I have raised my step children as my own for 13 years.  (feels weird saying step). Birth mom walked away when she was 3 and he was 6 months old I came around at ages 5 and 3 . They do call me mom but this was their choice and it took me some time to be comfortable with it. I also have children of my own and I have always treated them the same you would have never known. The only thing was that the oldest child and I was very close We had a bond that I thought would have lasted forever.