10 Things I Would Do Over as a Stepmom

4. Relinquishing discipline of my natural children too soon

Let’s face it—what single mom doesn’t want some help? I said, “I do,” and then I turned discipline over to the stepdad. Again, big mistake! Children must develop a relationship with the stepparent before that adult can have a say in their lives. This takes time. Truth is, the biological parent would be wise to remain the disciplinarian for the first couple of years, while the stepparent is building history and relationship. Rules can be decided in private by both adults but enforced by the biological parent. I would have saved us all a lot of messes if I had known this.