300 | Familystrokes Stepdads Side Of The Bed Alyc...

I’ve been thinking about this after a moment the other night—let’s call it the “Alyc…” moment (short for Alyce , my stepdaughter’s mom, who still gets a mention in half our daily conversations). My stepdaughter, 14, came in at 2 a.m. after a nightmare. Without thinking, she went straight to my side of the bed. Not her dad’s. Mine.

So when my stepdaughter crawled into my spot the other night, I didn’t move her. I shifted to the other side— her dad’s side —and let her have mine. She fell asleep in five minutes. I stayed awake thinking: This is what 300 days of step-parenthood looks like. Not winning. Just staying. 300 FamilyStrokes Stepdads Side Of The Bed Alyc...

There’s something oddly symbolic about which side of the bed you sleep on. For most couples, it’s habit—left or right, window or door, near the bathroom or far from it. But in a blended family, especially as a stepparent, that side of the bed can feel like a hard-won territory. Or, on tough days, like a constant reminder that you’re sleeping in someone else’s story. I’ve been thinking about this after a moment