The Role Of Visiting Stepchildren In The Stepfamily |
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They are caught up in a no-win situation. They are not full members of the family, nor are they really visitors. This lack of clear roles and constant conflict of loyalties causes inner turmoil in the teenager.
Roles for stepparents are also not clearly defined. Step-parents do not know exactly what is expected of them, and other family members do not know what to expect of step-parents. For example, can a teacher expect a stepmother to come for a conference? Will a stepfather be called to the hospital when a teen is injured in an accident?
The fact that blended families come from such diverse backgrounds calls for great patience and understanding on everybody’s part. Each family may have different values and needs, procedures and interactions. The families may have opposing religious beliefs, financial differences.
Step relationships are new and untested. Say a couple have already established a relationship. Then suddenly here comes a teenager, a stepchild, which changes the picture entirely. In stepfamilies there is a sudden requirement that relationships be formed. Kids feel left out as their natural parents build their relationships with the step- children. Many teens discover that their new stepsiblings are not people they would choose as friends.
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