Fairy tales portray stepmothers as wicked women who neglect and mistreat their stepchildren while doting on their own offspring. In the real world, stepmothers can become as close or closer than some biological moms. More than half of the nation's children live apart from at least one biological parent before they turn 18. We are a nation of stepparents. With Mothers' Day coming up, consumers will find cards for all kinds of mothers, including those who love children they did not bear. Step parenting is a role that comes with its own set of challenges and blessings. Stepparents can feel like outsiders looking in, and stepchildren can feel caught between loyalties to two sets of parents. How well do blended families blend? The steps to better step parenting, Friday morning on The Sound of Ideas.