Nobody,
I don’t really agree with you, because while you are right that it should be obvious that a step-parent must be respected, there are some laws that apply specifically and more stringently to a parent. Also, sefarim discuss a lot of things that you may consider theoretical.
SJSinNYC,
Although I criticize you in many threads (sorry), I have to say that I am very impressed. It seems to me that a step-parent is the stickiest kind of relationships and I see some of the finest people have a hard time with it. My mother grew up with a step-parent who she had a lot of issues with. Once she got married she became much closer with her and took care of her when she was very sick with cancer. After she was niftar, my grandfather remarried again and his current wife is respected and loved by all!
I think a big problem with step-parents is the step children think they can manage perfectly fine wihtout him/her and don’t see a need for their presence. What they don’t realize is that the parent needs a spouse and would be very unhappy alone.
A young boy once told my mother soon after his father re-married, “You know what’s hardest about having a step-parent? You need to say thank you for everything.”
Of course it’s nice to say thank you to a real parent but from a step-parent, as nice as they are it’s not natural. So to all of you who say OF COURSE you have to have respect… It’s true but realize that it’s not as easy as you think.