Are any guys step-fathers here, or were ever?

[CaughtintheMiddle1990]

Have any guys here ever been in the position of being a step-father, whether in the present or in the past? How was the experience of it? Most of the men in my mother's side of the family have been put in that position at one time or another.

[Starbuck]

I was a step father. Had a step mother......well, in fact, I was a double step child, with two step parents.

It was tough, both as a step child and a step parent. I've know some people who were very successful step parents, some not.

Why do you ask?

[malloc]

I'm a step father, but I became one when the kids were ages 2 & 5, so it's not like I'm not really a step parent to them.

[pyackog]

I'm a step father, but I became one when the kids were ages 2 & 5, so it's not like I'm not really a step parent to them.

I've never been a step-dad but had a step-dad from the time I was 4. He was my "real" dad in that sense because he is the one who raised my, instilled my values, etc. He passed away last year and I miss him far more than I know I will miss my natural father when he passes on.

[CaughtintheMiddle1990]

I ask cause I'm pursuing a girl my age who has a young son.

[Starbuck]

I ask cause I'm pursuing a girl my age who has a young son.

Yeah. That's what happened to me. Raised him from the age of 2.
There are so very many variables in this step parent/child equations that it becomes almost impossible to predict a solution. In fact, even the problems are unpredictable. I know men who are very close to their step children; men who do a fantastic job; men who have been total failures; women who get between the child and his step father, usurping the man's position; women who have maintained lifetime relationships with step children for whom they no longer have responsibility; and just about everything in between.

Three things I encourage:
1) A sense of humor
2) A sense of fairness
3) The right amount of patience (That one's a little nebulous, I know.):)

But DO NOT use the child in any way to get to his Mommy, OK? :)

[Articulate_Ape]

I am, but I prefer the term stair-father.

[malloc]

I've never been a step-dad but had a step-dad from the time I was 4. He was my "real" dad in that sense because he is the one who raised my, instilled my values, etc. He passed away last year and I miss him far more than I know I will miss my natural father when he passes on.

I'm kind of in the same position. Their "real" dad is a dead beat. A complete waste of oxygen. He doesn't provide any support, monetary or otherwise. Hell, he doesn't even communicate with them. The guy's completely useless, unskilled, and perpetually unemployed anyway, so it's probably for the best.

[PoliCon]

Have any guys here ever been in the position of being a step-father, whether in the present or in the past? How was the experience of it? Most of the men in my mother's side of the family have been put in that position at one time or another.

I'm not a step father - but I am a surrogate father to my boys. :) I make sure they keep up contact with their parents even when they don't want to - but they know what is expected of them when they moved in what my obligations to them would be as well. While they can at times - like all teenaged boys - be a real handful and do try my patience - I love them to death.




And if they piss me off again - death it will be!:mad:




;):D