Allow me to introduce myself.........

I see this blog as a cathartic experience for me. It will allow me to sound off about things (let's be honest, by that I mean grievances, frustrations and peeves) without writing them down in a diary which can be picked up around the house and read by the very people providing me with the aforementioned grievances, frustrations and peeves. As a huge internet junkie, I am also much more likely to actually get down to writing them down on a screen rather than a page, so the treatment should work faster. I'm not anticipating that anyone will actually come across this blog and read it, but just in case you do, let me introduce myself to you.

My name is Lydia and I am a 50 year old with two grown up children who have already flown the nest, living with my partner of 18 months (Adam). Fine as far as it goes, but Adam came with 4 children who live with us for half of the week, and two dogs. That, of course, makes me one of the ever growing band of Stepmums (with or without the prefix 'Wicked'). The stepchildren are Tim (16), Cathy (about to be 14), Simon (11) and Aaron (9).

They are (mostly) great children, and from reading other Stepmum's stories through support group websites, I know that I am luckier than many. However, having already raised two children through school, college and university and into adulthood, and having reached the stage where for a very brief period I had spare cash and spare time...............and all of it for me for once, my life has changed dramatically. Don't get me wrong, I love Adam. In fact, I love him more than is healthy for me, but that love has brought with it a whole heap of complexities.

This blog will describe my life and my family. Some of it might be a stream of frustration. There will be tears and tantrums, for sure. There will also be happy events, and sunny days where we all trip merrily through daisy strewn fields together (metaphorically speaking). Much of it will probably be mundane and of no interest to anyone. Nevertheless, it may do me good, and if you are also a Stepmum and have chanced upon it, it might help you to know that you are not alone, and someone else is wading through exactly the same pool of treacle.