Friend, we need to talk. I see you running on empty, I hear you voicing your stepmom needs in our Facebook support groups, and I think it’s time to let you in on a very simple secret… We already know that the stepmom expectations are contradictory and exhausting – love his kids like your own but don’t act like their mom, be involved in their lives but don’t overstep the “real” parents, treat ... Read the Post
The Best Relationship Advice You Haven’t Heard Before
Ah, February. The month of valentines, tacky jewelry, and a gag-worthy amount of pink. Despite loving none of those things, I love February - because it’s the month of my wedding anniversary. Every February I become sappy and reminiscent, reflecting on all the lessons I’ve learned so far and how much we’ve grown as a couple. One of those lessons I’d like to pass along to you. It’s short and ... Read the Post
The Kids Don’t Come First in Our Blended Family
Picture this: it’s your 18th wedding anniversary. You stand in the crowd with your stepchild, gleaming with pride as you watch your spouse collect his Marriage Diploma. You hold back tears as he hugs all his friends and excitedly tells them about his plans to leave the state and spend the next 40 years finding himself. In a couple of months, he’ll be gone. It’ll be just you and your 26 year old ... Read the Post
Do You Need to Tell Your Stepkids’ Mom You’re Pregnant?
Nope! End of article. Just kidding. But let me make my opinion clear from the start here: mama, you don’t “owe” your news to anyone it doesn’t directly influence. Expecting a child is an exciting but overwhelming time in a woman’s life - especially for a stepmom! It comes with a laundry list of its own worries and fears, but as far as this stepmom + bio-mom is concerned, delivering your ... Read the Post
Stop Being Gasoline, and Start Being Water
Years ago, before my husband and I were even engaged, I walked into the room while he was on the phone with his ex-wife. “I’m done trying to explain it to you, you’re an idiot,” he snapped into the phone, then hung up. I probably should’ve felt concerned, hearing my boyfriend speak so harshly. (Don’t worry, he’s never called me an idiot!) But instead I felt relieved. I had finally witnessed ... Read the Post