ABSTRACT
Stepsiblings, like all siblings, must share space, property, possessions, and, above all, parents. Sharing the love, attention, and approval of parents is never easy and often creates deep and lasting competition among brothers and sisters. Parents often attempt to solve the problem of sibling rivalry by being evenhanded, observing scrupulous equality. Sibling rivalry is most acute in childhood, when the familial arena is the most important sphere to a child, and the issue of parental love is the only important thing or is certainly the most salient. Unless a newly formed stepfamily moves to new, neutral ground when it is formed, it is almost inevitable that, at the beginning, at least, there will be tensions flowing from sharing of space. While the children are young, it is more likely that they will experience conflict based on the generosity of absent parents and/or grandparents in the form of jealousy over presents.
