10 year old stepdaughter (has lived with us since we married when she was 4) has started pulling away from me emotionally...is this normal?
by Melissa Strickland
(Macon, Ga)
My 10 yr old stapdaughter, who I love as much as she was mine and I have had the responsibility of raising since she was 4, has suddenly started pulling away from me emotionally....she has started spending every other weekend with her bio mom who has started showing more interest in her since she has gotten older. Her mom-time is simportant to her now where before she would go weeks without wanting to see her or talk with her...during this time, I was the mom-figure for her and the reaper of all of her affection....I don't have a problem with her relationship with her mom, but I have noticed that she does not like to kiss me, we have always kissed when I tuck her in bed or when either of us leaves to go somewhere...now she doesn't like to lift her face for a kiss, and she will pretend to kiss my cheek, but its obvious that she is just putting her face next to mine...I understand this is a very confusing time for her and she has loyalties to both me and her mom, but is this a normal behavior for any 10 year old girl? I don't want to pressure her into being affectionate with me, but I see it as a bond that I am afraid she will miss if we quit. Any suggestions?
