Things have not gotten better.

So a week after my last post my mom did pass away. We didn't expect it that soon but her health fell off a cliff. And as expected the family fractured. We got closer to my cousin but my step-dad moved away (and has since gotten engaged.), the extended family doesn't get together for holidays, and my sister fell off the deep end. Mom really was the glue that held that family together. It's been a tough 3+ years. 

My sister fell in with a bad crowd, or at least was more open about it. Got in trouble with the law, neglected her children even more and had them taken away. We don't speak. She tries to say she's changed but a leopard doesn't change its spots. She's more of a snake though. They shed their skin but just because they've become a bigger snake. 

My step-dad, well, he made a lot of promises that he hasn't kept up. At least he got tough with my sister but I wonder if that was more financially motivated than anything. He doesn't do feelings well. Just drowns them away. He sure knows how to have fun though! Too much. At this point I'm just used to it. It's not fair and hard for my kids to understand but what can you do?