Is stepparenting worth it?

Tiny Pep Talks for Stepparents

💬 Send us a text! (Yes really!)

The rewards of stepparenting can feel way too few and way too far between for this gig to feel “worth it.” The bullshit outnumbers the wins by at least 10 to 1.

That’s the thing, though: we can’t think about stepparenting in those terms — just like no one thinks about whether it’d be “worth it” to have their own kids. Because that’s not why we’re doing this. We make the choice to become stepparents not because it's gonna be "worth it," but because we want to. Because we're willing to make that commitment with no guarantee of a net positive outcome.

I know firsthand that making that commitment does not mean every day will be sunshine and roses. I had no idea what I was getting into when I started dating someone with kids, even though I already had a kid of my own. But I also know the wins I’ve found along the way have been all the sweeter for their unexpectedness. And I believe that’s gonna be true for you too.

That said, if you’re feeling burned out and overwhelmed, the question of “worth it” might actually be more like a question of “can I possibly keep going like this” — in which case, please go read this: ➡️ 17 Coping Tips for Managing Overwhelming Stepparenting Emotions 👀

I’ve been where you are and know how much it sucks feeling like you canNOT do this for one more day, let alone the 5 to 7 years it allegedly takes to blend a family.
If you’re at the end of your rope, please come join us in Substack! We’ve created a private, troll-free support group full of other stepparents who totally get it, and we’d love to help support you too. xo

--

🧡 Need a bigger pep talk? Start here or join us over on Substack! xo