Step-parents have a difficult job to do . They have to strike a balance between being supportive of the kids and keeping their distance. Every relationship is different, of course, but it's usually better to meet the kid where they're at instead of forcing a certain dynamic onto them. This is especially true when their biological parent is deceased. Any gesture that makes it seem like you're trying to ‘replace’ them will not be met well, and you'll probably lose them forever. This is true when…

"My entire life I’ve always been the outsider and they made sure I knew that, harshly. It was worse whenever I succeeded in life."

One of the worst things about parenting is having to make small talk with other parents. Just because our kids are the same age doesn't mean we have much in common, and there's only so much runway I get with talking about the kids' developmental phases, school, activities, etc. before I run out of stuff to say. And then you're just left talking about regular adult stuff with people who are more boring than you. This is why you need your designated parent friend. You need a person you've identif…

Gatekeep, gaslight, girlboss? Not exactly.

Hmmm

Some kids are born gentle, some are not–and a mom with a keen eye knows the difference immediately.

Too scary

Talk about crunchy

Hard to be both a beggar and a chooser

She had to go and make this about herself

Different strokes...

What else could she possibly need?

There's no universal rulebook for being a parent

What goes around, comes around

Creepy

I'm 30 and booking a doctor's appointment STILL makes my anxiety levels go 📈