Hi. Would really value opinions and not judgements but by putting myself out here I understand I will get both..for the last six years I have been in a relationship with an older man with three children, I have one son. It has always been tricky navigating blending families and there have been many parts of it that I have found complex and emotionally very hard. I have a more detached relationship from my ex husband so we will communicate via text etc , he generally does pick ups from school and things but it works well for my son and they have a great relationship. My partner on the other hand is a real proponent of coparenting and will still go into his old marital home to see kids when he needs ro thinks his way is the best way etc etc. Doesn’t understand when I objected to his daughter staying extra nights with not much notice, has accused me of being “socially awkward” around his kids, to be honest I’ve felt very overwhelmed when all four have been here at once. Anyway to cut a long story short there have been some horrible volatile rows resulting in a particularly nasty one where my partner was shouting in front of his son who then was crying etc, it was awful, I then asked his son and him to leave the house and for his son to go back to his mothers just because the atmosphere was so uncomfortable. Since then his kids haven’t been here for four months, well I have seen his son once but that’s it. His older teenage daughters haven’t been. This is many ways has caused me lots of relief..to cut a long story short I know deep down what needs to happen but I am scared. Scared of being alone again with my son. Worried I’ve met him down 😞😞Just so confused and upset. My partners kids aren’t bad it’s just me I’ve found step parenting more complex and difficult than I could have ever imagined 😞