CS8, your intuition is probably right, the child's reactions are probably fueled by his mother. I went through the same exact thing with my step-children where we enjoyed a lengthy honeymoon phase and then MAJOR attitude started happening (they are a bit older so I never got kicked if not only verbally). That said, I also know that after the honeymoon, reality set in, the reality that mom and dad weren't getting back together... and as much as they "understood" it, the hurt of it began to manifest and who else better to take it out on than the person that mom doesn't like? Discipline is a hard thing, somewhere we step-figures were told that only the bio-parent should really address issues... However, I do think that in order for things not to escalate, they need to be addressed IMMEDIATELY. I think it's great that you were able to do so with the tyke! I think it is very important that children don't see the adults in their lives as wishy-washy or simply passive when they are misbehaving, otherwise they are going to push that "inappropriate" behavior as far as possible (knowing perhaps that they can get away with murder if dad isn't there to take action). I LOVE my husband. I absolutely adore him... but sometimes I think he just doesn't get it. I took MANY MANY MANY conversations before he understood that he and I had to be a united front when it came to intervention and that he too had to let his children know that "inappropriate" behavior just isn't acceptable (and I keep putting inappropriate" in quotation marks because there are so many degrees of misbehaving). 3 years later? I am now entering the phase where the children are growing up and testing their boundaries for their own reasons... But I love them and they love me. Sure, every once in a while they will try and get away with things, but at this point it has little or nothing to do with me or with their hurt; at this point, I can confidently say that, if they are acting up it because of their age. I guess what I would say is: 1. Hang in there. You don't have to be maternal to get along or even love that child. 2. Hang in there. Talk to your boyfriend... and if he doesn't get it, keep on talking to him. I think my husband got it when he SAW how it was wearing me down, even the fact that he wouldn't HEAR what I was telling him. 3. Reading helped me maintain my sanity... and not just reading fiction to evade the situation but reading up on step-children and step-mothers. Not sure if that would be your cup of tea, but places like this are REALLY helpful. You take what works for you and drop the rest... 4. TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOURSELF. If you are feeling good, I'm sure it'll be a lot easier to stay cool and collected... I can't stress how important this is! It's absolutely overwhelming to be in the position you (I, we...) are in; but have faith that due diligence things will get better. You have all my empathy......

Believe it or not HUBBY wants to go see it. Not something I would go see but I guess I am going. He's a Swede and VERY opinionated. As far as he is concerned EVERYTHING that is Swedish (ABBA) is the best! LOL Sure I liked their music when they were popular but decades later he's still playing their "best of" CD ....... Most of the songs sound like desperate women to me!

I love any re-telling of A Christmas Carol, crooge, etc. It's a universal story-a bad man redeemed by the Goodness around him.

Funny story. I was NEVER an ABBA fan...but back in 2000 we were traveling to London and everyone said we had to get tickets to MAMMA MIA. I had no idea what it was about but just heard it was a musical....so we went. As an aside I do find that when I have no expectations or idea of what something is about I usually really enjoy it. We both were just amazed how great it was. Even bought the CD right in the theatre in London which is something I have never done before! I became an ABBA fan (and by the way there was a great PBS thing on ABBA which totally converted me). also went to see it on Broadway and enjoyed it (but the first time in London was really to die for). I somehow have not yet seen the movie, although I have heard lots of differing opinions on that . .....