I married my wife Elise 12 years ago. She has a 16-year-old daughter (Ana) from her previous relationship and we have a 7-year-old son as well.

From pretty much the beginning of our relationship, Ana and I have never gotten along. I don’t know how to emphasize that it is NOT because of a lack of trying. She just does not like me. When she was young she was just scared of me and “afraid I’d tear their family apart”. Nowadays it’s more of a neutral dislike rather than strong antipathy so I suppose that’s progress.

Elise is a stay-at-home mother, so she relies on me for income. As a result, I pay for everything for Ana. Food. Clothes. Volleyball fees. Field trips. I take an interest in her hobbies. I go to her games. I’m not saying I’m perfect but I try my hardest to be the step-father I can.

But it’s so… hard. Always giving me curt 1-word responses. Always have to have an attitude. She does things to get a rise out of me. Typical rebellious stuff. But I always let her know I love her and I’m there for her in hopes of her “teenager” phase past.

The opposite is true for her biological father. She adores him. Can’t tell you why. He never goes to her games, and always makes excuses for why he doesn’t want to see her. He forgot her birthday last month and she cried herself to sleep.