Wow, some people really are as thick as two short planks.
To everyone who thinks blended families are the root of all evil, might i suggest you've watched one too many Disney movies, or possibly read the Daily Mail a bit too much, not all step parents are evil, nor are the natural parents for wanting to find love after a failed relationship.
To everyone who thinks all step parents actually hate their partners children, yes a few will, however not all will. Just as not all natural parents are great either.
It is not easy to step in to a relationship where there is a child, but it can be so rewarding, ok you will never replace their parent but you can be their friend and they can be yours.
It's easier judge a step parent, as a lot of you have, than be one, to open to your heart to another person?s child, to love them like your own and know it will never truly be reciprocated, the way the child loves there mum or dad, but to it anyway takes a stronger person than most. It also takes a person who is open minded, which from the above post I now see is very few of you. I doubt many boys or girls grow up wanting to be a step mum or step dad, but life means when the time comes and that person finds love they choose to take on that role.
To all those that talk about inflicting half brothers a sisters on existing children, I might suggest you go have a long hard look at yourself in the mirror, you've managed to make a child sound like a sub human animal, like a condition to be endured. Just because one of the parents already has child or children, does not mean they are so special no other child can be conceived.
Finally to all the Muppets that are unkind about blended families I certainly hope your are not celebrating Christmas, I'm not overly fussed about religion but I'm pretty sure Joseph wasn?t Jesus? dad, and considering Christmas is a celebration of Christ's birth (into a blended family) which you don't agree with, isn't it a bit hypocritical to celebrate it?