Do You Want Step-Parenting to Suck Less?

Many of us have been there - step-parent to resentful children. Often, you will be treated as the reason their parents divorced, even if the child knows it is not true. This can happen when the child knows you did not meet their parents until years after they divorced, or that the other parent is the one who saw other people during the marriage. Is there any hope? Or will you both walk on eggshells around each other and hope the child will go to college far away? These step-relationship problems often are a factor in the second marriage ending in divorce - or not happening at all. Why would you walk to walk down the aisle with someone whose child hates you? On the other hand, why should the child welcome you with open arms? She didn't have a voice when her parents divorced. No one has asked her how she feels about you becoming a part of her life. Since more than half of second marriages end in divorce anyway, her best bet is to be a total pain and hope you two will either not get married, or will get divorced. Clearly, no one is happy in this situation. This article gives practical insight and advice on how to understand each other better and actually create a good, respectful, caring step-parenting relationship.