While families used to consist of the conventional mum, dad and two kids, nowadays families can resemble any different shape and size. Some families consist of single parents, others with same-sex parents and many with the addition of step-parents.
One man found himself becoming part of a new family when he met his now-wife and her teen son four years ago. Her son was 12 at the time, and they had an instant connection.
His wife left her ex-husband, the father of her son, four years prior, due to the fact he was cold, emotionally distant and easily irritable with both her and their son.
"I met the kiddo when he was 12. I had already been dating my wife for a year at that point and we both knew that things were going to get serious, so it was the right time. I instantly felt a connection to him, my paternal instincts spiked up," he wrote on Reddit's AITA forum.
"I'm sterile and I love children which is an unfortunate combination. From that moment on I started spending as much time with him as possible. The ex-husband really hated this and accused me of trying to 'steal his son'."
He added: "After we all moved in together, I started taking care of him full-time basically. I cook him breakfast in the morning, I pack him lunch, I drop and pick him off from school, I help him with his homework, we play video games together, workout, do sports, watch movies, listen to music, go on trips, etc. He talks with me about anything. I love him so much, I consider him my own son."
Earlier this week, the teen came home from seeing his dad and revealed his father had been bad-mouthing his step-dad, telling him things like, "he's not your real dad, he's just a stranger," and "he's only being nice to you to get closer to your mom, he'll never see you as his own child."
The man continued: "The poor kid actually defended me in front of his dad. I hugged him tight and assured him that I love him more than anything and that he is definitely my son.
"He calmed down in the end and let me know that from now on he wants to call me dad publicly and in front of everyone because I'm his male role model and real dad and he loves, respects and admires me a lot. I told him okay, whatever he feels the most comfortable with."
His step-son's dad later called him to berate him for allowing his son to call him dad, arguing that he'll never be able to rebuild his own relationship with the teen and accusing him of crossing boundaries, prompting the man to turn to Reddit to question whether anyone agreed.
"Tell him to f*** off. If his son wants to call you 'dad', it’s really nothing to do with anyone but the kid," one commented, while another added: "His bio dad wrecked their relationship all on his own by berating his child and not respecting him. Your son gets to decide what he calls you."
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