I have just come out of a 5 year relationship because I simply cannot cope with being a step parent. I can't cope with the lying, the whispering, the manipulation, the unfair treatment of the kids etc etc and tbh I feel like a failure because I really thought I could do it. My aunt relived her memories of being a step parent today and said it was one of the hardest things she ever did and nobody can truely understand what it puts you through until they go through it themselves. Im wondering how many others have had such awful experiences of the whole step-parent thing. I know I'd never do it again but half of me can't help wondering if I could have done things differently.