Worldwide, stepmother-child relationships are often strained - it's rare for a child to feel genuine motherly love from a step-parent or receive it in return. A recent story sheds light on what happened when a woman married the father of a 16-year-old autistic girl.
She told Reddit: 'My husband's daughter and I have been in each other's lives for four years, and I've done my best to be a trustworthy and friendly adult presence. She confides in me more than in her own sisters.'
Going further, she revealed, 'Returning from the honeymoon after a month of marriage, I never expected what came next - my stepdaughter wanted a heartfelt chat. She expressed deep gratitude, saying no one cared as much as I did. She even learned to cook the food just the way I like, and she's been patient through my mood swings.'
The daughter added, 'You're my favorite.' Then came a sentence that took the woman aback and brought her to tears: 'Can I call you mom?' The woman paused, during which the young girl apologized, calling herself 'stupid', which the woman quickly refuted, touched by the sentiment. Later that night, she shared the story with her husband, again overwhelmed with emotion, and said, 'Suddenly, I felt like I'd become a mother.'
'The next morning she came downstairs and greeted me with: 'Morning, mom'. It'll take time to get used to, but what a wonderful feeling it is. I still can't believe that I've earned the title of a mother,' she concluded. The tale drew emotional responses on social media, with comments pouring in. One user wrote: 'I'm crying. Is such a relationship even possible?' Another congratulated her, saying, 'You've become a full-fledged family.'
