Many men jump right in, thinking it’s going to be just like having kids of their own. The reality is a bit different. There are more Stepdads today than ever before in history, but society still holds onto pre-conceived notions about stepfathers. This may be because the news rarely does a story about the good ones. Your new kids are probably aware of the ‘evil stepfather’ stereotype, which gives you an immediate hurdle to overcome; convincing them you’re not that kind of Stepdad. This job comes with a price that’s not well defined. Legal rights, bonding with your step kids, showing appropriate affection and higher stress levels are issues addressed in this article about blended families.