Sudden stepkid rejection.

Tiny Pep Talks for Stepparents

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I talk a lot about how challenging my relationship with my own stepkid has been, but actually our relationship started out pretty decent… before it took a steep nosedive around 6 months in. Followed by more major issues right around the 2-year mark.

Turns out this is super common — this exact pattern, timing and all. It’s also common for stepkids to suddenly reject you when you hit a relationship milestone, like getting engaged or moving in together. It’s like once your stepkid realizes you're actually gonna be sticking around, they go all in to push you away.⠀

There are many reasons why stepkids reject stepparents, and they’re all valid but I promise that not only is this normal, it’s also usually only temporary. So hang in there and keep breathing.
I know everyone says not to take this shit personally and I know that’s easier said than done but I promise it’s not just you. Remember that blending a family takes 5 to 7 years on average — there's plenty of time for those kiddos to come around. xo

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