I am writing about my two youngest (half) sisters, with whom I share the same father. They are 5 and 2. Their mother (technically my step-mother, although she and my father are almost divorced) is a complete nightmare.

There is a lot of background info regarding this situation, but when it comes down to it, "Step-mother" has a history of being physically and emotionally abusive to my father and now I'm afraid that she is going to take it out on my sisters because my dad doesn't live with her anymore. If she hasn't already.

From what I've noticed from her behavior, she is very manipulative and jealous toward anyone who loves the girls. She thinks that she's the only one who can love them, and she thinks that the only person the girls should love is her. She says things about my dad (and my dad's family, including me) that are hurtful and she tries to get them to think that we are bad people. In public, she puts on a show and acts like she is the perfect mother with two perfect children. Her native language is Spanish and at her house she forbids the girls to speak English -- abusive or not, I still consider it very manipulative since we speak English in public.

I haven't seen her be physically abusive yet, but I've heard that she will literally grab my youngest sister out of whoever's arms and hold her very tightly. I consider that abusive, at least. She has also tickled youngest sister when she does not want to be tickled and will cry. I am afraid for my youngest sister when it comes to physical abuse and neglect. "Step-mother" favors the 5-year-old and ignores the youngest. I am afraid that 5-year-old faces emotional abuse because she's the one that hears, "Well, Daddy doesn't want you to do this, but Mommy does" or "Daddy pushed Mommy" when my dad would never lay a hand on anyone. And on 5-year-old's first day of kindergarten, she showed up at the bus stop and did little things like fix 5-year-old's hair and literally hovered over her so that my dad and I had limited time to spend with 5-year-old. She also tried to trash talk about my dad because he wasn't going to send 5-year-old to an after-school program during his week with the girls. Silly stuff like that. Silly stuff that people wouldn't normally freak out about.

When I first met her, she wasn't this way. I got along with her great. However, I had that gut feeling that something was up. Unfortunately I was right. She is not the person I thought she was. Now she is starting to become hostile toward me when I have done NOTHING to upset her. I respected her for being my sisters' mother (if that makes any sense).

The signs are all there. I see right through this woman because I have similar experiences. When I was growing up I lived with my mother and an emotionally abusive step-father. I just have the gist of what is going on written here, but if you ask me questions, I will answer if I am comfortable. I love these girls very much and I just feel like my hands are tied behind my back because it is so hard to prove abuse, especially when it comes to abusive women. Please give whatever advice you can.