A Daily Lesson in Parenting and Manners: A TR by a real life Wicked Stepmom!

[anna_chronistic]

I am loving your trip report. I laugh, I cry, I wonder whether Jay has a brother. (Does he? Does he? You won PowerBall, but maybe I can win the Little Lotto of husbands... )

As others have already mentioned, you seem to be doing a great job with the kids.

Why don't more people recognize that when they have kids, they have accepted the responsibility to help FORM the LIVES and PERSONALITIES of their children? Jay's ex-wife sounds like a very selfish, desperate woman.

It makes you wonder, at some point are kids (who have a, shall we say, "unstable" parent) able to look at their parent and recognize what that person has done or how the parent has affected their lives? Or is the kids' outlook on life so skewed that they can't even see what kind of person their parent is?

 

[hklatt]

MissCammie - it's taken me 2 days but I've finally read it all!!! I can't wait for the next post!!! you're writing is fantastic

 

[bowlingchicaroo]

misscammie:~i have been been following your story for a couple of days now & i am happy to announce that i am finally caught up... well i have to give you some kuddos...you are a really great person & i don't even know ya...i have throughly enjoyed your TR...and i can't wait for more installments to come...sally is a really mature little girl and i love her one~liners...when i was younger i could whip out those one~liners so fast and not even think about what i was saying, but i have 2 little girls of my own now(7 & 4) and my mind is now LOST! so keep up the great work you are doing with your step kids...they are lucky to have you...

 

[chrismb22]

Ok, I'm finally finished. This is a really great trip report . You had me in TEARS -- the paint brush thing got to me really bad.

But I've got to tell you, I was listening to the soundtrack to the Broadway show "Wicked" as I started reading this. Well, just as you were describing yourself as the evil stepmother and calling yourself wicked, I hear "I'm wicked through and through" from my computer. It was a very weird coincidence.

And PS: being from Philly, I figured you were from somewhere near here when you said something about "down the shore" you confirmed that later somewhere but I just cracked up. That's such a LOCAL term. My friends from Boston always say "no we're going TO THE BEACH"

 

[mla1977]

I was wondering if you were from the Philly area my self. I must have missed any other references though.

 

[lori1043]

Miss Cammie-only on day 2!!! BUT LOVIN' it!! You know, it sounds like this was sort of a "wish" trip for ya'll!! This is how I felt when Make a Wish sent us to WDW. Very THERAPEUTIC. I still feel that way in Disney. My DD9 healed in Disney World from illness on chemo. We almost did not go, but God had other plans, her labs were good, so we flew out the next day. Her spleen was still huge, but it was NORMAL by day 2 or 3- (big sigh of releif!!)

Lori

 

[alldiz]

"then Teddy says loudly "MissCammie...I think I need a BATH because something STINKS AROUND HERE!!"


I had to stop reading to comment on that one.....

Note to self....hot coffee burns when it comes out of your
nose

Thanks so much Miss Cammie......I hope you stretch this report out
forever....cause I will be in withdrawal when it is over
Kerri

 

[CampbellScot]

Hi Everybody!!
Another chapter will be up soon! I'm working on it!!!

and just to answer some questions...

Nope, Jay doesn't have a brother...he is an only child. I don't think he'd have been a very good sibling...y'all think I'M a control freak? Jay has to be the boss of everything...I can't imagine him with siblings.

I'm an original Southern Gal...but I've been living on the East Coast long enough to say things like "down the shore" and answer comments that I agree with, with "I know, RIGHT?"...I was home for Christmas once and without thinking I responded to something my granddad said with "I know RIGHT?" and he said "STOP talking like a Yankee!" YES SIR!

Thanks for reading everybody!! I appreciate each and every comment. I've just been so busy I can't find time to sit for more than five minutes at a time.

A new chapter will be up soon!!!

 

[reginaastralis]

Now I don't know if y'all know the secret of Tom Sawyer's Island. Then again, if you Dis much at all, then you KNOW about the Paintbrushes. I knew about the Paintbrushes and I had a plan. We went over to the line and waited for the first boat of the day to arrive. I told Sally I had to tell her something and it was important and a SECRET. Her eyes got big and she followed me over to a more private location.


"I wanted that little girl to find it". The man and his small daughter, who had been nearly knocked over by the Sparkle sisters,were hunting around. The girl was tiny and wearing glasses. She was walking slowly and cautiously, holding her daddy's hand. We could see that she had braces on both legs. It made me want to find those obnoxious girls and knock their rude heads together.

The little girl was singsonging "Paintbrush Paintbrush" over and over. Sally walked over to the man and pointed in the direction of the paint brush. Then she stood sentry. Hands on hips, ready to do battle. She wasn't going to let anyone get by her. The man smiled and thanked Sally and then took his daughter in that direction. The little girl squealed with pleasure when she spotted the paint brush. She held it high and her daddy told her what a good job she had done. Sally walked over to her and put her hand out for a high five. The little girl was so cute. Her eyes got big and she smiled and tried to give Sally a high five. After missing twice, Sally helped her make contact.

Of course I was crying as I watched. Sally is so like her daddy. She has a very special way with children who have special needs. She is very patient and kind and protective of these kids. I was so dang proud of her I could barely breathe.

