Step-parenting and Separation
March 30, 2010 by Diane Greene
Filed under Daily Dose
It’s all over the news. Sandra Bullock hadn’t even had the chance to really enjoy her Oscar before being hit with the news of her husband, Jesse James’ extra-marital affair. Sandra, who has taken on the role of Mom to James’ youngest daughter, Sunny, is very attached to her stepchildren (James and Bullock obtained custody of Sunny when her mother was incarcerated). Sandra has taken on the role of stepmom whole-heartedly to James’ oldest daughter, Chandler as well.
The media reports have been relentless. I am sure given the situation that it must be hard to be a step-parent, and in some cases, parent to someone elses’ children, love them unconditionally, take care of them unequivocally in the absence of their parent and then, when a conflict arises such as this, you are forced (so to speak) to separate from not only your husband or wife but the children you love and are helping to raise. Then comes the major blow…by separating, you pretty much have no rights to your stepchildren either. This begs the question that People Magazine asked in it’s April issue “What happens to her stepkids?”
I found myself asking myself the same question. Sandra Bullock seems to thoroughly enjoy her role as a stepmother and loves her stepchildren unconditionally. Her stepchildren seem to love her as well. She stated in 2007, “My love and my want for their future….is no less than if I’d had a child on my own.” As a stepmother myself, I know the love that I have in my heart for my own stepdaughter. I can’t imagine the thought of this happening in my life. But, unfortunately, it is a hard true reality that we, as good step-parents, have to face upon divorce or separation. For me, it hurts to even think about it.
It’s unfortunate that this situation had to occur, not just for Sandra Bullock, Jesse James and his children, but for the millions of step-families around the world that experience trouble in their marriages and end up in divorce. Not only do the adults in the matter get hurt, but more importantly, the children experience pain and loss that more than likely they have already experienced when their bio parents divorced. Some of these children, like Sandra’s stepchildren, have bonded with their step-parents only to lose out again and experience a second round of loss.
Hang in there Bullock/James family!
Peace & Blessings,
Di
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Thanks for stopping by Glad! you are so right, parental loyalties often come into play upon the separation/divorce with step-parents. As a child of divorce myself, I can fully understand the loss children experience and it can be very painful.
Di