Well, im 20, and i had problems like that too when i was like 17. I matured pretty well and a now living in a different city than my family.
To be honest, I really thought back on how i treated my family when i was a teenager, and i hated my parents. It was like they tried to destroy any kind of fun that i wanted to have and i was a pretty good kid as it was.
But then, i started watching different families as i got older and saw how other kids treated their parents, and honestly i was pretty horrified. I realized taht i totally acted the same way that they were, and when you are looking in from the outside, it makes it a little easier to say, wow that teen is a total brat. Kick her ass out. Teenagers can be real shits, and i fully admit that i was one.
Anyway, what im saying is that i totally got the bs that i was always giving attitude to and that i always looked miserable and all that jazz even though i didnt feel that way at all. And i honestly feel that parents and teenagers misread eachother all the time. My dad would often be like What the hell is your problem? and i seriously had no issues what so ever...i think i was just totally misread.
But i moved out about a year ago and now im living with my boyfriend in a different city that is about a 3 hour drive away. To be honest, my relationship with my family is a lit better. I feel a lot more free and enjoy that I can be on the phone at 3 in the bloody morning if i damn well please and ill eat what i want and answer to almost no one. It's actually made me appreciate my family more and i think vice versa. The down side is that i miss them like crazy. But i treat them a lot better, and they are starting to respect me as an adult now that ive moved out. This also has a downside though, the real world hits like a ton of bricks. I realize that im having to solve a lot of problems on my own now and take responsibility for the choices i make. there is no guaruntee that food will be on the table like it used to. I have no money left over to by new clothes or have luxuries like i used to because i have to pay for food. and P.s. the kitchen gets dirty real fast when there is no mom to keep after it.
Im Just saying that moving out really worked for me. Ive cherished my parents so much more and respect them as Janie and Bob not as much as Mom and Dad. I think they also respect me as a person with commitments and control and responsibilities. I now have my own life. I repeat though, I feel that Im actually pretty mature. Im careful with money and work hard for the things that I want. Freedom comes with a price. But i definitely feel it was the best decision i made for the relationship of myelf and my family.
Sorry, i know this is really long, but when i read your story...i could tooootally relate.
P.S. I dont think ur step dad is really a bad guy. Hes been around for 17 years. Hes obviously committed to your family and cares about you and your mom, or else he wouldnt stick around for that long. At least i dont think so anyway. He stepped up where someone else should have...and i think thats pretty honourable.
