Why do I constantly make such a point of being a step-dad throughout my posts? Good question.

1. I’m relatively new at it, coming up on four years this Christmas.

2. I never had children of my own in my previous marriage of 23 years. Yet, having worked with children as a private music teacher since 1972, I thought I had ALL the answers for every parent who walked through my door.

3. Out of all the life experiences I’ve had in my 55+ years, step-parenting is BY FAR one of the most challenging and personally revealing exercises I’ve ever gone through. And it ain’t over yet. As difficult as regular parenting is (boy, have a gained an appreciation for parents now), step-parenting has additional elements that, for me anyway, raise that parenting bar just a bit higher.

Don’t get me wrong – I’m not suggesting that my girls are ‘bad’ in any way. They really are little angels. I am awed and humbled at how they have accepted me with all my fumbling frailties.

My opinion is that so many personal development people write and speak from the angle of having the answers. I want my readers to know that while I have indeed overcome many of my personal challenges, I’m still living and learning this stuff today on the fly. Step-parenting is currently my biggest and best teacher. Many of my posts are a result of my step-parenting lessons.

Thanks again for taking the time to read and comment, Steven. All the best from Toronto to you and yours in the UK.