With regard to step children (or grand for that matter)

Very true.
 
All ewe knead is Love!!
 
However, there's a big difference between grandparents and parents.........grandparents have a green light to spoil the children to their hearts content and can get away with it.

I just figured if they call me Dad it would be very difficult for me to prove them wrong...
 
I think regardless of what I might think it's still a buzz for me when they do call me 'Dad' (among other things) even now the older ones are in their 40's. 
 
With regard to my particular step-children I never compelled them to do anything except draw their own conclusions from the open and honest truth about their blood heritage, they knew who their biological Father was and they knew they were loved, how much and by whom you cannot BS kids on that level as somewhere inside they all know the truth.
 
Have I been a succesful parent though?   The jury is always out on that, all I know I've never made a distinction between any of them on grounds of paternity although I've always tried dealing with them all as complete individuals.
 
They have all just been my kids, blessings in my life all of 'em.
 
Biology does matter to a certain extent as well as it's important to inform their medical practioners with as much relevant information as you can about their blood history as it's unlikely they will develop the same horns on their forehead as I have for example so they won't have to worry about those.
 
I guess what I'm trying to say is that I've never assumed an entitlement to be called 'Dad' by my stepchildren but it's a complete buzz and a priviledge that they do call me that and want to stay in touch.

paulo

bapu
I've heard it said:
 
"If you feed them, hold them and love them, biology matters not, they're yours."

Until they take a dump in their pants.....then they become someone else's.

They can dump as much as they want in their own pants, I do draw the line when they take a dump in mine though.

Mesh

Jonbouy

paulo

bapu
I've heard it said:
 
"If you feed them, hold them and love them, biology matters not, they're yours."

Until they take a dump in their pants.....then they become someone else's.

They can dump as much as they want in their own pants, I do draw the line when they take a dump in mine though.

That's some big pants to fill?
 

Bapu's are bigger, I could take a dump in his and he prolly wouldn't notice...

batsbrew

bapu
I've heard it said:
 
"If you feed them, hold them and love them, biology matters not, they're yours."

POPPYCOCK.

Everybody thinks it, Batsbrew sez it.

bapu
I've heard it said:
 
"If you feed them, hold them and love them, biology matters not, they're yours."

I've heard it's different if the step-child is a red-head though... 

bitflipper
Step-children can be a special challenge, especially if you inherit them when they're in their teens. At that age, especially if they're boys, they view you as a rival for their mother's affection. That can be an uphill battle.
 
But the good news is that eventually they will become parents themselves and suddenly realize all you've done for them. My adult stepkids are my closest friends. Some of them have even paid back a little of the money I've "loaned" them over the years.
 

especially if they're girls, too.  don't limit the difficulty to boys!  I adopted my sisters' daughter when she was 16.  in less than 2 years she had been arrested for shoplifting, snuck out of the house to meet with less than desirable boys and generally made my life hell.  I had chest pains the entire time she lived with us after the adoption was completed.  and I ended up telling her just after her 18th birthday that she had to choose whether to live under my rules or not.  she left.