I’m just wondering if anyone else has a similar problem in their blended family. When asking permission to do anything or when clarifying instructions, my children always look to me even if my partner has been the one talking to them. If he asks them to do something that they are not sure they want to do, they immediately look at me at see if I am also going to say the same thing. It really bothers my partner that they still seem to instinctively seek me out for approval etc especially since our family has now been together for more than 2 years. I do my best to always support him, and rarely have had to disagree with him. I want my children to feel comfortable asking him things too. Any suggestions?  We have talked to the kids and told them that he is their parent too but they still rarely go to him for anything.

Sorry it’s been awhile since my last post, things have been a bit hectic around here. So, I’m just wondering about balance. I feel as the ‘mom’ in this family that I have to try to meet everyone’s needs without offending or leaving anyone out. Sometimes it gets really hard. My partner’s kids are older and although, we still parent his children it isn’t the daily stuff that his children need like mine do. He has been there and done that years ago with his kids and sometimes I find it hard. He wants my attention, but so do my children. And although he understands that obviously they come first, it can be challenging. Luckily for us, we have every other weekend because my children go to their father’s but sometimes, I know he would like to just go out for a late dinner or a few drinks and we can’t because of my children. I feel torn between the needs and desires of both. It’s really hard sometimes. This blended family stuff is really hard sometimes.