What's in it for Me? Being a stepparent can be one of the most unrewarding jobs around. It can mean dealing with resentful stepchildren, uncommunicative spouses, and a stress level that goes right through the roof. Or, it can mean enjoying a special relationship with a child you are not biologically related to, but instead, are linked with a deep and enduring friendship. It is all in the way you look at it. Now, it might be easy to laugh this statement away, but it is the truth. I have found that my attitude carries a great deal of weight with how my stepchildren act around me. If I am crabby, distant, too quiet - they respond in negative ways. If I am open, friendly, and nurturing - they respond in positive ways.