Not sure

[Rochelle]

I am not sure how to handle this so please give me your opinions. My step daughter is 8. My husband has every other weekend and every other tuesday plus the normal holiday visitation. Lately, however, my step daughter has started clinging to me, and shadows my every move. This is not normal for her. Her dad and I have been married since she was 5. If I go to the bathroom, she waits outside the door. This weekend, I noticed her ear had become infected arond her earring. I made her let me remove it so I could clean the ear. Pus and blood was dried on the earring post and on the back of her ear. I finally got it cleaned up, and by monday morning it looked good. My husband said he couldn't believe her mom had let it get that way. At first he wanted to take her to the doctor and then thought maybe he was over reacting. I suggested he document it and wait and see if this becomes a pattern. In the meantime, I feel guilty, like maybe something's going on and we aren't picking up on it. Do you suppose maybe it's a stage she's going through? I told him he should make an appt and go talk to her teacher; maybe something was going on at school. I don't want to sound like an evil step-mother out to get her mom.

 

[lcollins]

I would definitely look into the matter. My daughter was like this soon after my divorce but she was only 1 1/2. For a child of 8 to act this way should raise a red flag. Talk to her teachers, and see if you or the dad can talk to the child to find out what is upsetting her. While married to my ex, his son did the same thing to me. Turns out his mom was constantly out and about not paying much attention to him. It could be something this simple, or something more serious.

 

[Rochelle]

I think you're probably right. I just have to be careful and not jump to conclusions.