I am having a heck of a time with my stepdaughter. I'm new to the world of Bi-polar, and was told by a family member she may have it and we are in the process of getting her help. I feel so sorry for her cause I can't relate to her I don't understand. I ground her when she does wrong but I feel bad cause I think maybe it isn't all in her control. I also want her to know she has to be responsible for her own actions. I sometimes wonder if her behavior is normal for a 9 year old. I was just wondering if there were any parents with young children going through the same things.

I'm not a young parent but I am an adult that put his parents through the type of hell you are going through now. It is only recently that I really grasped my problem and am getting help. Good for you that you are getting her help!

Perhaps some of the things that she does are at least in part due to her disease but she still needs to learn right from wrong. She still needs leadership and structure in her life. My parents were pretty strict and although at the time I hated it (what teenager doesn't?) some of their lessons may just have been the only thing that got me through some pretty bad years. In my opinion you are doing great. Again, that is *my* opinion. I am sure there are many others out there.