TABLE OF CONTENTS:
FEATURES
The Selfish Homewrecking Stepmom
Conquering Common Misconceptions About Child-Less and Child-Free Stepmoms
BY MARY T. KELLY, MA
Does My Stepfamily Make My “BUT” Look Big?
The One Little Word That Prevents Us From Getting What We Want
BY THE SECOND WIFE
A Stepmom’s Journey Through the Adoption Process
An Interview With Kristin Watts
BY HEATHER HETCHLER
Shouldn’t This Stepmom Sh*t Be Over By Now?
A Veteran Stepmom Explains: It Doesn’t Always Get Easier … But It Can Get Better
BY BRENDA SNYDER, LCSW
DEPARTMENTS
PUBLISHER’S NOTE
What I Think About … Having Children
THE INSIDE SCOOP
5 Things Stepmoms Want to Say—But Don’t
(Plus One More—Just Because!)
BY WEDNESDAY MARTIN, PHD
MYTH AND MISCONCEPTIONS
The Child-Free Advantage
Why Being a Mother Is Not a Prerequisite for Stepmoms
BY PAM HOWARD, LCSW
SPECIAL REPORT
The Highly Sensitive (and Child-Free) Stepmom
6 Ways to Thrive When Stepfamily Life Overwhelms You
BY JAMIE (SIMKINS) ROGERS, LPC, EMDR
ADVICE FROM THE EXPERTS
What Does Self-Care Really Look Like?
What It Is and What It’s Not
BY JENNA KORF
LEGAL MATTERS
The Children’s Bill of Rights
A Reminder on How to Keep the Kids Out of the Middle
BY LARA R. BADAIN, ESQ
THE LOOKING GLASS
Our Monthly Roundup of News, Events, Reviews and More
STEPMOM MEMOIRS
How Do You Define Family?
It’s a Very Personal Journey for Child-Free, Child-Less and Child-Full Stepmoms
BY CHRISTINA ROACH, LMHC, NCC, DCC
IN THE NEWS
Enforcing the Rights of Noncustodial Parents
A New Oklahoma Law Is Tough on Parents Who Deny Visitation
BY ERIC URBACH, ESQ
TIME OUT
Stressed-Out Stepmoms
Yes, You Can Reduce Stress and Increase Harmony in Your Stepfamily
BY CLAUDETTE CHENEVERT
FOOD AND FUN
Craft: Back to School Pencil Case
Recipe: Mom’s Baked Potato Salad
BY ASHLEY JACK
REAL STEPMOMS. REAL STORIES.
Shawna Noller