Information » Family & Relationships » Being part of a Family » Step Parents
- Living with a step-parent or a step-family can be difficult at first and can take a while to get used to. It is very hard to imagine how your new family life will be and it will take time to get to know and like them
- It can also be upsetting to see one of your parents with a new partner, but remember your step-parent will not be looking to replace your real mum or dad
- Trying to get along with your new step-parent does not mean you are being disloyal to your real parent. It´s a good sign of you being grown-up and adjusting to a new situation in a mature and healthy way
- It is very natural to feel jealous, angry, confused, upset and worried, or a mixture of these emotions. Try talking to your parent or another member of the family about how you feel and together find ways to resolve these feelings
- At first you may not like your new step-parent or family. It is normal to feel threatened, but give it time for everyone to adjust. Remember, it will not be easy for your step-parent or family either
- Try and be open-minded about your new parent or family and allow time to get to know them properly before you jump to conclusions
- Although it might not feel like it at times, having a step-parent or step-family can be a good thing. After all, you have even more people who care about you to give you love and support
