Update #5
It's been a bit since I updated, but that was due to the week being busy and lacking progress due to the holidays and such.
On that note, we may have finally come across our big breakthrough. With my stepfather being sent out of town on a toqn for the next week and a half, my mother is staying alone with my little brothers.
Of course, it's been a little while since I saw my younger siblings...that I couldn't help, but invite them to spend a little bit of summer vacation with me. It honestly took the better part of two days to convince her, but they'll be staying with me until my stepfather comes home and they take their annual summer beach trip. She was a bit hesitant, and I mean *really* hesitant to stay the house alone, so my friend offered to stay with her.
That was of a speed bump, but we did manage to get her to agree - surprisingly, I actually got her to keep it a secret from my stepfather. I said it was on the grounds that he would be too worried for my brothers if they were out of town, and it would likely stress him out further during the trip.
Honestly, this is a new level now - I can already hear and imagine the sounds and moans of success, if we get this to work.