Even when stepparents are ready and able to love a stepchild, the child may not be ready for that kind of a relationship with the stepparent. Larry once he entered the family. Fairy tales like Cinderella and Snow White may communicate to children that all stepmothers are wicked. Stepfathers often are also negatively portrayed. It's important for children to understand that whether a parent is bad or not does not depend on what kind of family a parent is in.
Studies show that about a third of children of divorce have long-term adjustment difficulties.
The other two-thirds adjust in time and are satisfied in their new families. Children who have difficulty adjusting may benefit from professional counseling. When children aren't allowed contact with the non-residential parent they tend to have idealized fantasies about them. Normally, the best situation for a child's growth and development is continued contact with both biological parents after divorce. While it may be more peaceful at home following a divorce, once the conflict period has subsided, children may view remarriage as a betrayal of the former marriage partner.