I have a SS12 who has lived with us full time for about 5 years now. He was brought up by my partners mum (as he was only young himself at the time). Since being with me he’s been in a more stable home and just has a better environment for his son, hence why he now lives with us. Bio mum is not in the picture and hasn’t been since very young (months old).
I’m grateful I don’t have the usual bio mum challenges to deal with, however I can’t help but feel my partner and son have been brought up almost like brothers rather than father & son. Feel like we’re constantly fighting a losing battle because our parenting styles are much different to hers (we’re young, outside people, active etc as most young families would be, whereas he’s been allowed to just go on devices all day every day when being with grandparents). Anyway, that’s a totttally different matter and she has done a fantastic job of raising him.
My worry is… I’m 5 months pregnant with a boy and I’m really worried that SS is going to notice the differences between their upbringing. My child will be an outside child, he will make mud pies and get dirty clothes as that’s what me and my partner believe childhood should be. We try to engage SS in outdoor activities but he just wants to be inside and so very obviously doesn’t enjoy it.. we do indoor activities too but I just can’t imagine life where one of us is outside with one child and one of us has to stay inside with the other or both us parents playing with BS outside and step son just being inside.
I’m just kind of after peoples advice really, or even just reassurance that I’m making something out of nothing? I’m not really sure.
Also, sorry for that being loooooooong.
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i wouldnt worry too much, i have this with my own children, my son is 12 and autistic so he is an indoor baby, he likes his games and doesnt really like doing outdoorsy stuff but my youngest whos 5 is a proper outside bunny, the good thing is with your stepson being the age he is when your baby is old enough to be outdoorsy properly your stepson will be old enough to leave at home if he doesnt want to come, id just give him the choices, were going to do xyz you can either stay here or come with and it may shock you my son does actually choose to come quite a bit, i think youre just worrying atm, id have a conversation with dad though and let him know its a concern for you and youve been overthinking it and come up with a plan together, but ultimately noone should miss out x

Hi we have a similar situation with my step son who is 9 and daughter who is 2. My daughter and myself and sometimes my husband will be outside doing activities gardening etc. SS will be inside on console, he will come out and see us playing and will sometimes join in and other times not. If we have a bbq he will choose to eat inside if we don’t have guests watching tv. It’s annoying but when he says can we go in and watch him on his console I will say the weather is nice so we our outside. If you want to spend time with us we are right here and this is what we are doing if you want to join in. Then he has the choice and he is choosing not to join in. We then make time to do his activity day watch a film later on or another day which we all join in on. Or my husband has one on one gaming time with him when he has time. Hope this helps x