What's My Role?

What happens when, with all good intentions, your attempt to intervene in a family situation involving one of your stepchildren is necessary? Do you find that your approach is as important as your message? When an attempt is made to parent your stepson or stepdaughter, do you carry the weight necessary to have an impact? Have you been given explicit permission by your spouse (their biological parent) to have any authority or power to begin with? Even with your spouse's blessing, are there parameters to your input? If, after you give it your best shot, your stepchild doesn't respond, or doesn't react, or doesn't even care that you've tried to help,
what is your reaction? How much of this is based on the relationship that you've established with your stepchild, and not on your spouse's permission at all? Okay, I've asked a lot of questions, and honestly if I had the answers this would be a completely different blog entry. What do you have to say for yourselves? Please let me know.

Dr. Rick