We all hear the horror stories about horrible step relative or inlaws of any type. We need some inspiring stories about those that really stepped up and made a difference. Share your story of how your life was changed for the better by those taking on this challenging role.

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#1

2nd time I met my now MIL was my 16th birthday. My husband (then boyfriend) invited me over for a family dinner to celebrate my birthday. Right when we walked in the front door she popped up with a tray of chocolate cupcakes that said “Happy Sweet 16” that she had made. At the end of the night it came out that it was my first ever birthday cake and birthday card and that my family didn’t celebrate my birthday but they did everyone else’s. That wasn’t weird to me but this woman burst into tears. It was weird that she’d cry for me because no one had ever done that before. Now, she’s my mom. My in laws are family in a way that nobody else could be. I’ve experienced so many new things since then! My first time going to the mall, the hair dressers, a restaurant, the movie theater and so many more. My first bedroom. My first bed even! A cell phone. Having a house to go home to was the first big thing. Food always available. She was determined to fatten me up right away and brought food to me IN BED! I was clean, clothed, warm and fed. My family wouldn’t even let me eat at the table and his family let me pick dinner every night. She’s cried for me, fought for me, and believed in me. I know she has a strong urge to take care of strays and that’s the only reason I’m still alive. She took in a poor kid with no real family, no home, and no hope. In her shoes I probably wouldn’t have gone to the same lengths. She offers all of herself to others and leaves none for herself. Shes too good. People try to take advantage of that but she never stops being accepting. To pay her back I’ll protect her for the rest of her life. She grew up easy so she doesn’t have the same skills I do. I grew up hard so I don’t have the endless hope and emotional strength that she does. For the woman who cries for strangers who can’t cry for themselves? I’ll do whatever it takes. The last person who tried to hurt her doesn’t come around anymore. :)

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Kyndal T
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#2

My beautiful stepmum has been around since I was born (she was friends with my dad before they fell in love).

When I was 5, my parents divorced but by the time I was 8, my Pa and SM were married and very much in love. She's the most incredible woman; she's one of those people who seems to be loved by everyone and excels at everything she tries. She's 4"8 and loves all things pink, fluffy or Hello Kitty but she's also a blacksmith, carpenter, musician, miniature maker, seamstress, a blackbelt in Aikedo and she's like a walking Google - the woman knows everything and wins every pub quiz we do as a family!

There were never any particular 'moments' in my life where I can say she first donned her step parent cape and took up the mantle but I love her more than words can say. She's always been there for us, through deaths, long term illnesses, mental health breakdowns, alcohol addictions and even a crime that was committed within the family. And always with an infectious, loving smile on her face.

She also never chose to have her own kids with Pa because me and my younger brother were 'already everything she needed'. IMO, I have two mothers, not just a birth and step mum.

Love you, Gwennie.

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The_Nicest_Misanthrope
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#3

My mother! She was mother in law to our husbands and wives, yet we often joked the we, her children were the in-
She was amazing, loving and fair to all. The in-laws, mourned and missed her as much as we did. Miss you every day mum ❤️

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Claire Nasa
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#4

I didn't get my stepdad until I was in my 20s and there's no big moments that make him wonderful he just is. He is the father I've never had and treats me like I'm one of his kids.

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Angi
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#5

My ex-FIL and I are still on good terms. Even though my marriage to his daughter didn't work out, he remained very friendly towards me. I have great respect for him to this day.

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Uncle Bud
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#6

My husband has 2 cousins who are actually sisters, and they are the sweetest people in the family. They are also the most considerate by remembering birthdays, anniversaries, etc., and they are funnier than anyone else. I always love spending time with them when the family gets together.

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Mrs.King0315
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#7

My husband has 2 cousins who are actually sisters, and they are the sweetest people in the family. They are also the most considerate by remembering birthdays, anniversaries, etc., and they are funnier than anyone else. I always love spending time with them when the family gets together.

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Mrs.King0315
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#8

My Grandfather, easily. The single kindest person I've ever had the pleasure of knowing.

Minor life story, hitting the highlights:
High School dropout, left to take care of his single mother. Ends up getting a job pipe fitting, in Virginia in the 60s. Very racist time period, yeah? Well, he ends up driving a truck for one of the all-black pipe fitting gangs one day. He gets thirsty, and asks for some water. They say "But we don't have any cups". But grandpa sees that they've been sharing a coke can with the top cut off as a cup, and asks "well, you're all drinking out of that, why can't I?"
Didn't really think twice about it at first, but the pipelayers were kinda stunned. A white guy asking to drink after a lot of black folk? Was kind of unheard of. This starts this really fun relationship, cause my grandfather ends up having more respect for these guys than the white workers. They treated each other like family, and extended that to my grandpa, who saw them as just any other. When he gets drafted into Vietnam, they say "hang with the brothers, and they'll take care of you"
So that's what he does. Ends up as an AC repairman for the big old field hospitals they set up. During a shelling, he was drunk and asleep in the barracks. The only person who went to go look for him was a black guy.
He has this ridiculous level of respect for African Americans, just because they treated him kinder than many white guys did, and he stuck by them even when he caught a lot of anger as a result. Y'know, n***er-lover and all that.

Apologies if this is taken as racist or anything by the distinctions. It was the times they were in, and he paid little mind, only describing it like that cause that's how it was.

Later on he ends up married, and has two kids (one of which being my mom). He's now working as a technician in a hospital. His wife decides that he didn't have enough ambition for her liking, and decides to leave him. My grandpa does his darndest as a single father, working obscene hours to make sure his kids can live healthily. And I can always tell whenever he talks about my Mom and her brother, that he loves them more than life itself.

There's even more I can say, but honestly, he's one of the best people I know. Too pure for this world. And knowing him singlehandedly gives me faith in humanity.

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Idiotic Anthropoid
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