10 Important things a step-parent can do
to make life easier for their step-children

  1. Provide a place that each child can call his or her own.
  2. As a parent, don't try to fit a preconceived role, be yourself.
  3. Set limits for children and enforce them.
  4. Allow children to express their feelings for their biological parent.
  5. Expect ambivalence from the child.
  6. Avoid creating issues around mealtime and eating patterns.
  7. Don't expect instant love, it takes time for emotional bonds to form.
  8. Don't take all the responsibility for the relationship, the child has a role to play as well.
  9. Be patient. Expect the process of building trust to take months or even years.
  10. Work on your marital relationship. Children will feel more secure when they see their parents getting along, resolving disputes and not being divided by the children.


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