Hello,
My name is Kathleen and I’ve been a step mom for over ten years. I have been blessed with four wonderful step children and five beautiful grandchildren, with one on the way. Growing up I planned on having my own children which did not work out for me. When I married my second husband, I became an instant “mother” and “grandmother”. The reason I’ve used the quotes with mother and grandmother is due to my strong belief that it is not society who determines that you are the step mom or grandmother it is the children who determine this. In my situation my step children were grown and ranged in age from thirteen through twenty two I became a full-time step mom as the youngest child, a daughter, decided to live with her father which I fully supported.
I can only speak about my personal experience as a step parent as I know there are many other situations involving blended families. As a step mom, I have many stories to share regarding what I refer to as “stepping aside”. Whether the biological parent is in the picture or not, a step parent must understand their role within a blended family. Sometimes the role is extensive and sometimes it is limited but some step parents have a difficult time discerning this role.
In creating this blog I’m hopeful my initial comments here will spark several discussions regarding step parenting beliefs and that your comments and suggestions along with mine will assist others in similar situations who will benefit from our experiences and move forward toward a healthy blended family experience.