The Isaac's Gospel band

Eric, I'm glad you were able to attend this special worship/concert service, and I'm also glad that some of your wife's family reach out to you!

I'm sorry to hear about your wife's distance and also about your stepdaughter. I know that must be so painful! As you said, your wife being distant is pretty logical since she's struggling emotionally right now and blaming it on you.

I may have some tiny insight into your stepdaughter's response. I can't remember how old you said she was... Early teens, maybe? Sorry, I have forgotten. Anyway, I was 16 when my parents got divorced. And I remember it being so incredibly uncomfortable to know how to really approach either one of them, especially my dad, because they talked negatively about each other! It was a bit easier with my mom (even though she was more negative) because we are both female so we could identify a bit in that sense.

Now, I"m not saying that your wife is talking negatively about you around your stepdaughter, but she is definitely acting somewhat negatively towards you, even if in her unwillingness to approach you or acknowledge you. So while she may not have said anything out loud, your stepdaughter will be absorbing the unstated negativity, and like Wendy said, it's gotta be really uncomfortable for her... She may be choosing to lash out at you by also giving you the "silent treatment" just to have a way of venting pent up emotions.

That being said, she will not have forgotten the important role you have played in her life. She undoubtedly knows (even if deep down) that you love her. Try not to take this behavior personally and instead, recognize that it's just a sign of the way this is hurting her too. But God loves her deeply and will be consoling that hurting heart, just as He does for you also.

I'll continue praying for your family and for your stepdaughter especially!