If there was a job posting for a stepmother it might read:
Woman needed to raise someone's else's kids who will fight you and test you and might even hate you forever. You may get hit with unearned nicknames like Evil Stepmother or The Homewrecker. Job requires long hours over many years for no pay and little gratitude. Expect scant support from their father and possible enmity from their natural mother.
Who wants to apply for that job?
But the biggest challenge for stepmothers is the family dynamics that already exist in the family she is joining. Many disruptive issues can involve battles over love.
"There are some moms and dads out there who both really play head games because in divorce the kids often become trophies," said psychologist Eric Fisher, who is also known as Doctor E. He says if one parent can win the love of the child, that parent can rub his or her spouse's nose in that victory.
