Can You Help a Girl Out? 10 Things Stepmoms Want Their Partners to Know by Heather Hetchler, MA
Communication breakdowns—not unlike the sudden breakdown of a car while you’re speeding along the highway—can be unnerving. In stepfamilies, they can also lead to critical breaks in the otherwise happy connection you share with your partner.
Sure, we all have days when we don’t quite get what our partners are saying.
Maybe, like auto mechanics rattling off specs, the language they use doesn’t make sense to us. Or, like that radio blaring two cars away, intrusions from the ex make it hard to concentrate on the here and now. Sometimes, it’s simply hard to swallow what it is they’re trying to tell you.
You already know that relationships run smoothest when both people work together versus against one another. For partners in stepfamilies, life is a continual work in progress. It requires the dedication and teamwork of a skilled pit crew since every day is different and the challenges you face (together and separately) hit you nonstop.
Effective communication is the well-tuned engine that keeps your relationship on track.
To make communication with the stepmom in your life easier, I polled more than 100 women and identified the Top 10 issues stepmoms face. Guys: These are things she wants you to know about—and needs your help with. The question I asked was: “What do you wish your husband (or partner) understood about your role as the stepmom of his kids?”
The responses were honest and demonstrate a real desire among stepmoms to work with the men they love versus against them. …To read the rest of this article, log in to your account and download the June 2015 issue. Don’t have an account? Click here to subscribe.