What unites these films is a rejection of the fairy tale. Modern cinema no longer promises that blended families will “feel just like the real thing.” Instead, it argues that they are the real thing —just a different, harder version.

The concept of stepmothers dates back to ancient times. In many cultures, stepmothers were seen as outsiders who threatened the stability of the family. The ancient Greeks and Romans often portrayed stepmothers as cruel and heartless. The Brothers Grimm's fairy tales also perpetuated the negative stereotype of stepmothers, with stories like Cinderella and Snow White featuring evil stepmothers.

You have to give yourself permission to be a different kind of parent. Maybe you are the "cool" one. Maybe you are the listener. Maybe you are the one who teaches them how to drive or how to handle a breakup. You are a supplemental figure, not a replacement.