Cuevas Week 8

 “Evil-Stepparents” A False Media Trope

        Throughout history, multimedia has portrayed stepparents to be evil. We saw it at an early age with the movie Cinderella, and it is replicated in countless other films and books. Media, for some reason, has consistently cast stepparents as villains- as harmful entities who enter a family and consequently destroy it. After inheriting two stepparents, I can testify that this stereotype is absolutely incorrect. 

          My parents were divorced when I was pretty young, and without diving into too many details, I can say it was hard. I remember not understanding why they couldn’t be together, why they lived so far from one another and why it had to be that way. I soon learned exactly why- they were meant to be with someone else. 

          As I grew up and reached the age where I understood what ‘divorce’ really meant, I eagerly watched both of my parents go through many boyfriends and girlfriends. Those people provided some interesting stories to tell, good and bad, but collectively, each respective parent and I could tell none of them would really stick. Then, my dad met Diana and my mom met Jay. 

          Although I live with my mom, I was able to easily form connections with both Jay and Diana. While they were dating my parents, they started to begin to feel like parents too, and I was happy to see each of them get married. Now, I am extremely grateful to have them around. 

         I live with Jay, and we have such a great relationship. He and my boyfriend are basically best friends, which is very important to me, and Jay cares about me like a real father and treats me like his daughter. I don’t get to see my Dad and Diana very often, but when I do, I always feel grateful to experience the maternal-like bond I have with my stepmom. Both of my parents really fill the role of real parents, and honestly are like friends. 

         I’m incredibly grateful for my stepparents. Maybe I got extremely lucky, but I would say these two people really defy the “evil-stepparent” stereotype. It’s crazy to say I have 4 parents, but it’s true. I’m very lucky to be surrounded by so much love. 

        

This is my sister, me, my mom, and my stepdad, Jay.