Feeling wary of a stepchild, particularly one with challenging behaviors, is a normal emotional response, and it's acceptable to have mixed feelings about parenting. Many stepmothers face unique challenges, including cultural perceptions and the burden of expectations. Acknowledging these emotions without self-judgment is important. While it's understandable to feel frustrated, the key lies in being mindful of actions that stem from those feelings, as how one responds can impact the relationship with the child and family dynamics.
It's fine to feel mixed. It's fine to have not wanted kids. It's fine to feel complicated about their presence in your life now, or complicated about their mother.
It's fine to feel frustrated by a particular child's behaviour. It's fine to resent the way stepmothers can get a raw deal, culturally easily villainised.
You didn't ask for the stepdaughter to be in your life in the first place, but you were asked, and you said yes.
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