Do you think a step parent:child relationship has more chance of success if you have known them from a young age?

[throwingpebbles]

Just that really! I really care about my DSC and we form a happy group of 6 at the moment (my two plus his two). Aged 1-8. Just read some of these threads and fear for a bleak future! Please tell me it isn't always doomed and what helps most to keep things happy....?

I love kids whether mine / a friends etc, I take a "more the merrier approach" to family life. Trying to make sure I get quality time just with my kids sometimes too though and that they each get 1:1 time, and also we try and spend time doing fun stuff with each set of kids separately as well as all together (depending how contact arrangements overlap)

We feel like such a happy family but worry from reading these threads that that could change as they get older

My DSC are 7, 8 and 10, I have known them for two years and so far so good.

My DPs ExW is a nightmare, but I have still managed to have a lovely relationship with DSC, their relationship with my DD (4) improves constantly too.

I've been a part of dsd life since she was 1 so she knows no different. We used to get on brilliantly when she was a toddler even pre-schooler. Over the years our relationship has gradually deteriorated to the point that now, age 6, she won't talk to me, won't sit on the same sofa as me and has been known to leave the room as I've entered. I suspect this is mainly due to her dm's influence. Hopefully it will get easier as she grows up and enters teenage years (well it can't get much worse!) as she starts being less influenced and can make up her own mind about her feelings

Mm, I don't think the ages are much of a factor. The characters of everyone involved are a far greater indicator of how things will work.