Expert Stepfamily Advice for Any Woman Whose Partner Has Kids
Privacy Policy
Do Your Stepkids Tell Mom Everything?
BY MARY T. KELLY, MA
“All violations of essential privacy are brutalizing.” –Katherine Fullerton Gerould
Like me, you’ve probably never heard of Katharine Fullerton Gerould. She was a well-respected writer who was born in the late 1800s. I wonder what she would think of stepfamilies and the very real and consistent problem of privacy.
Let’s not mince any words here. Continue reading “Stepmom Privacy: Inside the August 2018 Issue”
“My Husband Hates My Child!”
10 Steps to Bridging the Gap Between Them
BY LAURA PETHERBRIDGE
Some situations are so serious that they require immediate attention. The following scenario is a perfect example.
“Laura, my husband hates my son,” Stepmom Megan lamented. “And I’m not exaggerating.”
“It’s so obvious that even our friends and family notice. Continue reading “Stepfamily Struggles: Inside the August 2018 Issue”
Stepmom’s Having a Baby!
What to Expect When You’re Expecting
BY ERIN CARELESS, PHD
One line, two lines … positive! You’re having a baby!
I vividly remember looking at that pregnancy test strip and erupting into shocked, nervous, excited giggles. I went straight to a kids’ clothing store and bought a tiny white onesie with the word “Petite” inscribed on it. I wrapped the pregnancy test in the onesie, placed them both in a gift bag and impatiently waited for him to come home from work. Continue reading “Expecting Stepmoms: Inside the August 2018 Issue”
Adult Stepchildren
The Good, the Bad and the Surprising
BY CLAUDETTE CHENEVERT
The stepkids are finally out of the house! No more arguments or confrontations with the ex. No more custody battles. No more last-minute schedule changes. No more stepfamily drama. We can finally move on with our lives and focus on our relationships. Sounds great, doesn’t it?
If you’re wondering what life may be like once your stepkids become adults, Continue reading “Adult Stepchildren: Inside the August 2018 Issue”
The July 2018 issue is HERE!
This month we’re talking about:
→ Codependency
→ Interfering In-laws
→ Prenup Agreements
→ Feeling Like an Outsider
→ Being Childless by Choice
→ Advice for Stepmoms Who Overthink
→ Why Stepkids Don’t Consider us Family
→ Tips to Help You Strengthen Your Relationship
→ And much more!
Here’s the full list of what’s inside this month: Continue reading “Inside the July 2018 Issue”
Outsideritis: And the Woman With Stepkids By Wednesday Martin, PhD
Do you ever feel like you’re living on the periphery of your own stepfamily and peering in? You’re not alone. Here’s why you have a case of Outsideritis and what to do about it.
When Talia (not her real name) came to a support group for couples with stepkids in New York City recently, she was, in her own words “at the end of my rope.” A laundry list of dissatisfactions tumbled out in rapid-fire succession: Continue reading “Feel Like an Outsider, Stepmom? Inside the July 2018 Issue”
Childfree by Choice: Research Proves You Should Ignore Your Critics By Christine G. Adamo
I was recently privy to a convo between two women with similar yet different childfree experiences. Both were childless-by-choice, never wanting kids of their own. While Claire had longed to foster or adopt, both of her ex-husbands balked at that option. They were bent on biological—or nothing at all—hence their ex-ness.
“It seems egotistical to me,” Claire said. “What’s so special about having kids of your own? I don’t get it and I can have kids. I come from a long line of fertile women.” Continue reading “Childfree by Choice: Inside the July 2018 Issue”
The Codependent Stepmom: Do You Give to Others At Your Own Expense? By Mary T. Kelly, MA
You joined a ready-made family and were on a mission. You were determined to make a difference, whether fueled by good intentions, a desire to compete with his ex or a combination of both. Those kids needed some guidance and discipline, which they weren’t receiving from their own parents, and you were more than happy to pitch in.
Even if you had hesitations about jumping into a role you didn’t know much about, your partner expected you to be involved—and so did everyone else. You were a good and loving person and this was the right thing to do. Continue reading “The Codependent Stepmom: Inside the July 2018 Issue”
“Dad’s Wife” The Real Reasons Stepkids Don’t Consider Us Family By Brenda Snyder, LCSW
Parents are parents. Grandparents are grandparents. So decreed my stepson, during the height of his wedding planning (circa 2009). A seemingly innocuous statement, I knew that he was ensuring that I would be recognized only as his “dad’s wife” and that my mother would not be given a corsage. I was 13 years into this stepfamily and, thus, had a pretty thick skin by that time.
Still, what is it about this stepkid relationship that makes it impossible for them to recognize us stepmoms as part of their families? In my experience, there are at least five reasons they fail to bring us into the fold. Continue reading “Are Stepmoms Family? Inside the July 2018 Issue”