You guys rip me if you want, but I'm tired of the idea of being a stepparent used to denote cuckoldry or that I'm somehow a weak man.
I have a wonderful stepdaughter. My wife and I got together when she was six. This little girl is my pride and joy, and I strive to be the best Daddy for her that she could ever know.
My wife's ex was in the USMC, and sent divorce papers while she was pregnant because he was screwing a chick in the Corps. My grandfather and uncle were USMC, and Hoo-rah, this dirtbag has no honor, and his fellow jarheads should have beaten the hell out of him. Those who want to pretend that they're so macho they would never raise "another man's child" remind me a lot of this shitbag.
My daughter (I don't use the "step" when I introduce her) has only known me as a Dad. I take that as a sacred obligation. She loves me, and I love her. I couldn't give two shits what her dirtbag bio-father made of his life. I'm making something of hers.
My little girl is 11 now. We watch wrestling together (Wednesday is her favorite night of the week), we go to shows, she is a huge fan of Swerve, and we even got to meet him and have her picture taken with him. She's excited to bring her new little brother (he's 2) to a big PPV show when he's old enough to appreciate.
The next time you think it's cool to treat a stepdad like he's some cuckolded faggot or that his relationship with his stepchild is somehow "less", let me suggest you say it to his face. I, for one, believe I would be able to sway your opinion and either an apology or your teeth would come out of your mouth rather quickly. Not exactly Zen of me, but I'm cool with that if you are.