Your joyous step-parenting moments?

[Octobercheer]

Step-parenting comes with its challenges but what have been your joyous moments being a step-parent?

I have two DSC who are lovely kids but one of them we are fairly similar personality wise. I LOVE bonfire night and my DH and other DSC aren’t fussed. I had a feeling my second DSC would love bonfire night (not had the opportunity to go recent years because of covid) and I was CORRECT. So we are going to a bonfire next week just us two and I’m very excited!

I will never have my own kids as I suffer from recurrent miscarriage and I really do enjoy the one on one time, it’s the closest I’ll get to being a parent.

Would like to know your special moments as a step parent.

Weirdly the time my youngest came to me for a cuddle when they were scared of the fireworks.

Awww Op that's heartwarming.

Last night after I finished reading bedtime stories DSD asked me if I was going to stay in their room for a bit because she likes talking to me!

When I had norovirus and DH insisted on bringing his children into the house and having to share a bathroom with DSS. Joyous! I have plenty more.

When my stepdaughter 17 sends me pictures of things she's seen when out that I may like.
When my stepson 15 chooses me first for his team, knowing I'm totally rubbish at Mario and we will lose. He also asks me to play other driving games of his, encouraging me all the way, knowing that I will severely lower his scores he's worked hard to get.

Last weekend DSD13 asked me to paint her nails, she hasn’t done that in years. She was going to something special the following day and knew I’d do a good job. We settled on the sofa and talked about her friends while I did it.

When step grandson asked he could call me Nanny. He never did but it was a special moment.

We had a family who were friends of DH over for the weekend and their 5 and 7 yo children were confused to find no Coke in our fridge. Their mum went out to buy a couple of big bottles for that evening and then her eldest was inevitably awake and bored late at night and decided to wake up and bully the DSC.

The children were all sharing a bedroom (by choice) and I heard DSC crying quietly and saying ‘please stop, I’m trying sleep!’ I went in there like an avenging angel. I was furious and as protective as a lioness.

Super cute 🥰

Mine are adults now. The relationship with one of them has always been easy and loving. Him asking me to take him to (embarrassing) hospital appointments as a teenager was strangely touching! And before anytime asks, yes I did tell him to check with his mum first that she was ok with it.

It has been more difficult over the years with the other child, mainly due to parental pressure and manipulation, but we're in a good place now. Being invited into the delivery suite when their own child was born is truly a highlight of my life.

The time my stepdaughter got me a Mothers Day card and carefully wrote Step in front of the 'Mothers' bit.

That is so cute :) I can imagine my SD doing something like this.

When my adult DSD had her 1st child and said that she hoped she would be as good a mum to him as I was to her.

Today was a wonderful day actually. DSD4 and I had a nail appointment this afternoon followed by a Halloween party. We were both dressed up as rainbow witches.

I overheard DSD mentioning me to another kid. Other kid asked who Lauren was and DSD replied "She's my family". She just melts mt heart.

When my DSD sent me a picture of her 3 week old son with the caption 'Hi Granny'. My heart ❤️

Something in my eye…. 😊

When my dsd2 said in family therapy.."I wouldn't have survived this without red jellybean"..she has anorexia and asked to come home to me when she was discharged from hospital. She told me she trusted me to keep her safe

When my step son saw a book about cats in a charity shop and asked dh to take him into town so he could buy it for my birthday becuase he knew I love cats. I still have it 10 years later

Absolutely love this thread!!!

When I attended events for my DSD and she came running over to give me a hug, even though her dad was right next to me.
Also when she calls me mama (though I play it down due to her mum).
There have been a lot of ups and downs but these moments are precious

When I was at work and my DSS and DP were eating biscuits and he told his dad we need to save the last one for Navigatingthroughlife