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Stigmatizing Instant Stepmothers
Just because you can do something, doesn’t mean you should
As much as I believe in the old adage, “live and let live,” it’s high time that some ideologies die a quick and painful death.
The widespread expectation that all women should become instant stepmoms to their romantic interests is one of those things. Perhaps some of you have missed it, but anytime a woman dates a man with children, it is all but expected for her to step in and fill the role of the mom in every way possible.
After all, all women are hard-wired to nurture kids and put others’ needs before their own, right?
DEAD wrong!
Now, I understand when you meet a man, get to know his kids, and over time, become a stepmom on your own volition. This isn’t what I’m referring to. Blended families can be beautiful when done right, and oftentimes, they turn out to be even greater than the original families. So, if you fall in love with a man and his kids, of course, you should play the role, and I hope you do it well.
However, this is not what typically happens in most cases. Instead, what’s actually happening is men are getting with women and silently forcing them to act as a mom whenever the children are in their custody.
