Parenting is the most difficult aspect of stepfamily life, especially if the kids are adolescents, according to the American Psychological Association (APA). Naturally, a stepparent may feel overwhelmed. But if you happen to be on the receiving end of a venting session and feel the urge to say, “Hey, you knew this was a package deal,” you may want to reconsider. Indiana stepmom Kate M. says that a statement like that is “a cute platitude people use to mean: ‘You’re on your own, I don’t know how hard your situation is, and I don’t care to.’” Her advice? Refrain from saying this because it makes stepparents feel isolated. It’s better, she says, to offer words of comfort or encouragement.