I'll never forget the first time I did a solo custody exchange. My now-husband was away for a military duty weekend, and I was designated to pick up his daughter from his ex-wife's apartment.I'm not sure if anyone else suffers from stepmom anxiety the way I do, but I had no less than a thousand different worries that day. What if I'm late? What if she refuses to exchange with me? What if his ... Read the Post
When the Ex-Wife Finds Your Vent Post
One of the most common questions I receive is, “What does your husband’s ex think about you running a stepmom blog?!”And for anyone new here, you may be surprised to learn we actually ran this blog together for nearly a year! She completely supports my mission to help stepmoms around the world. With that being said...Sometimes I overshare, or I share my side of the story which may not ... Read the Post
Things that Surprised Me when I Became a Stepmom
For some reason, when a stepmom seeks guidance from her friends, family, colleagues, etc., she's often met with the same line after expressing her frustrations: "You knew what you were signing up for."And frankly, that couldn't be farther from the truth. My parents divorced when I was 2, I've had 3 different stepmoms, a stepdad, and many step- and half-siblings. I was very familiar with ... Read the Post
Heartbreaking Words for a Stepmom to Hear
"I wish my Mommy and Daddy were still together. You and my stepdad could be like my aunt and uncle, but I just wish Mommy and Daddy lived together."My heart broke in that moment, but maybe not for the reason you'd expect.I hugged her a little tighter, and through the tears, I whispered back, "Me too, baby."I wish things could be simpler for her. I wish she could have a "normal" family ... Read the Post
Second Wife Syndrome: Comparison is the Killer of Joy
Have you vacationed there with her? Was that your picnic basket you used as a family? Is that somewhere you had date night with her? I used to think (and ask!) about his ex-wife all the time. I didn't want to replicate any memories he had with her because then I had the ability to pale in comparison. I didn't want to feel second best and thus, didn't want to ever do something for the second time. ... Read the Post