The Bonus Mom
Part of being authentic is saying what you really think, even if it is not socially acceptable. I'm not gonna lie, the thing I looked forward to least when I got married was being a step mom. And luckily, I came into it later than most - the kids were 13, 17, 18 at the time. Not great timing in the life of any child going through a divorce. As a step parent, you get all the responsibility with none of the authority . At the time I thought 'I live enough of this situation at my daily job, I didn't need it in my personal life too'. Being a step parent is a thankless job. Argue if you will, but it is the truth. You are the outsider from the get go, and have to fight your way into the inner circle of the nuclear family, their history, their inside jokes. You get the inevitable "you're not my mother, you can't tell me what to do." Or worse, just plain being ignored. And the only one who really wants you there to begin with is your partner, who typi...