To explore how stepfamily members think about the role of the stepparent and how consistent they are in their views, a study was conducted with 40 stepfamilies in Missouri. In each stepfamily, the stepparent, parent, and one stepchild between the ages of 10 and 19 completed a series of questionnaires on the role of the stepparent. Participants were asked to describe their ideal way that the stepparent should relate to his or her stepchildren. Possible responses were distant relative, teacher, friend, stepparent, acquaintance, advisor, boss, parent, uncle (or aunt), enemy, or other. All family members also were asked, with the same possible answers, to describe the label that best described the current relationship between the stepparent and stepchild. With reference to how the stepparent role should be performed, about half of the parents and stepparents identified “”parent”” as the ideal stepparent role; “”stepparent”” and “”friend”” were each chosen by less than 25% of parents and stepparents. By contrast, 40% of stepchildren identified “”friend”” as the ideal descriptor; only 29% identified “”parent”” and 18% identified “”stepparent.”” With reference to stepfamily member’s views of how the stepparent role is currently being performed, parents and stepparents again had similar perceptions. Most identified the current relationship as either that of “”stepparent”” or “”parent”” with 69% of parents and 73% of stepparents identifying one of these two labels. By contrast, only 56% of stepchildren selected one of these two labels; 44% of stepchildren selected either “”friend”” of one of the “”other”” categories. Implications for professionals are discussed. (Author abstract modified)