(Names have been changed)

Dr. Meg:

A friend recommended your book “Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters.”

In some ways it is validating, other ways it’s incriminating.

We have an 18 year-old daughter from my wife’s first marriage. My wife has always encouraged me to parent her kids. That hasn’t been a problem; I love them like my own! Especially Jules. I have been a part of Jules’ life for 9 years. When Amy and I got married, Jules was overheard telling her friends and cousin that “now I have two daddies!” I couldn’t have asked for a warmer welcome. Between then and her 16th birthday, Jules and got to be very close. She’d go everywhere with me, sit next to me, lay in the hammock and talk. No matter where we were Jules would talk to me about everything!! When she reached adolescence, she would tell me about “cute” boys and ask me questions about boys and relationships. One of our most cherished bonding experiences was brushing her long brown hair after she got out of the shower. I’d brush until her hair was dry and we’d talk, joke, tease and laugh! She would tell me her hair turned out the best…