I appreciate everyone's input on the forum. Keeps me guilt free knowing we are not the only
family that didn't blend well. That others feel they have to keep their guard up around steps
forever. That it wasn't all up to me whether this family succeeded or not. As much as I love
my spouse and our daughter, I'd have steered clear had I realized this would be my life. Spouse's
family of origin had superiority complexes long before they knew me, and they continue to groom it into their extended family,
which is my steps, indefinitely.
one of them will be lonely this Thanksgiving, and he should've thought of that before he treated my kids like crap all these years.