Becoming a Real Family: Turning Points and Competing Discourses in Stepfamilies

Sample

Lonnie was lugging the last of her clothes down the stairs. The large trunk made a loud “thump!” as she dragged it down the worn steps. “Which of you kids is making all that racket?” her mother, Gail, called brightly. Lonnie smiled to herself. Even though she was 18 years old and off to college, she still loved to bug her mother. “Where are Tim and Celia? I want to get going soon so baby Emily will sleep while we’re on the road.” Lonnie pointed out to the driveway where Tim and her sister, Celia, were waiting next to the van, packed with Lonnie’s treasures.