Does stepparenting ever get any easier?
The short answer is yes! It does get easier! Research indicates that it takes 4-7 years for a stepfamily to gel. Of course, each family is different and these norms could take longer. But all in all, once the family is established, so are the parameters of acceptable behavior. When my mother married my stepfather Jerry, I acted out for about six months. Yes, I was one of those kids too! And I'm happy to report that I consider the stepfamily I came from to be quite successful in the long term. Lots of things affect the members of the stepfamily including the age of the children involved, the amount of time between divorce and remarriage and even relocation to a new familial home. My guess is that if you are asking the question, you have a real heart for your stepfamily. Be patient. You will get there.
