My 7-Year-Old Stepson Survived a Traumatizing Accident. Now He’s Living With Us. I Really Wish He Wasn’t.
A woman expresses her struggles with her 7-year-old stepson, Dereck, who is now living with them full-time due to his mother's mental health issues. She finds him difficult to manage and feels overwhelmed, especially as she is pregnant. The situation has created tension between her and her husband, who believes Dereck should stay with them.
- ▪Dereck's mother experienced a psychotic break, leading to him living with his father and stepmother full-time.
- ▪The stepmother finds Dereck's behavior challenging and feels her life has been disrupted.
- ▪Her husband disagrees with her suggestion to send Dereck to live with his aunt.
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Care and Feeding My 7-Year-Old Stepson Survived a Traumatizing Accident. Now He’s Living With Us. I Really Wish He Wasn’t. Advice by Michelle Herman June 07, 20268:00 AM Photo illustration by Slate. Photo by Drazen Zigic/iStock/Getty Images Plus. Copy Link Share Share Comment Copy Link Share Share Comment Care and Feeding is Slate’s parenting advice column. Have a question for Care and Feeding? Submit it here. Dear Care and Feeding, My husband has a 7-year-old son, “Dereck,” from his previous marriage. Dereck lived with his mother on the opposite coast and would stay with us during his summer breaks—that was the longtime arrangement. But two months ago, Dereck’s mother suffered some sort of psychotic break. She is currently in a residential facility under an involuntary hold.
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