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Step Mamas 🇺🇸

Need some advice!

I don't know what to do about my stepson 9, and I'm genuinely worried about the safety and well-being of my biological children.

A few years ago, I caught my stepson on camera bullying my biological son. When we would come into the room, he would pretend he didn't know why my son was crying. When we confronted him about his behavior, he said his mother had told him to hit my son.

About a year ago, I noticed him staring at me continuously. When I asked him what he was thinking about, he told me that a little voice in his head kept telling him to hurt me. That statement really concerned me, but I wasn't sure what to make of it.

More recently, another incident occurred when he apparently thought no one was listening, not realizing my mother was within earshot. My biological son had his hands over his ears while my stepson told him, "I'm never going to play with you again, even if you die and beg me." My mother reassured my son that he didn't have to listen to those comments, and my son explained that he already knew that was why he had been covering his ears and trying to ignore him.

When my mother asked my stepson why he was saying those things, he again said that a little voice in his head was telling him to do it.

These incidents have left me extremely concerned. For the safety of my biological children, I no longer allow my stepson to be alone with them. I don't want to label him or assume I know what is causing this behavior, but I am frightened by the repeated statements about voices telling him to hurt people, combined with the behavior I have witnessed.

My husband left us approximately three months ago and has largely been absent from the children's lives. He is now in another relationship, and I am caring for all the children full-time. My husband has full custody of my stepson because his biological mother was abusive toward him.

I understand that my stepson may have experienced trauma himself, and I don't want him to suffer or go without the help he needs. However, I also have a responsibility to protect my biological children. Right now, I do not feel safe having my stepson in my home without his father present and taking responsibility for him.

I'm overwhelmed, worried, and unsure what steps to take next. How do I protect my children while making sure my stepson gets the professional help he may need, especially when his father is absent and I am left handling everything on my own?