Choices

We all have choices, right?  Sadly that's not always the truth.  There are instances in life where, unfortunately, we don't get to make decisions.  This has come as a hard truth to learn in becoming a stepmother, as I had previously believed that we always have a choice, no matter what.   I have learned that there are sometimes where I just don't get a choice, or worse, that my stepdaughter B doesn't get a choice.  Being a step-parent, or step-child, there are decisions being made that affect your life, or your families lives, but you're not always the one making those decisions.  Who you would consider an outsider gets to make decisions that affect you and your family.  Although to be fair I suppose I would actually be the one considered the outsider, or at least I am to her.  Her being B's birth mother.  And while most would probably say that I must bend to her as she is the mother of my stepchild first and foremost, I would strongly argue against anyone taking that stance in this instance.

It seems to me that it's not very often that a mother is an unwelcome fixture in their child's lives, and I would wonder if it's so often the case that the mother is deserving of the child's desire to not have to spend time with their mother, as I feel is the case in our situation.  I don't feel like our circumstances are very normal or common however.  My fiancé has custody of his daughter, a feat that is not easily accomplished anywhere much less in the state of Texas, especially with the particular judge that oversaw the custody hearing.  This particular judge hardly ever sides against the mother.  It's nearly unheard of for a birth mother to not get full custody of a child when going through her court.  That in itself should speak volumes about my stepdaughter's birth mother and her character.

Honestly I'm not one to go around calling people horrible, but for this woman, I will make an exception.  I have never met a more selfish, controlling or manipulative person in my life.  Except maybe for my ex-husband.  They'd either get along swimmingly or end up killing each other once they realized there was no winning against the other person.  Personally I'd prefer the latter, however seeing as he is in prison and she's already remarried I suppose it's not even plausible.  However I ask that you don't mistake my poor opinion of her as competitiveness or some sort of bitterness that I'll forever be living in her shadow.  In fact that is so far from the truth it's laughable!  I feel no need to compete against this woman and I have never felt like I am living in her shadow.  Nor will I ever feel, or allow her to make me feel like I am in any way, shape or form, any less of a mother to my stepdaughter than she is herself.  Because in all honesty, as sad as it is to say, I am more involved in her daughters life than she ever has been, and not just because of the fact that she lost custody.

Now some may find my feelings and statements on this matter as being brazen, arrogant or maybe just plain distasteful or unfounded, but when it comes right down to it, I don't care if anyone thinks that way.  None of you reading this have had to deal with this woman or the way she uses her daughter against us to try to get her way.  She has disrespected me from the moment I became involved with my fiancé and his daughter yet demands respect from me which I do not feel she deserves.  To me respect has always been something you earn, not something that is an automatic right.  I have tried to at least respect her relationship with her daughter at the very least, as she is her birth mother, but this is something that is hard in it's own right considering how often I hear of how ridiculous she is from B.  I would like to believe that not many other people have had to stay up comforting their stepchild while they cry because they feel like their mother doesn't love them or that their mother prefers their step-sibling.  Or listen to stories of their stepchild getting in trouble for something their step-sibling did.  Or getting spanked for telling their mother how they felt.  And yet I am powerless to change her circumstances, much as she is powerless to make choices.

As time goes on and circumstances with her mother seem to grow worse, I have become more frustrated with the fact that B has no choice when it comes to her mother.  When it comes time for a visit with her mother, whether it's just for the weekend or one of her longer summer visits, she always tells us she doesn't want to go.  Even if it's just a two hour Thursday visit, she says it's too much time and sometimes she will even ask when she won't have to go anymore.  It pains me to tell her we don't have a choice over any of it, that there are laws involved that we have to follow and really she won't get to make a choice over it until she's 18.  She hates this last part the most since 10 years is a long time for anyone, especially to a child.

Not having the ability to make choices about her living situation it's clear to me that having choices over other areas is important to B, so her father and I make every effort to let her make decisions on her own whenever possible.  We have always allowed her to pick out her own outfits for school.  When I first came into the picture she did need some help from time to time but she's gotten to be a bit of a fashionista since then and really only needs to be told what the weather will be like.  Or sometimes she needs to be reminded that her favorite outfit has gotten to be too small and she can't wear it (but I've forgotten to remove it from her closet).  But for whatever reason she doesn't get to choose her outfits while she's at her mother's.  Her step-sister does, and they're only 2 months apart in age yet the reason for her step-sister being allowed to pick out her own clothes is that she is older.  By 2 months?  How does that even make sense?  Instead B is given 3 options to choose from.  I can see doing that if she had a hard time making a decision on her own, but that's never been a problem for her so I'm not seeing any logic in this.  She also doesn't get to make any choices on how her hair is done with her mother.  It seems to be it's always big, gaudy bow in a tight half pony tail (which looks like crap with how short her mother keeps cutting her hair) whether she likes it or not.  I've even had to stand by helpless as she was forced to wear a bow for her soccer pictures even after she told her mom she didn't want to.  I had put her hair up the way she wanted it for her pictures and when we got to the field she was violently pulled away from me, hurting her arm, and told she had to wear it anyway.  When I tried to stick up for her I was yelled at that I'm not her mother.  Once her hair was done, again, B came up to me and told me in the saddest voice I've ever heard from her, "but momma I didn't want to wear the bow."  I just wanted to cry.  Or scream.  Or maybe get up and punch that evil woman in the face, but seeing as we were in a public place I decided that wasn't a good idea.  So all I could tell her was that I was sorry her mother wouldn't listen to her.

It breaks my heart to see such a wonderful child as my stepdaughter be so helpless in the decisions being made about her life and it frustrates me to be so helpless to protect her.  The people who are able to make decisions for themselves and their family without another party interfering or objecting to those decisions are truly lucky, and I really hope they don't take that power for granted.