I'm a step grandparent to my husband's grandchildren, I've been in their lives since their birth, the eldest is only a couple of years younger than my youngest, so really they were all children together and are more like cousins. They are now in their 20s. I'm so lucky I really get on with them. However, out of deference to their two existing grandmothers I've never referred to myself as nana or grandma, so they call me by my first name, I don't want to usurp the position of their actual grandmothers. That's just me everyone's different. I do remember my husband's business partner marrying again and his new wife's parents immediately assuming the title of grandparent to his children, I saw his mother wince, this was at their wedding when they had only met them once or twice, so I think step grandparents need to be mindful of the actual grandparent, particularly as in that case, the grandmother had played a very pivotal role in the grandchildren's lives. I don't think I've had any tricky situations with them, I think as a step grandparent and indeed a step parent if your other half has been married before and has a family then they are obviously part of the package so accept that. I would reiterate that I have had an easy ride as far as step children, and similarly as with them don't resent time or money spent and make sure you are a step back sometimes and not sticking your oar in as it were, I never came in on disagreements. Allow your partner occasional one to one time I remember my husband took out the eldest one to dinner on a "one to one" prior to a travelling gap year, so he could give her lots of "make sure you keep yourself safe" advice and he has done that occasionally on landmark occasions such as graduations etc.
Is it me or am I getting mixed messages
Kate Garroway-Care at home costs
How do you acknowledge Easter.