Stepparents’ Week is celebrated in the first week of June from June 1 to June 7. When many people hear the word stepparent, stepfather, or stepmother, they mostly associate it with abusive relationships. While there might be a few bad apples, lots of stepparents are doing very well to provide their families with all they need financially, physically, and emotionally. A stepfamily is one where at least one parent has children or a child that is not biologically related to their spouse. This is not new as we see it in our everyday lives as different circumstances lead to stepfamilies coming together.
History of Step Parents Week
The job of every parent out there is a very tasking one, and stepparents have that task and even more, as they are not biologically related and so many are faced with a few barriers. In an age where some people don’t even get to meet their parents for different reasons, some of which could be due to a lack of responsibility by the biological parent, it’s important to celebrate those that chose to be parents of a stepchild.
Enough cannot be done to show love and appreciation for these heroes and heroines, but taking out a full week to celebrate Stepparents’ Week is one that is most welcomed and thoughtful, and would be appreciated by every stepparent out there who is doing all they can to keep their families afloat. Special days relating to families have been celebrated for a long time. Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Siblings Day, Daughter’s Day, and the like have been celebrated for a long time but stepparents or stepfamilies do not get the same recognition.
As society gradually moved from not accepting non-traditional family arrangements like divorce and remarriage to accepting them, they became more common and, as a result, so did stepfamilies. Stepparents have always faced a certain stigma and negative stereotype which was amplified by movies as the stepparents were often portrayed as villains. The negative stereotype made things even harder for stepparents to get their spouses’ children to accept them. One major breakthrough for stepparents was when a stepparent, Christy Tusing-Borgeld pioneered National Stepfamily Day in 1997 and gave rise to the celebration of Stepparents’ Week.
Step Parents Week timeline
The word ‘step’ is first used in a glossary of Latin-Old English words.
Patricia Papernow releases her book and suggests that every stepfamily goes through seven stages of development, which can be divided into the early, middle, and late stages.
The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 came with grants for healthy marriage and responsible fatherhood.
Stepfamily day is established.
Step Parents Week FAQs
What should a child call their stepparent?
Call the stepparent by their first name.
Is stepparenting harder than parenting?
Yes, stepparenting is harder than parenting as they most likely didn’t have those first precious few years of bonding with the child.
What is a blended family?
It is also known as a stepfamily and it forms when you and your partner live together with the children from one or both of your previous relationships.
How to Observe Step Parents Week
Watch a movie with them
Get your popcorn and watch a movie with your stepparent to let them know how much you appreciate them. This is sure to warm any parent’s heart.
Go on a picnic
Celebrate the day by going on a picnic with your stepparent. The park or the beach would be ideal locations.
Tell them you love them
Tell your stepparent that you love them. Being loved and appreciated by their children is something that every parent wants and hearing it gladdens their hearts.
5 Facts About Stepparenting
It comes with a feeling of guilt
Stepparenting sometimes comes with a feeling of guilt and disappointment for not being in the child’s or children’s life from the beginning.
It comes with responsibilities but limited rights
As a stepparent, you get the full responsibilities of the child but get limited rights with the child as you are not the biological parent.
It broadens your capacity for love
Parenting is one of the hardest things to do in the world and stepparents take on the job of taking care of a child that isn’t biologically theirs.
It isn’t a popularity contest
Stepparenting might make the stepparent subconsciously want to outshine the biological parent or even their spouse.
There’s no formula to stepparenting
Just like there’s no formula to parenting, there isn’t one for stepparenting — you just have to show the child or children the right ways for them to turn out well in the future.
Why Step Parents Week is Important
It teaches love
Any day that teaches or encourages people to love one another should be celebrated. Stepparents Week does this and even more.
It supports stepparents
All around the world, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and the likes are celebrated, but stepparents are mostly ignored. The day encourages people to celebrate these unsung heroes.
It brings families together
Stepparents week brings families together and helps them become even closer. As it celebrates parents, the kids are likely to do something special for them.
Step Parents Week dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | June 1 | Saturday |
| 2025 | June 1 | Sunday |
| 2026 | June 1 | Monday |
| 2027 | June 1 | Tuesday |
| 2028 | June 1 | Thursday |
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