STEPPING UP

There is no manual that tells you how to be a parent.

And there is definitely no guide to become a step-parent. Nothing can prepare you for the early challenges of joining a new family.

Whether that be the children accepting you, the ex-partner despising you, or the wider family judging you - it’s a tough role to take on. Thankfully, step-parents aren’t alone.

According to the BBC, it is estimated that 1 in 3 families in the UK are now stepfamilies. Every stepfamily has a different dynamic, and are naturally going through different experiences.

Many of these stepfamilies are learning how to cope with the death of a parent.

Often, after the loss of a mum or dad, is the arrival of a new stepparent.

This can be especially difficult