Am I doing a good job as a step-parent?

A father handing over his car keys to his son who just learned how to drive…Has he also taught him how to navigate his way through life? Love? Mental health? It’s a big step letting go of trying to keep your child safe and letting him or her drive around on their own.

I’ve been observing my step children. It’s been four months now since they’ve moved in with us. Gosh, how did we ever get through our teenage years?!

The thing they seem to struggle with the most is controlling their emotions. How can I help there? It’s easier to help a four-year-old understand which reactions are more useful for him and he’s really good at it even though we only see him on weekends.

But a small kid is still like a sponge, ready to take on everything you have to offer, stupidity or wisdom. While a teenager thinks he knows everything about the world, everything about suffering and no one’s suffering is bigger than his/hers. And on top of that their ears are closed off to anything a parent unit has to say.

I think I will consult an expert on kids. My husband has read a lot on child psychology and is always right in how to handle a tricky situation. And yet I can’t help but think there must be more that we could do for them.