Ugh, one thing about being a “step-parent” is not “really” having a say in how you parent the child.

I don’t have a child of my own, so maybe things would be different if I did, but I don’t necessarily agree with the decisions my boyfriend makes as a parent.  Don’t get me wrong – he’s a WONDERFUL father – I mean his son and him are like white on rice – but I get angry and annoyed when I disagree with certain things he decides for his son.

In the end, it’s his son and his decision that I have to respect, but I need to know what time does five-year-old go to bed?  I’m not going to say how late my boyfriend’s son stays up - it’s not past 11 or anything, but I feel he should be going to bed one hour earlier than he usually does.  One hour isn’t a whole-lot in the scheme of things, but maybe it is.  So I’ m just trying to get an overall consesus on what time you think, or what time your five-year-old goes to bed.

Also, if your child says their hungry before bedtime, do you give them something to eat?  I feel like it sounds I’m starving the child, but trust me we’re not.  He ate dinner at least 3 hours before bedtime. 

It’s hard being a step-parent, so power to those step-parents that have made it work!  Parenting is hard (at least as far as being as the same page as your partner), I can see that…but, it’s much harder when your affected by the situation yet don’t have that much control.  Maybe things would be different if it were my own flesh and blood, maybe I would be more sympathetic or more of a mush, rather than the role of the “babysitter.”