Need advice from Step Fathers/Fathers please

need to be firm yet nice and stick to it... if you say no, you must mean it and not give in.... a lot of times kids will push back and it gets hard at first but in the long run, they are much happier and it goes a lot smoother when they know that no means no.... (yes better mean yes too!) Mom needs to be on-board as well, no caving in when they pitch a fit or they will learn that they can wear you down....

Also, ask then to do things once.... don't count to 3 or play other games.... ask once and if they don't listen, there are consequences.... otherwise, they will gamble and not listen and try to gauge by the tone of your voice, or look in your eyes, etc....