Written by: HHLaw (View All Posts
) Published: October 17, 2019
Categorized: Children's Issues.
Blended families are becoming more the norm in the country and around the world. One of the most important children’s issues in British Columbia surrounds the relationships between stepmothers and their stepchildren. Stepmothers have not always been given good press or been painted in a rosy light in movies, but most stepmoms are working hard to change the negative perception of the roles they play in their stepchildren’s lives.
For the most part, stepmothers have always been portrayed as evil or dark in the movies. They have been seen as manipulative and out for their own gain and definitely not wanting what is best for their stepchildren. A three-year study showed that stepmothers are treated unfairly as having a negative role in their stepchildren’s lives largely due to decades of negative stigma. But research has also showed that stepmothers actually hold the family together after the negative impact of divorce by providing emotional support to children and helping them through tough transitions.
As a matter of fact, stepmothers experience more incidents of depression and anxiety than biological mothers. They very often contribute financially to the upbringing of their stepchildren, yet often remain in the background when it comes to overall family financial matters. They are also more likely to sign prenuptial agreements than first wives are.
When a British Columbia resident has questions regarding things that could impact children’s issues, he or she may find the answers from a lawyer experienced in family law. There are family law tools to help blended families and a lawyer may be able to help a client to access those. He or she would also be able to answer questions regarding child custody and child support — issues which may also affect members of blended families.
