Alone With My New Stepmom.

started talking about her own childhood, moving from city to city, always the "new girl." She spoke about the fear of taking up too much space in someone else's story.

The moment the garage door closed, I did what any self-respecting, anxious teenager does. I retreated to my bedroom, put on noise-canceling headphones, and pretended to be deeply invested in a TikTok slideshow about extinct marine animals. Alone With My New StepMom.

But when my dad announced he had to drive three hours to help my uncle fix a plumbing disaster, and that he’d be gone overnight, my stomach dropped. started talking about her own childhood, moving from

Simple, polite interactions—such as a greeting when entering a room—prevent the environment from becoming hostile or cold. started talking about her own childhood

Understanding her history helps humanize her.