Originally Posted by
HeatherWake
Pooh...HUGS. This is going to seem like heartless advice, but its your call to take it or leave it. As you know from our private talks, I was a piece of sh*t to MY parents (due to them treating me poorly), and Ive been on the other side with my son being an a&$hole to me and his sisters. I agree with your aunt. Clearly your DD is staying put. Fine. My experience is that 16 year old girls can (and will) be little biatches to their moms. Try not to take it personally. Either she will come home when she is ready or she won't. How long do you think this "other family" is going to put up with her?? Probably not forever. You have NOT lost her. The day she was born, you knew that eventually she would be moving out. This is obviously sooner than anticipated, but it WAS going to happen. Let her learn this lesson that life isn't always fun and roses, and she will appreciate you. Give her space. Stamping and crying and stressing yourself out is doing NOTHING to sway her back into your house. Its accomplishing nothing but making your DD think you are a mean, crazy witch....it will cause stress on your younger son having him see mom and dad so upset all the time, and he will come to blame his sister....its already affecting your health! Its hard, an seems impossible, but just breathe and let her go. In all likelihood, she WILL return, and THEN you can have the conversation about rules, respect etc. In the meantime, turn it around on her, be civil, but not accomodating, dont give her money, facebook her a deadline to come get her stuff, and give her a shot of reality, maybe just knowing that you arent being a crazy person about it, recognizing her need for independence, will soften her stubbornness just a little. :-) And know that we are here for venting to!! :-)