Socks, this book is the only one I've read in the series. I think it would help to read the first one, get introduced to Skippyjon and why he thinks he should be a chihuahua instead of a cat. ;o) But otherwise, I don't think it would matter. We enjoyed our book very much without having read the first one. Gayle, if I worked at B & N I would spend my paycheck before I left the store! LOL. Otherwise, I would love that job! I would love to work in the children's section and do the storytimes; I love reading aloud to kids. Talley Sue, have your kids read the kids' novels by Carl Hiaasen? "Hoot" and "Flush." I love those books. They are funny, the perfect example of irony, and the language and pace of the plot appeals to middle grade kids. My 5th grader read them this year. He liked them a lot, and he doesn't like to read (whose kid is he?!). I also like the books by Deborah Wiles, for girls. We listend to "Love, Ruby Lavender" on CD while on a road trip. Sad, funny, smart, and cute, a good read. DD read "Every Little Bird that Sings," she is 8, 2nd grade, above-grade reader, but I think it was still a little above her reading level. One of my favorite volunteer duties at the school is to read the new children's novels that come in, they have to be screened for content before hitting the shelves for students. They tell me "just skim them" but I can't! Some of them I've liked recently were "Penny from Heaven" by Jennifer Holm, set post WWII, Italian family, very well developed plot and characters. And "Rules" by Cynthia Lord, narrated by the sister of an autistic boy, deals with accepting disabilities and the people who have them. It comes across very sincere and believable. I did not like the new series that tells of the adventurs of Peter and Pan, "Peter and the Starcatchers" by Dave Barry, et al. They were IMO, very boring, text was forced/dragged out into twice as many pages as they really needed. They are very long books, and I could not force myself to finish it. That one I did just skim. OK. I'm done for now. ;o)

I have always been kinda indecisive and a procrastonator. But I thought about what you said and maybe your right. There could be no decision necessary. His friendship is very important to me and although there are those other feelings there I still am not sure I want to switch over to a relationship. Yup I'm forty don't feel it though feel like I'm in my twenties look it too maybe thats why. I've never sweated the age thing and have always just been me. I personally don't think forty is old at all. If you think about it you don't really start figuring out who you are until your done with college if you go and thats around the age of twenty-five and thats when you get out on your own and start living life. So overall I've got about fifteen years of being an adult give or take a few years. Didn't date until I was in my very late 20's and then not for many years so my experience with relationships is minimal. I hope I'm still looking and feeling as young as I do not when I'm eighty. Feel free to say whatever you like I don't take it personal things like that is just the nature of the message boards. You post something expect to get all sorts of responses. Take the ones that you feel help you think about the issue and leave the rest. Thanks

Your story sounds very similar to my own!! I am sorry your step children are going through this. I know as a step mother there seems to be only so much you can do without overstepping your boundaries or putting the bm down. In my personal experience, I think you should have had your husband call her and tell her these things. The last thing a bm wants to hear is how her parenting skills are lacking from a woman who, in their eyes, is trying to take their place. Regardless of what you tell her, she will feed you all the lies you can handle to make it sound like she is trying so hard to get on her feet or be near her children. The bm in my situation moved 5 hours away from us and it really did a number on her children. She had told us she was not really planning on ever moving back and the kids would want to live with her there when they are old enough. She is now living 20 minutes away from us in her mom's spare bedroom because her brother (5 hours away) kicked her out. Something will eventually happen to force this woman to move somewhere else. I find it funny that BMs are so firm in making sure their children know who is the "real" mom, but when it comes down to explaining their behavior, they claim they don't know how to say anything to get through to their children. So it is basically left on our shoulders. As far as the children, I would definitely make it clear that you are there to support them no matter what and that they can confide in you and their father. My middle SS is really attached to his mom too, no matter what she has ever done to them, he still acts like she is the coolest thing since sliced bread. I'm sure they will grow out of it as they get older and see the real picture. Let her make the decision to move away. You can't make anybody be a better person. Obviously these children have one real mother to look up to, and that is you. Good luck!

For some reason I never could warm to to Umberto Eco's writing, no mater how much of it is spot on, see his last quote.