Winning over my step-son
Leonie asks:
My stepson comes to us twice per week including one weekend day. We are supposed to have overnight visits but his mum doesn’t encourage it and he never seems keen to stay. This has become more pronounced since mum got a new boyfriend.
My stepson is almost 8. How can we give him the positive encouragement he needs?
Fiona Harrold says..
Show him a good time! Seriously. Show him what an absolute delight he is and how wonderful things are when he comes over, how great it is to have him around.
It's not hard to give an eight year old a great time, especially when there are no other siblings around to distract attention from him. Make him feel really good about himself. Take him out to Pizza Hut, to the theatre, the cinema. Talk to him, listen to him, find him fascinating.
It works with every other human being. It will with him too. Have things lined up for him to look forward to for each visit.
Have fun!
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