Step - Hood

The journey through motherhood is a difficult one, no doubt about it. The journey through step-motherhood, now that is a whole different ball game. Like any form of motherhood there is no book, manual or guideline that you are given on being given the name. Just the evil step mother stigma.

The fact that fairytales have tarred all us step mothers with the evil brush doesn’t help either.. I have to admit, I am finding some empathy for Cinderella’s evil stepmother - no matter what move you make you are likely to end up being excluded from the ball - real mothers only. So maybe they do give me some solace.

So how would I describe it?
I guess it is like being a teenager - you think you know it all, and frankly even if you do no one will ever take you seriously until teen is removed from your age. I find the “step” part in my title often has the same effect.
Unlike the rocky road of biological parenthood you are faced with challenges and responsibly that you will never get the full credit for. Just as you think you have got over the last hurdle more often then not (in my case) the biological mother is there to hit me with another. The phrase too many cooks springs to mind.

For example, my purchase of new trendy jean’s (to stepsons delight) matching an older, smaller, pair at his mothers. This has inevitably led to an ongoing battle of ‘who’s the rightful owner‘ . (Obviously, not stepson!) The smaller pair often visit for the weekend leaving me slowly simmering at the nerve of the woman. Although to most this may seem trivial, exposed ankles are not a good look. After being plagued by a reoccurring biblical dream of us both being brought into a court -leading to a judge cutting the jean’s in two, I realise the pettiness must end and let the denim’s go.

My summary is that step-mothers bring out the worst in the mother, but one day I hope that stepson will realise the truth. That I am not the evil stepmother and of course that I bought those jeans!