Most children will have one parent who they are more physically affectionate towards. Some children don't like to be held or hugged or kissed no matter what, biological or not. My sister and I are like that--we can't stand it when our parents want to be huggy and kissy and affectionate towards us. I've been like this since as long as my parents can remember, my sister started towards six or seven years old. Sometimes, if the children are independent, they end up developing this early.

Likewise, there are things I need to talk to my mom about that my dad cannot understand. It's not that he doesn't want to, but the advice he gives and the things he says are often counterproductive to solving the issue--whether this is in my head or not, I have private conversations with my mom in which my dad is not privvy to, always had, my mom would just fill my dad in later.

These are my own biological parents, so I wouldn't think too much of it. I think because you threw the step in there that you wonder if that's why they aren't affectionate. They may prefer to be spoken to like adults, rather than the physical communication young children enjoy. They are almost teenagers, girls at that, so as a male figure, it is kind of important to back off on the physical affection and respect their space and body as adults. Whether they are your children in your heart or not, you, as all parents do, need to let go.

I also have to add that both I and my sister faked the affection with my grandparents and our aunts and uncles. The hugs and kisses were expected of us, so we did it, even though we probably didn't want to.

Likewise, some kids, especially girls, have a lower threshhold for jokes (The interrupting cow joke is more of a boy thing...) if they don't like it, don't joke in this way with them. They are human beings with their own likes and dislikes that, as parents and people, we need to respect. The only thing that was unacceptable to me is one of them saying that your wife needs to come get her husband. I hope your wife nipped that in the bud.

There are many SMs who complain about girls their age hugging and kissing their dads. They find it creepy. Hell, many will say your 7 old is clingy.

My mom and SD gave been married for 39 years. We love our dad dearly, but like your girls, we didn't shower him with hugs and kisses.

My 2 younger sisters treat my dad, their bio dad the same way. They even went so far as to say he was a perv if and when he tried kissing or hugging them. Girls at that age are so unpredictable even if they are bio daughters. If I were you I'd try swinging the opposite way and maybe start acting very preoccupied when around them, not in a mean way but just in the way that would be something that would perk their interest. Like when they start telling you something be reading the paper or watching tv and without taking your eyes off your page say yes dear I hear you but keep reading. It might make them more curious about you and how you are keeping such a cool head and they might start respecting you a bit more. Just a thought.///!

Semper Fi!!

I think the kids, regardless of affection, should at the minimum say a dang Thank You when you give them a gift. They shouldn't get away with not having manners!