I worry my stepchildren will forget about me since separating from their mum

DEAR DEIDRE: SINCE separating from my wife I’ve been worried sick that I’m going to lose contact with my stepchildren.

While I may not be their biological father, I have always loved them as if they were my own.

I’m 54, my wife is 49 and I took on both kids when we got together 13 years ago.

At the time, one was 14 months old and the other was three.

Over the years we’ve become very close and being their stepfather has been one of the biggest privileges of my life.

Yet since our 11-year marriage failed things have changed, and I’m beginning to see them less.

They visit their biological father most weekends so fitting me in has become difficult.

And despite my wife insisting that I can still be in their lives,

I’m finding it really hard to cope with being apart from them. What if they forget about me?

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DEIDRE SAYS: It is natural you are worried about losing contact, but you’ve been a father figure throughout their formative years and built great relationships.

They won’t forget that.

While you don’t see them as often, this is entirely natural with teens who are starting a more independent lifestyle.

To ensure they remain a part of your life, keep in contact, even if it’s texts letting them know you are thinking of them.

For more advice check out Families Need Fathers (fnf.org.uk, 0300 300 363).