I was 22 when I met my husband. He was a 37 yo, divorced, single-dad with 3 children from his marriage. We thought it to be a good idea not to bring his children around in case our non-conventional relationship didn't work out. Plus, the children's mother was still in their life, but very unstable at the time. They knew about me and I knew about them for 6 months before we met. And we met one at a time. For the first 8 months we were good, then I got pregnant and the two older ones lost it! They were teens and would throw themselves on the floor with a temper tantrum. I was 23/24. Not being that much older than his oldest I was actually disgusted with her behavior. Then I realized, I'm not the one in their shoes. When my parents split, they didn't bring around anyone they were dating (although I was 20 when that happened). What would my reaction have been? I hardly think an all out, on the floor, fist pounding production was necessary, but I could see acting out as a way to express myself. This is where I had to learn patience. His youngest, I've never had a problem with. I came into his life when he was five and I have been his mom since. She left when he was only 8 weeks old to "find herself". The girls hated that he was so attached to me, but again, patience. His oldest is still on the fence after all these years, but the other girl came around. She realized I was not there to replace an absent mother, but to supplement what was hard for her mother to give. As for the youngest, he has never left my side. He graduated high school this year and I can't be more proud. I have kids of my own now and when all of the siblings are together it causes a lot of emotions for me because it's like they all have the same parents and have been in the same household their entire lives. I love how much they love each other. By seeing them like that, despite old feelings, I know I've have done right by all of them.