The best thing I did as a step parent was to NOT try to be a parent at all to my SS.

What is the best thing you have done as a SP? Tried my best to be a good role model and maternal figure in their lives. I don't regret it, they say every child is one caring adult away from being a success story. So I have a clean conscious.

What is the best thing that your SO has done as a SP, if you have your own bio(s), not your SO's? My DH has been the best DAD and male role model to my BS17 that I could have ever asked for. He has supported my Bio in every way and he has been his number one fan thru out. It's been a blessing to have him in our lives.

His kids - I have stepped away from the drama and disengaged completely.

My kids - We moved a long distance just to be closer to my young adult kids.

Took Skids to the dentist. Both their Bio's were too lazy.

SS had 10 cavities and SD had 8. After SO realized how bad it was he really stepped up to the plate. Can't say the same for BM.

1. Done things Dh's way for a long time. He could not complain when I had enough and started doing them my way.

2. Set boundaries for myself and flat out telling SDthen14 that SSthen11 was inside MY boundary wall. So was the sdog.

3. Be open with my dh and work on all this together, as hard as it was.

4. Take on SS13. He has blossomed in so many ways and DH is deeply grateful and also astonished. He has also verbalized that the success I've had with ss13 proves my methods are effective. He is inspired. The blossoming of SS13 has been so gratifying to me personally. It has also kept me from feeling like becoming a stepparent was a huge mistake.

5. Tell my dh early that I would treat SDthen14ish I would treat her as an adult the day she turned 18. I no longer have to worry about failure to launch girl lolling about my house after 18. He knows it won't happen.

6. Try very hard to help both skids. My track record is impeccable and dh sees that. Some things have worked for sd. She will never know it but DH does.

7. Prioritize our marriage one hundred percent. DH has, too. Probably the single most important thing we have both done.

DH is not a stepparent.

BOTH kids and skids:

Showed them what love REALLY looks like.

I think as SM's and bio's we forget that had we/DH stayed in the last relationship, the kids would have grown up seeing that as an example of love, and found it acceptable for someone to treat them the way that BM/ExH treated us.

Best thing I done as step parent is telling mom and child i don't want to be mom. I'm here for dh and ss.

Best thing dh did is tell bm if ss here with me I have the right to discipline. When he did this it calmed our whole house down because we had stability. My kids didn't feel like they was getting picked on or single out anymore because it was fair.

For SK'S, try to be a role model for a female that is independent, professional and does not rely on a man for financial support.

DH is an amazing to my DD. In fact, he is so wonderful, it makes me sad at times that his kids can not appreciate what a good father he is unless it is about money.

best thing i've done as a sm - open my home and heart.

best thing dh has done to mine - gives the BEST scratches behind the ears!!!

The best thing i've done as a SP is come here! I have really learned a lot. Now, don't get me wrong, I never tried to take BM's place or the major "sins" of step parenting..but there was a lot of other stuff that I was doing wrong..and coming here really opened my eyes.
My DH is a great SP..he stepped up when my ex decided to step down! There are minor disagreements that DH and I have over my bio...but all in all, he is a great SP and wonderful father figure for my BS14.

Best thing: took over parenting SD. Teaching her the true meaning of being a independent, loving, kind, thoughtful, productive woman in this world. And how to be sexy without being slutty.

Hubbys best thing: showing my kids what a great marriage looks like and how to achieve the goals you set for yourself.

Treated the kids their age and expected behaviors fitting their age.

They were extremely coddled, over-protected, and babied. Even BM doesn't do it as much.

The best thing I ever did was realize that I deserved to be happy, and established boundaries that I refused to let anyone cross ever again.

The best thing I ever did, and still don't regret, was to shine a glaring light on BM's meddling with SD's psych meds and got that girl straight to a psychiatrist and away from BM. (For a few years, anyway.)

The best thing my husband ever did for BS15 was to teach him, when in a fight, to throw the first punch hard and fast. I was pretty angry about this. But he was right, and I'm certain it gave my son both the 'street cred' he needed to never be provoked again, while at the same time teaching my son that fighting is awful, not glamorous.

Fought for SS' therapies. They have made a difference.

My SO loves my eldest and treats her like how own princess tomboy. He let's her shower him with love and farts (don't ask).

The best thing that I ever did as a SP (besides just sympathizing/empathizing with the skids) was going toe to toe with the insurance company after we were rear ended. I ended up getting SD a small settlement out of the deal. She has/had severe anxiety issues and freaked out so badly after the accident happened that the hospital kept her there overnight for "observation."

The best thing my DH ever did as a SF was to teach my DS how to fish and force him to be accountable when he would lie to his BM, me