I've posted a bit about my fustration being a SM. However I also have step parents. One of my step parents died this year and I have to say the loss is huge. When someone dies you get to reflect a lot on what impact they had on you. I even did the eulogy and I know that my step parent loved having me in their life.
Relationships with step parents aren't always easy. I think on reflection my bonding to mine didn't occur earlier out of loyalty to the other parent. I did put up a barrier and it wasn't until I was an adult that I was able to be myself more, form my own opinions and get to know my step parent on my own terms. And I did, and the addition of someone who had come from a completely different background, with other views, sometimes I agreed with and sometimes not, these things have really enriched my life.
So I just wanted to put up a positive post to say that having my step parent has enriched my life for the better. If my parents had stayed together I would never have learnt so much and had such a broad outlook on life. And in writing the eulogy I realised how much I owed them for making my parent happy too.