Taylor-LeighThrough the good, the bad, & the ugly. Get out the confetti cannon, it’s time to celebrate YOU!
1. You didn’t choose the rockstar life. The rockstar life chose you.
But really, you didn’t exactly choose this situation. Well, you sort of chose your partner, but your love for them has nothing to do with their situation. Unless you met them through their ex, so you could all be friends! Or it could be really bad…in which case, I’m just gonna shut up & move to #2…
2. You may end up loving your bonus kids like they’re your own.
Or hopefully pretty close to it. Awwww.
3. You have become a human punching bag.
I’m really hoping this one is metaphorical. As in like, the frustration of the situation ends up being taken out on you, because you’re the new person that waltzed into the family.
4. You probably make countless sacrifices.
Alone time with your partner? Going to a mountainside winery on a Saturday afternoon instead of a birthday party?
F that.
5. You’re not their real parent!!
And we hear it loud & clear. But really, this can be both cool annnd not so cool. They may not listen to you because you have no power over them, but you may get to have a special relationship with them, like a cool aunt or something.
6. You get more time to yourself!…Maybe?
Kids want alone time with your partner? Sweet! I’m gonna go do something to rejuvenate my spirit so I can be even more of a rockstar bonus parent.
7. You establish a deeper, unwavering connection with your partner.
That is, once you get past all the sticky spots & decide you’re in it for the long haul. Too soon?
8. You have no control over the other household.
Perhaps to you there are no sides. You just want everyone to be happy and get along. Even if the kids are being raised by two very separate parents in two very different households, and reconciling two lifestyles with different morals and rules can be sort of tricky.
9. You take the backseat.
Sometimes literally. But actually, you know how important your partner’s kids are to them, even if there are no “ranks.” Nope, you ain’t mad about it. A few therapy sessions will do the trick.
10. You may just end up healing your own broken family hurt inner child.
Maybe you become the step parent in your family whom you once hated. But you know what it’s like on both ends now & can empathize. You gain a sense of clarity & understand what the kids are going through from a new lens.
11. You establish a newfound respect for all the other people that were or are in your situation.
And ya’ll are freakin’ rockstars.
From Taylor-Leigh: I’m no expert on family psychology, but I was the kid that drew a cartoon of my stepmom as a wicked witch, and I was the kid that slapped my mom’s boyfriend in the face when he went to kiss her. From an angry, snotty kid, to being the significant other of my partner with his own kids, I get it. From both sides. I learned right away the highs and the frustrations that being a step parent involves. We gotta support each other!
