How To Get Your Step Kids To Accept You Are Their Parent

How do I get my stepkids to accept me as their parent?

Stepparents come in and ask me how they can get their stepchildren to accept them as their parent. I am going to tell you directly do not expect that, because they have got two parents. They do not really want another parent. And if they are ever going to accept you as a parent figure, it will be their choice, over time, when they decide. You cannot make this happen. They can accept you as an adult in the house, who follows the house rules, who they know is a support system for mom or dad, but you cannot get them. That implies forcing something and you really cannot force it. They will not accept it. You will be frustrated. They will not accept it and it will probably start causing just arguments and arguments in your marriage.