It's a girl!!

  It's a girl!!  15 years old, 5'8", 100 something pounds, hormonal, angry, confused and all the other things that go along with being a teen. Congrats to me, right? Actually, yes.
  We did not meet her until she was almost 3 years old. I will never forget the look on my husbands face when he saw her for the first time. Awe, love, and a whole lotta scared. He is an only child, most of his cousins are his age, he had never held a baby, and she was not a baby.... But the best part was, she looked just like him. I love that about her. You look at her and you see him, her eyes, her nose, her lips, even her eyebrows, are all his.
  Well, fast forward 12 years, and she has moved in with us. Finally. The mother has had enough. She has gone from not allowing us visitation, to here, she's yours and I don't wanna know anything. She didn't even want to be on her school registration forms!!! Ugh....
  Being a step-mother is hard work. You go from no kids in the house, to some-one else's child for weekends and summer visits. Wanting to be there for her, but constantly hearing "but that's not the way mommy does it". Wanting structure for her, but constantly hearing "but mommy lets me". Not wanting to be the "mean one", but having a husband who knows diddly squat about kids, and just wants it quiet and easy. Wanting to vent and scream sometimes, but constantly hearing, "just be happy she doesn't live with you". For years, "if she were mine" would run thru my head. If she were mine, she would have clean clothes all the time. If she were mine, she would learn respect and manners. If she were mine, she wouldn't feel the need to sneak food. If she were mine....
  Well now in a way she is. At 15. After a year of stealing things, skipping school, and trying drugs, she's mine. After 15 years of doing anything she wants, she's mine. After having a parent that let her drop 4 out of 6 classes last year, she's mine.
  So the journey begins.....