Just to point out, not every stepfather is evil.
Mr Kitty step in and took over over the father role for my 3 oldest boys when the oldest was 2 and the youngest was 8. Joke with my friends was that the kids would go to Mr Kitty to ask permission before they came to me. He was a good father to them.
Not like their own dad, who might have killed them.
(Just saying)
Oldest 12 yikes
I confess that, as the step father, I get a little annoyed by the painting with such a broad brush.
I took over as dad to a 6 year old boy and a 3 year old girl more than 25 years ago (wife and I celebrated 25 this year).
The daughter had me walk her down the aisle, not biodad.