The role of a stepparent can be confusing at times. Especially when both birth parents are still involved in the child’s life. However, there is always room for multiple people who care about a child, regardless of their age.
For example, when it’s time for your stepchild to go to college, you can still make an important contribution to their life. Keep in mind blended family’s have become extremely commonplace. Most places expect family related events to include a mixture of biological and stepparents.
Dealing with a Family Weekend
Several colleges, such as the University of Houston, have a family week program once a year that encourages parents to visit the campus and spend time learning more about their child’s educational choices. This might feel very awkward for a stepparent if both birth parents are present, but there is no reason all three people cannot participate in family week. However, if one of the biological parents feels threatened by this situation, it might be a good idea to split up the week.
Making Appropriate Arrangements
Unfortunately, the campus might not have room for multiple parents to be around 24/7. It is important to remember as long as the birth parents are both capable and loving, they should be given the opportunity to share important life experiences with their child. Therefore, you should never get upset with your spouse for taking steps to include the other parent in their child’s life.
The Perks of Having Three or Four Parents
Even though many children do not become as close to their stepparents as their birth parents, they can still grow extremely attached to these important additions to their family. After all, each parent will have different skills and interests that will help them have a positive impact on the child’s life, and stepparents can also provide some much-needed stability after the breakup of the original family unit.
The presence of both biological parents is always a good thing, but you can still have a say in the way your stepchild is raised and lives their life. After all, you are likely to spend a lot of time and energy helping them deal with all of their personal successes and perceived failures, so it is appropriate for you to make your opinions known. However, if the other parents are set on a specific idea or philosophy, it is important to respect this decision.
Melanie Fleury is a freelance writer who knows the unique situation a blended family can experience. If your family is planning to attend a parent’s weekend, the Hilton, which has Houston TX hotels as well as around the country, offers great amenities and is usually within close proximity of the local universities, shopping, and bustling downtown areas.
