Thanks. Everything is fine again. I'm getting some help for my mental state and all is good again between my son and i. We had a lovely mother's day yesterday with my Mum.Reading a post like this makes me sad.
I've had two teenage stepdaughters - who I love dearly - drift a long way from my wife and I. The older one particularly. At 14 she decided she didn't like our rules (which were perfectly normal I might add) so she left. Went and lived with my wife's sister who, along with the rest of her family, sided with the daughter. It was all my fault, apparently.
I felt pretty f***in low at the time and it has taken years to get things back on track. Even when things had been seemingly smoothed out I was once asked not to go to her 20th birthday dinner based on 'what he'd wear and the s**t he'd talk.' (I dress simply and generally don't talk much when I'm around her). It has been a lot of hard work but it is ok now. The younger one I've always had more of a bond with but it has been tested on occasion. We have a great relationship now.
My advice is just to stick it out. Kids don't forget who loves them, who has been there for them etc. it just sometimes takes a while for them to remember.
Feel free to PM if you ever need to chat.