Family Forum / Parenting / Step Parents / September 2005

I always struggle with the fact that I cant love my 2 step kids. They
are both teens, live with us half the time.
My two kids live with us full time, and my husband loves them....and it
shows.

I am a step parent with no natural children of my own, and a pretty good
relationship with my stepchild.  Since child has started driving they want
a key to access our house.  The visitation is 60% mom 40% us on a weekly
basis.  I work out of my house so am here most of the time.  ...

I'm new here, but I'm looking for some help !!
I married a wonderful woman four years ago who had a son from another
marriage.  I "feel" I have bent over backwards to let him adjust to me and
work with me.  I have never told him to call me "dad", and while I believe

Hi.....
This is my first time on here, and would like to say a big hello to
everyone :)
I was just reading some of the emails from step- daughts point  of you,i

i'm curious if it's still "normal" for the bio Mom to get full custody
or is that "idea" changing???

My bf has a five year old daughter we see every other weekend and an
occasional day or 2 during the week. (FYI we have been together for 3
years)  She recently started telling EVERYONE we meet that I "am not her
mommy."  She does so for no apparent reason. Now of course i am not

ok I have an weird issue. I have 2 kids young teens with my ex. I am
remarried, ex is remarried (him not happily) and kids live with me. Ex
has cancer is going to die. Ex and I have gotten close again, he says
he considers me family (he has said so) as does his parents, his wife

I'm a new step-mom to be and just hoping for some advice...what would be
considered an appropriate bedtime for a seven year old?  Is it normal to
get A LOT of resistance when trying to get a child to go to bed?  Just
curious...Thanks!

About 18 months ago I started to see a guy that I really liked, it was a
tough situation because I am quite young and he was 10 yrs older with 2
children and still going through his break up.  In October we moved in
together for several reason and expected that i would be able to ...

Hello, all.
I'd like to tap the great minds here who have already been through the
college / financial aid application process. I seem to recall that when
this subject has come up in the past, the consensus has been that

+
Okay,
I know, kids are different, yadda yadda.  Anyone with a 9 or 10YO want to
share their bedtimes?  And what does that change to during summer break?

my husband is in the military and often times is gone. he has 50/50 custody
and liberal visitation. while he is away, do i have any rights to the
visitation he normally receives? ex wife is difficult and jelous--just
want to be active in my step sons life. i am close with him and he ...

I am 23 years old and have been married to my husband for only 2 years. He
has 2 daughters 1 5yrs and 1 3yrs. They live with us and visit their mum
every other weekend. The problem is ...well everything. I just can't cope
with the girls. No matter how hard I try I can't do it. ...

I've posted here before (it's been awhile) and all has been going well up
until January when my SS turned 18.  Since then he has pushed his boundaries
(which my husband and I think is pretty normal). But in the past few months
the pushing has become bulldozing.  He has admitted ...