I have no bios, and don't really think of myself as a mother. Yes, I have stepkids, but even when I refer to myself as "stepmom" it sounds weird. Like I'm being a phony. I've been married to DH for 8 months and in the skids lives for about 4 years. I have an awesome relationship with all the skids, great relationship with BM1 and pretty good with BM2.

I view myself more as a fun aunt then a stepmom, I guess. I'm only 28 and have no bios (and no interest in having any in the immediate future) so maybe that is why I don't feel like a "mom"

This was my first mother's day as a step-mom, officially. I didn't expect anything, especially since I don't think as the kids as MY kids. DH was in Texas with SS6 and SS5 and they facetimed me. SS5 had made me a Mother's Day card at school. I was so surprised that I blurted out "but why?!" and he was like "Because're you're my stepMOM and I love you!" so cute. DH brought it back with him. It said "My Mom Is..." in a flower and you lift up the petals and it has things. I think it was supposed to be descriptors of your mom (nice, pretty etc) but SS had the teacher write fun things I did with him (play baseball, go swimming, play games on ipad lol etc). On the inside was a picture of him and he wrote "Happy Mother's Day I love you, love SS5" SS6 also said Happy Mother's Day.

The big surprise is that SD16 sent me a snapchat picture with Happy Mother's Day on it. We have a great relationship, yes, but I was not expecting that at all! SD16 has never referred to me as her stepmom (probably because I am only 13 years older) but I was really touched.

Having no expectations, it was really nice that they made some small gestures. I feel guilty feeling a little weird about it. Like I feel weird putting up the card at my desk at work because I'm not a "real" mom. Does anyone else feel that way?