I'm WAY familiar with the evil step mother thing. I called mine The Wicked Witch of the West. Her thing was to show me in every possible how much she loved her own children and how much she detested everything about me. I was Cinderella, but ugly. Really makes for some lovely memories.

Now she's an old coot and I just smile and nod over the occasional cup of coffee. No sense in bringing up the past, but I can't pretend it didn't happen. And she's basically the same unhappy person now. It's sad really.

I'm sorry you've had to deal with so much. Please go ahead and get on that waiting list for therapy at school. The new year will be here before you know it. Working in therapy is, imho, the best way to deal with the awful emotional abuse you lived with.

Please take care. emmy