Childless? Childfree?
What You Need to Know About Stepkids, Cotton Candy and Pink Elephants
BY MARY T. KELLY, MA
SPOILER ALERT: Being a childless or childfree stepmom, in a relationship with someone who has kids, will probably be one of the hardest things you’ll ever do.
I’m not kidding, but there’s a yang to that yin: Being a childless or childfree stepmom, in a relationship with someone who has kids, will be one of the greatest opportunities you’ll ever have to grow as a human being.
Those of you who know my writing know that I’m not a “sugarcoat it, lollipops for everyone, skipping on rainbows” kinda gal. I like my life served straight-up … on the jagged rocks of reality.
That’s because I’ve learned from time and experience that what we may think of as “bad news” or failure or even disappointment always leads to opportunities which propel us to amazing places we’d never have gone, if we hadn’t been challenged in the first place.
Now that I’ve already spoiled the surprise, we may as well explore some of the Realities and Opportunities that come with being a childless or childfree woman in a stepfamily. What follows is sugar-free. So, leave your cotton candy at the door. …To read this article, log in and download the May 2018 issue. Don’t have an account? Click here to subscribe.