Oy, vey!

So today, StrongOpinions is on the phone with her stepmom, who has two almost grown children from her prior marriage. She lets out a yelp. I say "What's the matter?"

Blondie, StrongOpinions' high school senior stepsister, just recently got busted for possession while driving. Trouble-with-a-capital-T, StrongOpinions' 21 y.o. high school dropout stepbrother, has gotten his girlfriend pregnant, so they are about to embark upon a traditional shotgun wedding. T has major anger management issues, is not gainfully employed, and has a bit of a substance abuse problem.

No wonder she yelped.

My ex and the stepmom frequently comment negatively about StrongOpinions, and PH's and my raising of her.

StrongOpinions is about to leave for college in August after graduating from high school a year early, is about to compete in the snowboarding Nationals for the seventh year in a row, is working, is taking a glassblowing class, and spent a week hammering, sheetrocking, and demolishing with our mission team rebuilding homes in the Gulf. She asked me today how hard it would be to also take a nursing course after college so she could do AIDS work in Africa (she's planning on majoring in peace studies with a minor in environmental studies).

I think we did a pretty darned good job with the kid.