It's natural that persons with different family experiences have different ideas about how a family ought to be run. In first marriage relationships this is the opposite, except in cases of unmarried parenthood. Emotional connections such as love between the biological parent and child preceded the remarriage. Stepfamily members may feel threatened by the entry of a new member. This person, present or not, living or not, continues to have an influence on interactions in the stepfamily.
Transitions are difficult for both children and adults.
Moving from house to house can be an unsettling experience for all involved. As the stepfamily becomes more integrated, it adjusts to this temporary unsettling. Thus, stepparents aren't able legally to give permission to participate in activities, such as field trips or medical procedures, the way the biological parent can. These realities of stepfamily living present many challenges. While it is important not to ignore the challenges, it's also important not to be overcome by them.