Is it love? Is it fear of being alone or of failure? We, step-parents, endure a lot of things from DH, SD, BM, SS, etc.. Why do we keep on dealing with it? At what point do we admit to ourselves that nothing is going to change. Should you decide to stay, then you are facing a life sentence and must accept that. Should you leave, you are admitting that love, patience, sacrifice, and communication is not enough to hold it together without help from all parties involved. Why do we continue to take verbal abuse, manipulation, lies, etc..