
Freely Chosen Love: The Unique Potential of Stepparent–Stepchild Relationships
“I hope I’m at least half the dad that he didn’t have to be.” —Brad Paisley, He Didn’t Have to Be Stepfamilies are often born in transition and pain, arriving after divorce, separation, or loss. Blending a new family means juggling a swirl of tasks: establishing routines, balancing loyalties, negotiating boundaries, and developing traditions. As