For whatever reasons, my girls are having difficulty getting along right now. I don't know if it's because of the weather (colder than usual), hormones or the alignment of Mars but I can't wait until we get past this phase. The constant bickering accompanied by the occasional slap or pinch is driving me nuts.

It seems to be worse with Chickie, who is at that ripe, loving age of 13. I can do no right. The other night, I was putting some laundry away, and the girls were at it again. I was trying to see if they would work it out without my crisis intervention skills being required. Out of seemingly nowhere, I heard a loud slap, followed by silence, and then the deafening scream of my youngest daughter, Meelie. I didn't have to wait long to see what happened, because she came sobbing through the bedroom door, eager to tell me how horrible her oldest sister is.

Meelie: She HIT me.
Me: Why did she do that?
Meelie: For no reason! I was just standing there minding my own business.
Me: I see.
Chickie: Oh give me a break! I barely touched you!
Me: Then why did I hear the slap all the way from the back bedroom?
Chickie: I just threw a piece of paper at her.
Me: That must have been one big piece of paper.
Chickie: I didn't.....
Me: That's right. You didn't. You didn't think. You know my rules on hitting. Go to your room.
Chickie: But...
Me: NOW!
Chickie: How come you never do anything to Meelie when she hits me? You never send her to her room! It's becoming clear to me that you favor Meelie over me! (she really said it that way).
Me: I'm sorry you feel that way. You know that's not true, n.....
Chickie: Yes you DO!!! She can do whatever she wants to? But me? If I even breathe wrong, you're all "go to your room, or you’re grounded!"
Me: I'm not going to argue with you. Go to your room! NOW!
Chickie: FINE!!!!

SLAM goes the bedroom door!

So now my secret is out. I love my youngest daughter the most and NEVER, ever make her face the consequences of her actions. I never send her to her room when she is in the middle of a complete breakdown or the pitch of her whine reaches a tone that is surely to burst my eardrums. I never yell at her, or make her do any chores. She just gets to sit around all day and do whatever she wants. Like play on the Wii or watch TV. Her sister, on the other hand, is the Cinderella dreams are made of. And I am the evil Step-mom.

I'm so glad I've gotten that off my chest. I feel as though I have been set free. Now all of you know my secret.

Please feel free to tell me I should be ashamed of myself.