| Stepdad, hmmm, does that mean that you are | | | | transfer affection to a step parent, they feel guilty |
| available to be stepped on or walked over? No, you | | | | and disloyal to the birth parent. They need to be told |
| are not a stepped on dad. You are an important part | | | | that it is okay to love many people and that it is |
| of your children's and step children's lives, even if | | | | good to have a number of adults who care and |
| they don't always respect you or your position as | | | | support them. |
| the dad in this house. | | | | Don't Expect Instant Love |
| You will never be their stepkids' birth parent and you | | | | You may feel irritated or resentful of your |
| never will be. Even if the other parent is deceased | | | | stepchildren. You don't have to automatically love |
| the children may refer to him as "my real dad." That | | | | them, but you do have to act in a loving and |
| is okay. That is reality. But it is also reality that you | | | | respectful way towards them and their mother. |
| are not necessarily worthless or inferior to the birth | | | | As you give and demand respect and kindness, you |
| parent. You are each unique and provide different | | | | will create a shared life filled with memories. Love and |
| aspects to parenting. | | | | affection take time to grow in any relationship. Many |
| Dad of This House | | | | times, just looking at what the child might be feeling |
| Most stepparents want more than respect. We hold | | | | and having an honest and open communication will |
| the dream that we will also be loved and honored by | | | | pave the road for a mutually respectful relationship. |
| them as we hope we can build a new family unit. | | | | Step dad or stepped on dad? How about being a |
| Many therapists tell me that young children are very | | | | part of the village it takes to raise a child. We are all |
| black and white and cannot deal in abstract thinking. | | | | in this together. |
| What this means is that when children begin to | | | | |