Blending families isn’t always easy, especially when the kids are teenagers. They’re finding their own way in the world while trying to navigate the idea of their respective parents dating, marrying and/or living with someone who is not their biological mom/dad. Some work it out, others never do…
Like one teen who always suspected something strange was up with her stepbrother of the same age. The 16-year-old says she set up a camera in her room after noticing things were misplaced when she woke up. What she wasn’t expecting was for the camera to capture her step-sibling sneaking into her room at 3am, cutting off a piece of her hair and then casually leaving…
RELATED:
She had a suspicion something weird was happening so she set up a camera in her bedroom
She never expected it to capture her stepbrother sneaking in at 3am and cutting off her hair while she was asleep
She shared some more info while engaging with people online
What to do when children of a blended family take to each other like oil and water…
Even the closest siblings don’t always get along. But in the case of stepsiblings, the rivalry can run deep for various reasons.
There’s the stress of two families becoming one, with each individual having different personalities. There could be unresolved feelings of hurt or pain stemming from the previous family unit suddenly being broken up. One or both of the stepsiblings may be jealous if they see their parent treating another child with love and care, or if they feel slightly neglected. They might also feel insecure about their own role in this newly blended family.
“It can be really hard on some kids when their family merges with another one, and suddenly they have these new siblings whom they don’t really know — and they’re not sure they like,” explains the Healthline site. “Be honest with every family member that blending families can be tricky. And there will inevitably be some bumps and hurt feelings along the way.”
The experts add that it’s unrealistic to expect new stepsiblings to immediately become fast friends just because they are close in age. They suggest adjusting your expectations, and also having an honest conversation with the kids.
“Make it clear to your children and stepchildren that you don’t expect them to love each other immediately (or possibly ever), but you do expect them to respect each other and be courteous,” advises the site. “They may eventually become quite close, but they might not.”
It’s your job as a parent to keep an eye out for any signs of jealousy and address them accordingly before things get out of hand. “But it’s crucial to be gentle in your approach,” warns the Healthline team. “So the child doesn’t feel attacked, which can make things worse.”
They suggest holding family meetings as often as you need them. This could be weekly, monthly or whenever you see fit, so that each family member can share their feelings and opinions.
Of course, if things show no signs of improving, you could always call in the experts and go for family counseling, or let the kids do individual therapy.
Concerned netizens warned the teen not to go back to the house
