My Stepdaughters hate me!

[MrsJM]

I've been raising my husbands children for over 10 years. Their mother died in a car accident when they were young, and were raised by there dad alone for a couple of years.
But as they get older, they seem to play less attention and respect towards me and I don't know why.
Is it becuase they think im trying to replace their mother? Or is this something kids do to step mothers?

[UnholyMoley]

I think it's something that kids do to their mothers too ;)

Good luck, the teen years are fun.

[MrsJM]

They dont do it to thier father though... is that normal?

[AMumInScotland]

What age are they? You might well find mums of other teenage girls on here say pretty much the same things, without having to be stepmothers. I think teenagers can all be a bit like that, and teenage girls seem to have their own issues with disrespect etc!

[CarGirl]

sounds like normal teenage behaviour to me too. I think it's part of trying to sperate from their parents and become their own person - all this plus hormones thrown in!

[MrsJM]

They're 18 and 15. Though the youngest doesnt seem as disrespectful as she was only 4 when we started living together and sees me as her mum

[Chatelaine]

It's horrible to feel unappreciated, it hurts, and it can be overwhelming when teenagers just take and give nothing back. With their ages 18/15 they must be pretty busy with school/training/work/social life. From what you say, it sounds pretty normal family life. If that is the case, congratulate yourself on 10 years of good, valuable work! They appreciate you in the long run..

[Lins75]

Oh my gosh, what a similar story to mine!

I have two teenaged stepchildren, their mother also died in a car accident when they were little and then they were raised by just their father for a while until I came into the picture.

My stepdaughter is soooooooooo disrespectful and rebellious towards me, I can't even put it into words. She doesn't even see me as a person I think...

Now, have your stepdaughters always been this way around you or since recently?

Cause if this is a new development then it's most likely just teenage behavior, brought worse by the fact that you are not their mom.
If they have always been cold or nonaccepting of you and it's just worse now than you are exactly in my shoes

[MrsJM]

It's only been more recently. As when they were younger that didn't fully understand the situation and their father kept them under control.
But he now works long hours so I'm alone with the girls more often, probably leading them to get annoyed at me more often.
It's only the 18 yr old that is bothered by me, but she still is a lovely lovely girl most of the time.