Becoming a stepparent comes with plenty of challenges. From the fear of being unaccepted, to doing everything possible to build trust and form connections, it sometimes takes a lot of time and patience for stepparents to be considered family by their stepchildren.

The following stories serve as perfect examples that family is not always about blood.

My stepdaughter invited me to a restaurant – When the bill came I was speechless

Rufus, 50, and his stepdaughter Hyacinth have never been close. They did respect each other, but they simply didn’t click.

It had been years since Rufus last heard of his stepdaughter, so the call that day surprised him.

Hyacinth invited him to dinner at a fancy restaurant. He though they would finally bond, because according to him, they stopped trying years ago, but he still had hopes.

He tried to engage in a conversation, but Hyacinth was as reserved as always, which made Rufus wonder what he was doing there in the first place.

Hyacinth was getting up her seat every now and then, making her stepdad wonder where she was going.

The entire night was a bit awkward and Rufus was hoping it would end as soon as possible, not because he didn’t enjoy his stepdaughter’s company, but because he felt like she was still holding back from connecting with him.

Just as the waiter brought the bill, Hyacinth excused herself to the bathroom. They had lobster and steak – her choice. Rufus waited for a couple of minutes, but as she didn’t return, he paid the outrageous bill.

A feeling of disappointment settled in, and Rufus decided to leave the restaurant.

But just as he headed to the exit, he heard Hyacinth calling his name.

“Rufus,” she yelled, while carrying a cake and plenty of balloons.

Rufus approached closer and saw the words Congrats Grandpa written in blue and pink.

“You are going to be a grandpa, Rufus. We’ve had our differences, but I want you to be part of my life and the life of my child.”

Rufus was overwhelmed with emotions. “You did all this for me?” he asked.

For the first time in many years, Rufus felt like had a daughter.

I overheard my stepson talking about me to his friends, and I haven’t been able to stop crying since

It was the day when Mark was taking his stepson, Eli, and his friends to an amusement park. The trip wasn’t just an outing, but a chance this stepdad to bond with his stepson.

Once there, the boys couldn’t wait to try everything, but first, they all rushed towards the roller coaster. “Let’s ride on this one,” one of the friends said, and the rest agreed in excitement.

But, as much as Mark wanted to be the cool stepdad, he was hesitant whether to let the children ride on the roller coaster. “Isn’t this a bit dangerous? Maybe you should try something else,” he suggested.

The boys agreed, although reluctantly.

Mark went to grab some sushi and returned to the laughter of Eli and his friends. Accidentally, he overheard one of the boys say to Eli, “Your mom’s husband is boring. Next time we are coming without him.”

At that moment, Mark felt like he failed to connect with his stepson. But then, something incredible happened. Eli stood up for Mark.

“My dad wouldn’t ruin the fun for us, but if he says it’s dangerous, then it probably is. I trust him, plus there plenty of other fun stuff to do here.”

Mark was stunned. Eli called him DAD. This was the first time he heard that word coming from Eli.

The rest of the day was all about Mark and Eli. They cracked jokes, and then ended up at the bumper cars, where Eli rammed into his stepdad with a mischievous smile.

Earning Eli’s trust was a long process, but the day at the amusement park was a proof that it was all worth it.

The surprise I planned for my stepmom’s 18th birthday completely turned her world upside down

When Sarah’s mom passed away, she was just 11. This experience left her deeply devastated. Her dad was lost as his own sea of grief. However, he eventually found love with someone else and remarried.

Sarah’s stepmom was an incredible woman who never tried to substitute Sarah’s mother, but was always there for her. What’s most, Sara felt love and appreciated and she was lucky this woman became part of her and her dad’s lives.

Life felt good again, but then another tragedy struck. Sarah’s dad lost his life.

A day after his funeral, Sarah and her stepmom stood in complete silence in the dimly lit living room as uncertainty could be felt in the air.

Then, the silence was broken by the stepmom’s words, “I can’t imagine how hard this is for you. But I want you to know, I’m here for you. We’re family, no matter what.”

Fast forward to Sarah’s 18th birthday, she and her stepmom still lived together and were as close as ever. On the morning on the day which marked a milestone in Sarah’s life, her stepmom greeted her with a gift wrapped in a bow. “Happy birthday, sweetheart,” she said as she handed Sarah the gift.

“Thank you,” Sarah replied, her heart swelling with gratitude for this woman who had chosen to stand by her through everything. “I have a surprise for you too, but… you’ll need to pack your things.”

“Pack my things? Are you… Are you serious?”

“Yes,” Sarah answered. “I want you to pack your things in the next hour. You’re leaving this house.”

“But why, dear? I thought we were a family…”

“It’s time,” Sarah said, the weight of the moment pressing down on her. “I’ve been planning this since the day Dad died. You are going to another city.”

Her stepmom turned to her, looking at her with confusion. “I understand. You’re an adult now, you have money and you don’t need me anymore. But why are you sending me so far away? You don’t want to see me at all?” she told Sarah.

But, as they pulled up in front of a quaint, beautiful house, the surprise Sarah had been keeping was finally ready to be unveiled.

“I will be spending some of this money on education,” she continued, pointing to the house. “At an Ivy League university in the city, we’re in now, where I have already been accepted. Do you see this house?”

“Yes,” the stepmom said in a quiet voice.

“I bought this house for you. There was enough money for everything. Now I will study here and you will live next door. We won’t have to be apart, and if you want, you can go back to our old house at any time, or we can return together after I finish my studies.”

Sarah’s stepmom couldn’t contain the tears of joy that started rolling down her face.

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Bored Daddy

Love and Peace