They do not need my protection, but I’m not gonna go full ICfire and next them.
Please don't
I have a 8yr old step-daughter. She's bi lingual Japanese/English.
She has straight A's and is 3rd grade but reads at 6th grade level (i think) because the test she took wasn't difficult enough for her so possibly higher. I got her the Harry Potter hardback books for Xmas. She is anti-dad and always obstinate towards me. I could ask if she wants to see a movie, and she will instantly throw an hours long fit yelling and fighting and screaming. I think she is part ways autistic. Sometimes her fighting fits last late into the night until we just close the door but then she will come out and into our room and just keep yelling and screaming. I'm at a point now where I just steer clear of her and out of her way because even the smallest thing could trip her off. If I cook dinner and she finds out - oh sh$t. She will refuse to eat, yell at me, go hit the other kids, make up excuses, etc. It sucks.
Then I got the 4yr old boy/girl twins. Girl is very outgoing and is always hanging on my leg and is affectionate, talkative, engaging, etc. Boy is reclusive and hides away in the basement and plays with his HO scale trainset. He might have a speed impediment, it's hard to figure out what he's saying sometimes. I got him a pair of Micrometer calipers and he likes to put his different toys in the jaws and ask me what the numbers are. It's very peaceful and ((((normal)))) watching the twins and is much easier than watching the 8yr old. I can talk to them and have a nice conversation and ask about school and what they're doing and they'll just talk with me at a normal level. But then the 8yr old will butt in, turn it into a fight somehow because we didn't include her, and then it just spirals out of control from there.