💬 Send us a text! (Yes really!)

The stigma against stepparents is so real and so deeply engrained in our society, it’s practically palpable. If you dare to admit you think stepparenting is hard — boy will someone launch a witch hunt against you.

But saying stepparenting is hard is just a fact. Just like saying any type of parenting is hard. It doesn't mean we're bad stepparents or that we hate our stepkids. Saying we need a break sometimes, expressing concern (or even frustration!) over our stepkids' attitudes, table manners, grades, and emotional/mental/physical health… none of that means we’re bad stepparents or hate our stepkids.

Just because we chose this role does not mean we're not allowed to have mixed feelings and express those mixed feelings. Kinda like how parents chose to be parents yet are allowed to vent whenever they want without getting accused of being bad parents who hate their kids.

Oh and in case you wondered, stepparents also allowed to screw up and make mistakes, just like regular parents. This might sound crazy but… it’s almost as if we’re all imperfect humans doing the best we can.

And don’t let anyone guilt-trip you into believing otherwise. xo

--

🧡 Need a bigger pep talk? Start here or join us over on Substack! xo

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit blendedfamilyfrappe.substack.com/subscribe