Although I have not been with his mother for years, my step-son often reminds me of how much he loves me for just the reasons you stated. Love and people tend to love back.

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... 

craigb

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... 

Or the step parent happens to be a red-head, (OK so I have a furry covering as well which is a tad difficult to explain)
 
Besides red-heads are cool.

 
Perhaps he means step-sun though.

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.
 

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.