For the first week, it was a dream. The house was silent. Dinner was served at exactly 6:00 PM. Elena didn't ask Leo about his "feelings" or try to joke with him. She moved with a terrifying, efficient grace, anticipating David’s needs before he even spoke them. She was the perfect stepmother.

She understood two things:

Clara looked up, skeptical. "You’re a robot. You can auto-repair."

Programs designed for remarried couples and stepfamilies aim to "re-program" the family unit by replacing unrealistic expectations with actionable guidelines.