Cary Tennis gets into the head of an angry, 10-year-old boy to try and illustrate where a "good" stepmom is going off the rails. Great advice from Cary, plus a lot of interesting responses from readers. This stuff runs deep, people; as someone who has lived on both sides of the step divide, I can attest to that. Beware the step relationship, know your stuff if you choose to enter in, and please please please: children first. Remember, even if they can voice their deepest feelings (and usually, they can't), they weren't the ones who chose this state of affairs.

good clip communicatrix!

bookchick... a step mom

Some of Wil Wheaton's best writing comes from the very difficult, painful, and ultimately rewarding work of being step-parent that loves unconditionally to kids that have a lot to deal with on top of being as messed up as every teenager is.

Thanks, bookchick. I'll bet you're a good stepmom.

ericskiff - You're right--Wil is awesome. I marvel at his step-parental ability even as I dread The BF's kids hitting that age.