‘Sharon’s consistent emotional support has been invaluable’: Naomi, 30

When you are a child, all you are really looking for is love. If someone makes the effort to show unconditional love, then you are bound to build a bond with that person. This is what happened with Sharon, and it is true that, with time, this bond can become even stronger than a biological relationship.

Sharon and my father split up when I was around 12. I remember she sat me down and explained that this would not affect her relationship with me, or mine with Dexter. It is a promise that I am grateful for and one that she has always kept.

It has been important that Sharon and my mum have collaborated throughout my life. The grown-up, caring attitude they have towards each other has given me the confidence to receive care and compassion from them both, guilt-free. It has been brilliant to have such strong female influences around me, teaching me the importance of female solidarity.

Sharon has made so many positive contributions to my life, from encouraging me to go to university to broadening my horizons culturally via our travels through Europe. Most important for me has been her consistent emotional support, which was very much needed at times when others weren’t so readily available. Even small things such as ringing up to see how I am, without judgment, and letting me know I have someone to count on, make a massive difference to the way I feel.

Although we have always had a solid relationship, the strength of our bond was put to the test after our car broke down on holiday in France a couple of years ago. When we finally set off again, a tyre blew out on us at 75mph in the middle of a busy motorway. As we wove in and out of danger, I became a rally- driving instructor, shouting “turn left”, and “turn right”, until Sharon – staying impressively calm – finally brought the car to a stop at the side of the road. The near- death experience brought us closer than we had ever been, and made me realise just how amazing my stepmum really is. From then on I’ve called Sharon my ‘Mamasita’ – a term of endearment I feel she has more than earned. A selfie in Madrid, 2014