I Won’t Kick My Stepdaughter Out—But Only If She Obeys My Three Rules

Derek had a daughter, Kayla, from a previous relationship. At the time, Kayla was ten—sweet, quiet, and somewhat distant. Nicole met her on a rainy Saturday afternoon over pizza and board games. The girl barely spoke.

Now, Kayla is 14. And she wants to move in.

It wasn’t part of the original plan. Nicole and Derek had talked about custody arrangements and agreed early on that Kayla would stay primarily with her mother, with regular weekend visits. But life changes. Kayla’s relationship with her mom had deteriorated. There were arguments, tension, even school issues. Eventually, Kayla sat across from her father one weekend and said it plainly: “I want to live with you.”

Derek was floored. And so was Nicole.

At first, Nicole said nothing. She smiled supportively, nodded, and offered the girl another slice of pepperoni. But inside, her mind was spinning. Their house didn’t have a spare room. Her kids—Emily, 12, and Mason, 9—already shared space tightly. Weekends with Kayla were one thing. Full-time was different.

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