I am a new step-mom...

Hello,

My name is Joni. I am a new step-mom (2 months) who has never had children (46 years of age). My step-child is 13 years old, and has a heart of gold (knows right from wrong), yet has not had dicipline in her life until her dad & I got married (not trying to put myself on a pedestal - promise!). Her mom is bed-ridden (has been for 4 years) and has had a difficult time controlling the daughter. Her dad travels a good deal, and she is not close to him. I have been lovingly disciplining her, and she is steadily pushing the limit -- the problem is... neither her father or mother backs me up because they feel guilt over past/current situations, and I'm left being the bad cop... all while her mom & dad are counter-acting any discipline I'm trying to give her (through spoiling her -- both with money & giving her her way on everything). The daughter controls every situation, and I am stuck trying to figure out the best way to handle a potential disaster. Help!

What rights do we have?

my partners ex is being awkward about him seeing his son. She wont let him come to our house and wont let me round hers as she does not like me- event though she has never met me. she only wants my partner to go to hers on his own without me. why do you think this is and what rights do we have about seeing him at our house at weekends etc?

Fining and jailing parents...

Is it right that the government is proposing fining and even jailing parents for their children's ...?
... behaviour whilst at the same time they have legislated to remove a parent's right to effectively discipline their own children.
They are discussing this on Radio 5 just now and I have to ask because the e-mail I sent to them about it won't get read out and I would like opinions before I go away to sort out *my* Family's problems (*caused* by government policies!).

I agree that it is yet another populist "soundbite" from this governement but it *has* happened -

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/berks...

If my boys had ever skipped school *I* should have dealt with it and they wouldn't have done it again I can tell you.Nowadays I could not have taken the necessary action in order that *I* ensured their attendance as *I* wished them to (and never mind the school regulations).