TABLE OF CONTENTS
FEATURES
Ages and Stages: Knowing How Children Develop can Empower You!
By Krysia Caldwell, M.Ed.
Understanding your stepchild’s developmental stage will help keep a lot of frustration at bay-plus, knowing more about how they tick will make watching them grow up more enjoyable.
Confessions (and suggestions) from an Online Stepmom Community Manager
By Erin Hallstrom Erickson
Online stepmom communities can offer great rewards, but sometimes there’s a lot of drama to navigate first. Here’s how.
Stepmom Math: Responsibility > Authority
By Heather Hetchler
Mathematical formulas are created to help you solve problems. Wouldn’t it be amazing if we could plug in constant variables from our role as stepmom into a formula and find solutions to our problems?
Mad Men, Mad Stepmoms
By Mary T. Kelly, M.A.
What can the characters from television’s “Mad Men” teach us about our own stepfamilies?
DEPARTMENTS
Brenda’s Corner
Letter from the publisher.
Urban Stepmom
Lisa Bagshaw on the dirty business of stepmotherhood.
Time Out
Peggy Nolan on how yoga can help you reclaim your personal freedom.
Legal Matters
Lara Badain, Esq., on how to choose a lawyer.
Outlook
Congrats to these new brides … new stepmoms!
Life on the Tipping Point
Ms. Taken’s scheduling woes.
The Ex Factor
Jenna Korf with what NOT to say to the ex.
Stepmom Memoirs
One woman’s story of parental alienation.
Advice from the Experts
What to do when disengaging isn’t working.
Fitness Zone
Valerie Waldron Hedlund with exercises to help you get tank top-worthy arms.
From the Kitchen
Summer cocktail recipes.
Stylish Stepmom
Heidi Ducato’s swimsuit tips.
Crafts with Your Stepkids
Wendy L. Deppe with some sudsy fun!
My Journal
Words of Wisdom