It’s very hard. I’ve been a step mom for going on 7 years and I’m only 25. For the past almost 4 years I’ve been a full time step mom doing all the child duties while her dad works. I love her and her dad dearly and wouldn’t trade them for the world, however I do still feel like my early 20s have gone by without me being able to enjoy them doing things normal 20-25 year olds do. I have to sit back and watch bio mom who sees our daughter maybe once a year post pictures and take all the credit for raising her and pretend she’s been living with her this whole time. If something were to happen and my partner and I broke up (god forbid, I love him very much) I would NEVER date a man with a child again. You never are the first priority (which is good if a man has his child as first priority, but it’s at YOUR expense), you have to deal with the bio mom who more times than not is a nut case and jealous and wants your kid to dislike you, you will realize very very little of YOUR time goes to yourself.