Is A Stepchild The Same As Your Own?

[icyfroth]

Radio shock jock Derryn Hinch and One Nation leader Pauline Hanson have engaged in a heated war-of-words on morning television about raising children.

The fiery exchange happened on Sunrise today during a discussion about the nature of quality parenting, and began when Hanson declared Hinch would not know what it was like to raise children because he has one stepchild and no children of his own.

"Hang on, a stepchild? Hang on, Pauline Hanson, a stepchild is still a child," Hinch said.

http://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/hanson-and-hinch-in-fiery-exchange-on-morning-tv/ar-AAaeTKX?...

Never had stepkids, but have had step-grandkids. Loved em too, but was always a bit more careful with the steps than the own.

They all survived to adulthood lol

[joz*garage]

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@icyfroth wrote:

Radio shock jock Derryn Hinch and One Nation leader Pauline Hanson have engaged in a heated war-of-words on morning television about raising children.

The fiery exchange happened on Sunrise today during a discussion about the nature of quality parenting, and began when Hanson declared Hinch would not know what it was like to raise children because he has one stepchild and no children of his own.

"Hang on, a stepchild? Hang on, Pauline Hanson, a stepchild is still a child," Hinch said.

http://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/hanson-and-hinch-in-fiery-exchange-on-morning-tv/ar-AAaeTKX?...

Never had stepkids, but have had step-grandkids. Loved em too, but was always a bit more careful with the steps than the own.

They all survived to adulthood lol

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silly red head  but shes renowned for making controversial comments, isn't she?!

[lyne-flyn]

I have a friend who told me just the other day that someone had said something similar to him.
His younger stepson is in the final stages of terminal brain cancer and is not expected to live more than another couple of weeks.
The well meaning "friend" said him..."Well, it is not as if he is your own flesh and blood".
He has been his father for 33 years...ever since he was 12 mths old...his biological father has had no contact with his sons in all that time and they both consider my friend their father just as he considers them his sons.

[poddster]

That may be so Icy, but if circumstances thrust a situation on you you do not have to accept those responsabilities, there ia ALWAYS a choice, maybe a hard choice but a choice non the less

[youcandoityoucandoityoucandoit]

How awful for you and your family she-ele. 

Over the years, Ive been on the receiving end of some 'well meaning, would-be comforters' words..just curious, did you reply?

[cherry*135]

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@poddster wrote:

That may be so Icy, but if circumstances thrust a situation on you you do not have to accept those responsabilities, there ia ALWAYS a choice, maybe a hard choice but a choice non the less

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How can a person have step children thrust on them? If a person choses to live with another person who has a child(ren), the person without the child has to make their own decision whether they want to take on that responsibility.

[poddster]

Isn't that what i said?

[i-need-a-martini]

From what I have seen over the years, it is most often women who are 'cool' towards stepkids and in a couple of cases reject them altogether.

One friend remarried a guy when his son was about 5. She was just horrible about this kid and had no sympathy for what he had gone through with his parents divorce and losing his dad. When she had him for the odd weekend, his dad would be forced to take him back to the ex if the kid even blinked wrong. From what I could see he was a swet, scared kid but in her mind he was the most badly behaved kid she had ever met. Plus she couldn't get past the fact that dad wanted to spend time with his kid or that he provided money to his ex for the boy.

And what is even sadder is that she tried for years and years to have children of her own and was unsuccessful. What a shame she didn't embrace this little one as her own.

Another friend got married recently. His wife put her daughter and some neices in the bridal party as flower girls but refused to include his little girl. Poor thing was devastated and I couldn't hep but think that this exclusion is simply a sign of what is to come.

[i-need-a-martini]

But on saying all of that I know many people who treat their step kids as their own.

And from what I have read over the years, Hinch is very close to his step kids.

Hanson is an idiot.

[lurker172602]

I think it probably depends on whether you're a custodial parent or not, and probably the age of the child.