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Family: Stepfamily Day is September 16

  • By Aaron
September 16, 2012
Family: Stepfamily Day is September 16

National Stepfamily Day is celebrated on September 16. Dedicated to the stepfamily, it is a day to honor all the “Step-Heroes” out there who choose – every day – to be parents to all the children in their lives.

The day was founded by Christy Borgeld in 1997.

Stepfamilies are all around us. One in three Americans live in a stepfamily, and more than 50% of Americans will live in a stepfamily at some point in their lives, while some 30% of children grow up in stepfamilies. Another frequently-used term is “blended” families.

According to Bray & Kelly in a 1998 study, it may take at least four years or more for a step-parent to build a relationship with a step-child.

“Parenting differences” is the top reason cited by remarried couples who divorce due to the marriage’s failure. Parenting agreements are crucial for a successful stepfamily.

Are you part of a step-family, or do you have a stepfamily? Share your comments below.

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  • Frmohammed

    September 16, 2012

    I hate that Word Step………. Whatever…..I prefer Adopted
    Like I gained 10 adopted sisters and 3 adopted brothers
    After the death of my father and my mother remarried…

  • Eric Saretsky

    September 16, 2012

    I became an “instant-dad” to 3 sons eleven years ago. I never was a father prior to age 41, and at 13,11, & 9 my boys weren’t thrilled with a boundaries enforcement Dad. In spite of my shortcomings, we made it through their teens as any bio parents can attest. We have bonded and are secure as a family.

  • CB Hadley

    September 18, 2012

    My Dad grew up with a step-father. So I’ve long been searching for some kind of term to describe his relationship with me : step-grandfather? My biological grandfather died very early, so my father always referred to his step-father as ‘Dad’ and the two of them were very close. To me, he was always ‘Pop’. He was much loved and lived with us for about 10 years while I was a kid. He was a big part of my life.

    It was a strange feeling when I started researching the family – for a while I kept referring to this stranger I’d never met or heard much about as ‘my grandfather’. I added both my grandfathers to the family tree, and researched my step-grandfather’s immediate family. I don’t think I’ll devote the time to tracing Pop’s family back to the 1800s but I couldn’t leave him off the family tree when he was such an important part of our family.

    I’m curious, though, do other people trace the family trees of step-relatives? How far do you go?