She said she didn’t feel unsafe—just unsettled. When I tried to talk to my stepson, he completely shut down. That night, he sent me a long text, saying he always felt like an outsider in our home—like he was on the outside looking in.
That’s when it hit me: he wasn’t being creepy—just lonely and unsure of how to belong. Still, his behavior had clearly made my daughter uncomfortable, and that mattered, too.
I asked my husband if his son could stay with his mother for a few weekends while we figured out how to reset things and make everyone feel safe and understood.
Now, my husband’s angry, my daughter’s withdrawn, and my stepson isn’t answering my texts. I honestly don’t know if I made the right decision—or if I’ve only made things harder for all of us. I’d really appreciate your advice.