The father of the little girl came over and thanked Jay and told him how much he appreciated Sally's help. He told us that his daughter had been told by her older cousin, whom she idolized, about the paintbrushes and it was pretty much all she'd talked about for weeks. Finding a paintbrush. They had explained to her that perhaps they wouldn't be able to find one but that they'd try...and GET THIS...they had almost gotten one when who do you think snatched it out from under them? Yep...The Sparkle Sisters. AFTER they'd already found one no less. The dad said he didn't want to fight with people over such things, but he was a little disappointed that when he'd asked the girls if his daughter could have one of the paintbrushes, they'd given him a snotty look and took off.

OMG! I haven't caught up yet, but I cried! I hve never cried reading a tr before ... but I cried. What a great great little girl Sal is! OH!

And BTW I didn't know you could take the paintbrush, and I Dis all the time. My sister and I were on the island forEVER one day and we found the paintbrush but I told her not to take it b/c I thought it was a real thing the CMs needed. I haven't told her that I was wrong yet, she's nine and idolizes me. When we go to Disney next time, I'm taking her to find a paintbrush.

 

[Backstage_Gal]

Hi, Miss Cammie, another great chapter! I almost passed out with you at the smells. LOL

That Sally sounds like a great girl.

Looking forward to more

 

[alldiz]

I finally caught up.....now I'm sad I did.

Please give us more soon
Kerri

 

[DumboPrincess]

More, please

 

[as dreamers do]

I have to say... it's SO refreshing to see I'm not the only one who still places a high value on good manners and etiquette! (BTW, this is coming from someone in her early 20's...) That's how I was raised and you better believe that's how I'm going to raise my children. Because contrary to popular belief, POLITENESS DOES MATTER!

Anyway, I am enjoying your TR sooo much. Now what the heck took me so long to get on board?!

 

[glindamood]

I have SO enjoyed reading this I couldn't stop to tell until I had read every word. It has been awesome and I look forward to reading more. Sally is an angel - her gift with preople is very special. It warms the soul. And Ted - boys will be boys but he has an angelic side as well. You are blessed to have them and they you - along with Jay.

Anxiously waiting on the next chapter.....

 

[BriarRosie]

I can't believe I got through all the chapters, but get through them, I did!
I'm only kicking myself for not getting here sooner.

You show great restraint over the evil passive-agressive crap from Psycho
Birth Mother. For someone who didn't birth those babies, I think you do a
heckuva great job. One of my pet peeves is watching parents who don't
reign the kids in at all. I understand kids need to let out their energy, but
you clearly showed examples through the nose of what bad parenting
can be.

The kids are awesome, and I cheered along with Super Sally on her quest
to Do the Right Thing. I would have been grinding my teeth along with her
over those "rule breakers". She's a girl after my own heart, too.

And the best thing about Teddy: You never know what that kid is going to
say next. Loved the combustible comments. You are clearly nowhere
done with the rest of this juicy trip report, and I can't wait to enjoy it with
you.

 

[GBShorts]

It's all BriarLori's fault! She linked me to your TR last night...

I literally fell asleep reading it (It was 1am, not because it was boring) and when I woke up this morning I reached for the laptop and stayed here for an hour until I finished catching up.

So, I'd like to take this opportunity to say a round of thank-you's.

Thanks to Lori for getting me hooked on yet another TR.
Thanks to YOU for being such a great not-so-step-mom (meaning you don't treat them like they're your step children).
Thanks to YOU for teaching kids manners. As I was reading your posts, I was sitting here thinking about how I can't wait to have kids and someday teach them the same values. I too am a displaced Southerner. I didn't spend many years in the South but I'm raised by dyed-in-the-wool Southerners so I consider myself one.

and lastly...

Thanks to YOU for posting this report! It's been a great ride so far, I can't see what the mega-beast mother comes up with next!

 

[HomeSweetDisney]

Okay, it's almost 1 in the morning but I spent the last couple hours reading your TR and I LOVE it! I've had the WORST weekend and your report has made me laugh and smile (and occasionally get teary eyed!) so much! Your step-kids seem so sweet and caring. I think their "wicked" stepmom may have a little to do with that I really can't wait to read more

 

[jordansmomma]

The line wasn't long, so we parked and everybody scrambled into line. I personally love Lilo and Stitch the movie. I love the idea of Ohana. I cried several times during that movie...I know...BIG SHOCK!! But it's got a good message! I often remind Sally of "Ohana" when she is very annoyed with her brother and wanting very much to lock him in a closet...do y'all know what that child says to me? She says "MissCammie I am NOT Hawaiian...I'm Italian and we have BAD tempers!"

Oh that Sally, she is going to keep yours hands full. I love her little sayings. She is Italian and she has a temper.

 

[Diamondintheruff]

Bumping you back to the first page. Waiting patiently for more

 

[Lease]

Found this report yesterday and haven't been able to walk away. What a *warm-fuzzy* TR. I'd like to thank you for restoring my faith in humanity that there are parents out there that understand the importance of setting expectations of behavior for their kids. I wish we had run into your charming family on our trip, it seems ours was bad parenting on parade (Except Abbybeth, her parents did a wonderful job). We saw all kinds of horrible behavior from kids but much worse from their parents.
Sally and Teddy seem like wonderful children that will end up being well adjusted and amazing adults. I can't wait to hear more!!