Hey, I was debating this for the last few days and finally decided to share. I am hoping my story gives some stepparents out there, that are dealing with a teen skid some hope.

My mom remarried when I was 16 and moved me from Texas to Pa, closer to hometown to be with my now stepdad (they dated back in high school). I may not have been the worse skid in the world but I was not pleasant by any means. I screamed, yelled, tried to not go to school begged my mom to let me live with my aunt in Texas, when I would go down to Texas and visit I would go to my cousins and drink a lot and my parents knew. I was not an easy kid all the time.

When I was around I would just hole up in my room, or go to work, or just avoid my parents at all costs for the first two years. My stepdad taught me how to drive a stick shift car and to parallel park and to drive in the snow. I still would not always acknowledge him, except when I had to. He agreed if I went to college to co-sign my loans, things slowly got better. I still was a teenager wrapped up in myself and still did not fully appreciate everything that this man, who did not by any means have to do any of things for me, but still did.

Fast forward 15 years later I am now 31 and I have an amazing relationship with my stepdad. I still call him by his name but when I talk to people I always say my parents, or my mom and dad. The other night I was over at my parents house for dinner and my dryer is broke right now so my mom offered to help me out with my laundry. I was carrying it out when I was leaving he got up opened the door for me, I gave my mom a partial hug and kiss good by, hands were full, and he leaned in and gave me a hug and kiss on the forehead too. It hit me hard that night, I am a very blessed person to have a stepdad who loves me that much and to have been a dad to me.

It took many many years even after I was out of college to truly appreciate everything he did for me. All that he has done for me means so much more sometimes because I know he did not have to do any of it, he could have just told my mom that is your kid but he didn't.

So to all the stepparents out there that do not feel like the skid appreciates everything you do for them, there is some hope down the road. I know not every situation is this simple and sometimes a skid can be just downright awful. For those who have fairly decent skids but just do not feel appreciated, I wanted to say I appreciate what you do now and in time I hope your skid does the same. It is not easy.