I was filling out a background packet for a job application and it went into depth for references, it said I needed to list 5-7 people (not relatives or employers) who are close to me. I ran out after 4 people and needed just one more person. I decided to call my mom and ask her if I could use her husband as a reference because technically he isn't blood related to me, I had no one else so I was really desperate. Just to give you an idea: I really dislike this man, I'm in my 20s now but when I was 14 he invaded our house like a creep and started living under the same roof as my father while my parents were getting divorced. You can imagine how awful that must have been. Anyway, as soon as I said to my mom, "Can I use "Joe" (fake name) as a reference because hes not technically related to me?" She immediately got defensive and in a very rude tone said "HE IS RELATED TO YOU BY LAW AND BY MARRIAGE. HE IS YOUR STEP-FATHER. YOUR STEP-FATHER. YOU CAN'T USE HIM BECAUSE HE IS RELATED TO YOU. HE'S YOUR STEP-FATHER. UGH TSK!" Immediately I wanted to start yelling at her but I am trying to be nice to her because I need her reference for this job as well, and I just said in a short irritated tone "Ok. Fine." and replied in very short answers after that until we hung up the phone. That creep is not my "father" nor a "step father" just because those two deadbeats got married, sorry. He hasn't said a single word to me other than inappropriate comments that he thought were funny. I only have one father, the man who actually cared enough to raise me. How dare she even say these comments to me after everything she's done in my life.

I don't know how to even deal with her anymore.