In these cases, the updated advice is clear: You are not required to bond with someone who harms you. Your primary job is to stay safe.
Of course, there were challenges along the way. I struggled with feelings of guilt and loyalty towards my mom. I worried that by bonding with Sarah, I was somehow betraying my mom's memory. But Sarah was understanding and reassuring. She reminded me that she wasn't trying to replace my mom, but rather to support and care for me in a different way. alone with my new stepmom updated