Dear Queenie,
My mother recently got married to a man who has children of his own. What bothers me is that we don’t get treated the same way.
If they do something wrong they get a talking to and that is it. If I do something wrong I get grounded or punished in some other way.
Queenie, this just isn’t fair!—Stepchild
Dear Stepchild,
Of course it is not fair. Obviously your mother and stepfather have very different parenting styles.
Talk it over with your mother. If she and her husband can come to some agreement that is fair to all of their children, all well and good. If not, professional family counselling might help them to do so.
If necessary, talk to your school counsellor of your family doctor about it. Perhaps he/she can help them understand the seriousness of the problem and persuade them to get the help they apparently need.
