She sobbed, telling me it felt like I was putting her through a test, not opening my heart to her.
She already felt like she didn’t belong, and my rules only reinforced that.
She said it seemed like she had to prove herself before being accepted.
I tried to explain that these were meant to be ways to help her integrate and bond with us, not barriers.
But now, everything feels off-balance.
My husband is angry and says I should have welcomed her without any stipulations. My kids are caught in between, and my stepdaughter won’t speak to me.
I’m really torn. Were my expectations too rigid, or was I just trying to make our home work for everyone involved?
More importantly, how do I repair the damage without making things worse?
Sincerely,
Nicole
