Reply To: “My Boyfriend Doesn’t Want to Be a Stepdad”

LW, this is really sad. It might feel like by extension your boyfriend is rejecting you. It’s clear he doesn’t share your idea of what family is. My children’s father didn’t share my ideas either, and when we separated (and I had an extra special child), I thought no one would ever take me on. I was wrong! My partner now, though adamantly “child-free” for her own body, has more communication with my kids than either of their biological parents do, loves them, and wanted to do age-appropriate activities with them when they were younger. You and your child deserve to be loved in your whole selves, and you have to make sure you don’t keep making room in your life for people who are okay with either of feeling less than. (It’s of course crucial to exercise caution & discretion for other reasons).