantly ignores me and won't even acknowledge me. Which, in some circumstances might be ok.... give her time to think and move on. BUT she's not moving on. Its getting worse. And the more distant she becomes, the more hurt I get, and the more mad I get at her actions.

Hubby's taking college courses this summer, and won't be home at all. I will be responsible for picking her up from swimming practice every day. Do you know what that car ride's like? A knife could cut through the silent tension. Then he's also taking a few courses out of town -- leaving her and me ALONE in the house for a week. I jokingly told hubby not to be surprised to come home with only one of us left standing.

ANY ideas on how I can make things better? I'm TRYING (and failing) to bite my tongue and ignore all the things I see. Everywhere I look, I catch her in another lie. Hubby says she's lying because she's afraid to tell the truth. Yeah, whatever to that one!

I thought perhaps if I took her for her permit and then susequently teach her to drive that perhaps we'd get better... but she WON'T talk to me. How can I teach a person to drive who won't even say "hello" to me when I say hi to her in the mornings? AND if I just decide to get her permit, thats me breaking a punishment she had from her last escapade. She knows what the terms are for her geting her permit: talking to me. If I allow her to get her permit, I'd be letting her get away with not talking to me. Follow that? Essentially, after her last bad deed (won't go into it here) she fliped out and back talked too much and went over the line. Hubby saw where it was going and told her that IF she wanted to drive, the ONLY way she'd be able to do so was to talk with me and adjust her attitude. Oh, she adjusted her attitude alright... adjusted it to completely and totally ignoring me

Sigh, I'm totally at a loss here. Its making me so sad and I feel lost. I don't understand WHY she does what she does. Perhas if I understood why, I'd be ok. If she would talk to us and be open about her feelings... then I'd know where to go. She has completely closed down. The only time she talks to us is when she needs something, and for that she goes to "daddy" Not "Dad" but "daddy" because she knows how well it works on hubby. And she says it in a sweet little girl tone. Gosh is he a sucker! LOL

Sorry this is so long. I really am upset and don't know what to do. I've just been so busy with work, and this is been in the background for weeks... I just don't feel the same enjoyment in anything anymore. I am just so tired and defeated feeling.