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observer's picture

Submitted by observer on Fri, 06/14/2013 - 9:48pm

• Over 65 percent of Americans are a stepparent, a stepchild, a stepsibling or a step-grandparent.

• Experts predict that by 2011, there would be more stepfamilies in America than traditional families.

• 46 percent of weddings in the United States create a stepfamily.

• 2,100 new stepfamilies are created every day.

Comments

realitycheckmom's picture

Submitted by realitycheckmom on Fri, 06/14/2013 - 10:11pm

Dtzy, DD4 tells me she hates me multiple times a day and then she tells me she wants a new mommy. My crime is being her parent. I actually told her the other day to stop acting like a skid! Smile

Not Happening's picture

Submitted by Not Happening on Fri, 06/14/2013 - 11:02pm

How do you not sock him right in the face? Or accidentally let a heel slip on the jewels? Shit, I would die.

observer's picture

Submitted by observer on Fri, 06/14/2013 - 10:31pm

If I can find the MP3 again, I will post it! It was a show sponsored by a CLOTHING CORPORATION: Kohls.

observer's picture

Submitted by observer on Fri, 06/14/2013 - 10:09pm

Interesting!

Great questions.

Another thing I learned recently is that step parent law does not exist! So like the slaves of days of old, our rights, as a collective, resemble second class citizens.

How oppressive is that?

It's pretty oppressive to me, especially if one is left to deal with a psychotic bio parent without any dedicated system of legal recourse.

It's definitely a social situation that could easily leave a person thinking, hmmmm...

observer's picture

Submitted by observer on Fri, 06/14/2013 - 10:26pm

If legal rights for step parents appear unfeasible for the sake of convenience, why is the term "parent" even applicable to whatever our role is?

I'm not sure about useful laws yet.

Perhaps step parents would be better served by a bill of rights.

twopines's picture

Submitted by twopines on Fri, 06/14/2013 - 10:56pm

>>>So like the slaves of days of old, our rights, as a collective, resemble second class citizens.<<<

Second class citizens to whom? I don't understand this.

observer's picture

Submitted by observer on Fri, 06/14/2013 - 11:45pm

Second class citizens are those who are systematically discriminated against within a state or other political realm. In this case, I'm curious if non-representation is a form of systematic discrimination against citizens who are also step parents.

If step family members lack representation, does this take a toll on people, America as a whole, or impact our pursuit of happiness?

These particular concerns of mine would not apply if we were not called "step parents" within a "step family." Nuclear families have laws. I also wonder about the potential sociological consequences of a country with one legally protected family style, and another that is not.

It is as if step parents are a bit like phantoms in in this society, yet we are starting to outnumber those with legal protections. . .

observer's picture

Submitted by observer on Sat, 06/15/2013 - 12:27am

Hmmmm good stuff.

There may be no way to legislate behavior like that, but I do know that parents in nuclear families are protected on many fronts yet step parents themselves end up left out of the cold.

Even things like talking poorly about a biological parent is considered a form of child abuse -- yet I hear no peep on the effects of bad talking step parents -- not one peep.

It's inequalities like these that will take a toll on this society, especially in light of the facts I shared above.

I agree that everyone needs to be on board for the sake of peace in a blended family. You're fortunate to have good references.

Shook's picture

Submitted by Shook on Fri, 06/14/2013 - 10:17pm

Observer are you a StepParent? Your bio indicates not a Bio or Step. Just wondering Smile

observer's picture

Submitted by observer on Fri, 06/14/2013 - 10:21pm

I could claim the title--if I believed in it. I am still wondering who invented the term, "step mom." Before I claim it I want to understand it. Smile

Sunflower1's picture

Submitted by Sunflower1 on Sat, 06/15/2013 - 7:49am

I looked this up a while ago, due to morbid curiosity. My understanding is that it is derived from the old English word steop (bereave), and the word steopcild (orphan). Prior to today, with human life span being much shorter, if you had a stepchild it wasn’t due to divorce. So, steopcild meant bereaving orphan. Antiquated word and meaning, I know there is some grieving for COD but both parents are still living in most step situations today.

realitycheckmom's picture

Submitted by realitycheckmom on Sat, 06/15/2013 - 12:13am

Aww Dtzy, DH just wants a normal kid of his own or maybe he saw how awesome your bios are and realized it was all you. }:)