Teenager in a 6 year old body

[Pampered]

My parents divorced when I was 8 (now in my late 30's).

Although I never got on with my step dad, I was never rude or disrespectful. My sister and I were always polite and certainly didn't make demands or speak rudely to him.

My dad remarried too and my step mom (now ex step mom!!) and I remain very good friends to this day. In fact, she flew to join us in the UK for xmas, even though my half sister (her daughter) is in SA!

Once again, we never disrepected or were rude to her. Although there may have been a few times I resented her. However, she never ever tried to replace my mom. Never insisted on us calling her mom and always remained interested in what we did.

Today we have an excellent friendship. :thumbs:

So, perhaps you should try that type of approach. Insist on respect and general, socially acceptable behaviour, do not tolerate rudeness etc, but, be there for her and pay interest in her interests and try build a relationship.

My relationship with my stepmother is similar... Although when my father married her just 7 days after his divorce with my mother came through, it managed to taint our relationship with her for some time.

We were ALWYS 100% respectful of her, despite privately being annoyed at times with her odd behaviour - my mother and her were chalk and cheese, and we were not used to her at all.

She never, ever tried to replace my mother, and for that, as well as keeping my father happy, I have always respected her!!