Stepparents have a brutal role, often stepping into family dynamics where trust and love need time to grow.

They suffer from challenges, misunderstandings, even rejection but many stay committed, working to transform “step” into “parent” and creating strong bonds along the way.

In my junior year of high school, my dad married the woman he’d once cheated on my mom with. As a teenager, I felt betrayed all over again and kept my distance from her. She tried reaching out, but I stayed cold.