8 Rules: How to Not Be the Wicked Step-Parent

We’ve all heard of the wicked stepmother who made Cinderella’s life miserable.

But in reality, the role of a step-parent doesn’t need to have such a negative stereotype.

Not to say it's not difficult.

The merging of two families, lifestyles and parenting methods can make the transition seem like an uphill battle.

Add to this the angst, insecurity, and fear of the displaced children struggling to come to terms with the new arrangement (that, by the way, they neither asked for, nor, in many cases, wanted), and you have the recipe for the infamous wicked witch step-parent.

So how do you make the family assimilation as easy as possible?

Dr. Gail Gross, PhD EdD, is a nationally recognized family and child development expert who shares eight rules to help you navigate through the role of a stepparent.