In the past, step-parenting has always had a bad rap. Throughout history, fairytales have often depicted characters by describing them as the evil step-mother or step-sister. Today, this family demographic is becoming the fastest-growing in the world! On average, one in five families is a ‘step’ or ‘blended’ family. These two terms are now used interchangeably to remove some of the negative stigma. For many step-parent’s, the greatest challenge lies in determining what their role is within the family. It is important to allow this role to develop organically with time and patience being key.