Sometimes a step-parent has to take a step back. When I was thirty-five, I met my husband and came to ______ his kids, aged 10 and 7. We ______ playing basketball and shopping for cartoon books and became great friends. Then I got ______.
In most ______ ,stepkids live with their mom and stepdad. This makes our case quite ______ . Four years into our marriage, after going between their mom’s place and ours, the boys______ in with us full-time.
I was ______ a part-time friend, so everything changed. For example, ______ the kids to help didn’t appear an important thing before, but now they became unwilling. Once, after I’d asked my elder stepson to set the table, he ______ said, “You’re not my mother; I don’t have to ______ you.”
It was ______ but I realized it was about keeping ______ clear in our new family life. I told him he was right—I wasn’t his mom; I was another person in his life who ______ him, and we needed to get things done ______ .
______ in a life-in situation, a step-parent isn’t the parent. You help with everything and ______ lots of hugs and laughs. But you also have to learn to stand in the ______ . For example, when there were only enough ______ for Mom and Dad to sit up front, I sat in back. It was hurtful, but I realized it wasn’t personal.
Today, my stepsons know where to find me, whether it’s for long chats or a(n) ______ e-mail to say hi. And I know where to find them. The caring is surely there, even if the ______ isn’t.

A．know B．teach C．understand D．instruct

A．passed time B．agreed on C．had fun D．set about

A．convinced B．separated C．changed D．married

A．places B．ways C．cases D．families

A．unusual B．similar C．positive D．difficult

A．came B．moved C．got D．ran

A．as well B．just now C．once again D．no longer

A．allowing B．getting C．advising D．inviting

A．quietly B．suddenly C．simply D．immediately

A．work for B．listen to C．stay with D．focus on

A．selfish B．impolite C．reasonable D．painful

A．roles B．duties C．quarrels D．records

A．supported B．envied C．loved D．bothered

A．properly B．together C．already D．easily

A．Still B．Even C．Also D．Then

A．have B．expect C．avoid D．share

A．shadows B．positions C．shelters D．sufferings

A．spots B．beds C．chairs D．tickets

A．special B．extra C．quick D．private

A．bloodline B．influence C．comfort D．respect