Expert Stepfamily Advice for Any Woman Whose Partner Has Kids
The December 2016 issue of StepMom Magazine is HERE!
→ The Year’s Best Expert Stepmom Tips & Advice
→ Learn How to Help Your Partner Be a Better Dad
→ What You Need to Know About (Step)Family Traditions
→ Power Posing: Body Language Techniques for Stepmoms
→ When The Kids Aren’t Coming Home for the Holidays
→ Why You Can Stop Trying to Make Things “Fair” for The Kids
→ And much more!
Continue reading “Inside the December 2016 Issue”
Bring on the Holidays, Stepmom! Ways to Thrive as Your Family Merges Its Traditions by Brenda Snyder, LCSW
Whether you welcome the cooling temperatures or dread them, the change of seasons signals the time period most fraught with emotion by many stepmoms—the holidays.
Stepmoms new to their families might be filled with expectation and excitement while stepmoms with painful holiday memories might meet the festivities with dread and despair. Wherever you find yourself on the spectrum, insight and planning ahead can give you the best chance of a time filled with celebration and good will. Continue reading “Stepfamily Traditions: Inside the December 2016 Issue”
Dad’s Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Days: Ways to Help Your Partner Parent Better by Mary T. Kelly, MA
“When I got out of bed this morning, I tripped on the skateboard and, by mistake, I dropped my sweater in the sink—while the water was running …. I think I’ll move to Australia.”
—excerpt from “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day,” by Judith Viorst
The opening excerpt is from a wildly popular children’s book that kids can relate to because, in truth, kids have bad days of their own. And, though your partner may not admit this, he has definitely experienced a slew of terrible, horrible, no good, very bad days, too—as a dad—and he doesn’t feel very good about it. Continue reading “Parenting Advice: Inside the December 2016 Issue”
StepMom Magazine’s Round Up of the Year’s Best Expert Tips and Stepmom Advice
Oh, dear, what a year! From the fate of the U.S. presidency to the Chicago Cubs’ first World Series win in 108 years, every aspect of life seemed to hang in the balance. Yet, none of it kept our contributors from sharing sound advice that helped us stay the course.
This month we round up 2016’s best expert tips for stepmoms and their stepfamilies, followed by excerpts from this year’s prior issues of StepMom Magazine. In sifting through them, we realized how ready we are to leave all the other drama behind. How ‘bout you?
Yeah, it’s time. Read on, reboot and get ready for 2017! …To read the rest of this article, log in to your account and download the December 2016 issue. Don’t have an account? Click here to subscribe.
Stepfamily Holiday Blues: Learning to Celebrate a Season for Two by Claudette Chenevert
IT’S CHRISTMAS MORNING. You wake up all excited but soon realize that this year is different. This Christmas will not be spent opening presents with your stepkids or even your own kids.
This Christmas it’s going to be just you and your spouse. A lump forms in your throat, as you think about it. You know it’s just another day, right? So what if you don’t have a houseful of squealing kids shouting “YES! I got my new phone!” or “Thanks for this gift. I really like it!”
Last year—for the first time, as we’re now parents of adult children—Bernard and I experienced Christmas without any of our kids. Continue reading “Stepfamily Holiday Blues: Inside the December 2016 Issue”
The November 2016 issue of StepMom Magazine is HERE!
→ 5 things to help you feel thankful (even when step-life is hard)
→ Advice for stepmoms of kids who’ve been parentified
→ Interview exclusive with stepmom and Gospel singer: Leah Shafer
→ Why taking the high road with his ex can make you happier
→ Becoming a stepmom: Would you do it all over again?
→ Tips to help you avoid holiday scheduling hassles
→ And much more! Continue reading “Inside the November 2016 Issue”
Stepmoms vs. Ex-Wives: How to Stop Bad Mouthing His Ex
by Mary T. Kelly, MA
Women are more misogynistic than men. There! I said it. And I meant it.
I came to this sad conclusion after decades of befriending and observing other women. I know that statement may sound sacrilegious and that’s certainly not my intention. Yet, the competition, vitriol and downright meanness among many women just can’t be denied. The judgments and criticisms women foist upon each other are relentless. Continue reading “Stepmoms vs. Ex-Wives: Inside the November 2016 Issue”
Whose Holiday Is It, Anyway? Make Your Stepfamily Holidays Merry and Bright by Claudette Chenevert and Christine G. Adamo
Have your plans ever been foiled by an ex wanting to take a spur-of-the-moment holiday trip sans kids? A wacky plan to which your partner said, “Yeah, we’ll take ’em!”— thus extinguishing your sugar plum visions of dinner and dancing with the sweetie on New Year’s Eve? (We have.)
Maybe your at-home stepfamily Christmas celebration was derailed by a text Continue reading “Stepfamily Holidays: Inside the November 2016 Issue”
Secrets of Stepmom Peak Performance: Mastering Stepfamily Life’s 6 Big Challenges by Iishana Artra, PhD
In my opinion, stepping is an X-sport. Think base jumping or shark surfing. We qualify for this elite distinction because we face unusual challenges while navigating a high number of inherently uncontrollable variables. Given that, who can deny that fast and accurate cognitive and perceptual processing is required to avoid serious injury?
A stepdaughter ignores our hello. Our partner ceases to parent. Continue reading “Stepmom Peak Performance: Inside the November 2016 Issue”
The October 2016 issue of StepMom Magazine is HERE!
→ What to do when your stepkids snub you
→ How to stop being so mad at your partner’s ex
→ Why you might be overthinking stepfamily life
→ How to bounce back if you’ve hit stepmom rock bottom
→ Legal advice about child support
→ 5 Steps to healing when you’ve been hurt
→ And much more!
Here’s what else you’ll find inside: Continue reading “Inside the October 2016 Issue”