Tag: stepfamily life

Stepmoms in the White House

Stepmoms in the White House
What it Means for Women Like Us
By Wednesday Martin, PhD

The U.S.’s current First Lady, the wife of its President-elect and its incoming Vice President are all women who’ve partnered with men who brought along kids from previous relationships. And it’s about time!

Stepfamilies now outnumber what so-called experts used to and sometimes still call “intact” families, as if stepfamilies (statistically the new normal) are inherently broken or ruptured in comparison. We’re not. We’re just a bit or, in some cases, a lot more complicated. So what? Continue reading “Stepmoms in the White House”

Inside the June 2019 Issue

See what else is inside the June 2019 issue …  Continue reading “Inside the June 2019 Issue”

Stepmom Survey: Inside the September 2018 Issue

Stepmom SurveyWhat Stepmoms Wish They Knew
Stepmom Survey
With stepmom goggles on, this stepfamily gig can look a little hazy or feel a bit like stumbling around in the dark. Since hindsight vision is 20/20, we asked a few seasoned stepmoms what they wish they’d known as novices. On Facebook and Instagram, we asked what they wish they’d done differently. Their feedback ranges from “better blending” to “what might’ve been.” Glean some insight of your own via their responses. …To read the rest of this article, log in and download the September 2018 issue. Don’t have an account? Click here to subscribe.

Stepmothers Worldwide: Inside the September 2018 Issue

Stepmothers WorldwideStepmothers Worldwide & Forever
The Evolution of Stepfamily Life
BY WEDNESDAY MARTIN, PHD

Labor Day brings with it family BBQs, back-to-school lamentations (by the kids) and back-to-school celebratory fist pumping (by parents and stepparents). Transitions and family, however we define it, are likely on our minds. This fall we also experience the energy generated by upcoming political primaries. If history repeats itself, Continue reading “Stepmothers Worldwide: Inside the September 2018 Issue”

Stepmom Privacy: Inside the August 2018 Issue

Stepmom PrivacyPrivacy 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”

Adult Stepchildren: Inside the August 2018 Issue

Adult StepchildrenAdult 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”

Mother’s Day Dread: Inside the May 2018 Issue

Is Mother’s Day Dread Setting In?
10 Ways to Celebrate—Stepmom Style
BY JESSICA LEON, PHD, LCSW

Mother’s Day can be weird for us stepmoms. In addition to our stepkids, we may have children of our own. In addition to us, those kids may have yet another mom and/or stepmom. Our partners may not know how to navigate these issues. We, ourselves, may want or need to spend time honoring people such as our mothers, grandmas, aunts, sisters, friends and mothers-in-law. Continue reading “Mother’s Day Dread: Inside the May 2018 Issue”

Transform Your Stepfamily: Inside the January 2018 Issue

Transform Your StepfamilyTransform Your Stepfamily: 4 Keys to Create Lasting Success and a Life You Love! BY CHRISTINA ROACH, LMHC

Ringing in a New Year, for most, is full of resolutions and commitments to make the next 12 months better than the prior ones. Unfortunately the excitement that surrounds these aspirations quickly fades, as the realities of day-to-day life take hold and the newness wanes.

What if you applied that effort, instead, toward transforming your stepfamily culture? Continue reading “Transform Your Stepfamily: Inside the January 2018 Issue”

Feel Like an Outsider? Inside the December 2017 Issue

Outsider SyndromeThere’s No Place Like Home: Advice for Stepmoms Who Experience Outsider Syndrome By Mary T. Kelly, MA

It doesn’t matter how old you are: “There’s no place like home! There’s no place like home! There’s no place like home!” For most of us, these pleading words are as familiar as the sun rising in the East.

In “The Wizard of Oz,” Dorothy was lost and had to find her way back home. This was no easy endeavor. She went through trial after trial, faced perilous odds, came up against deception and, ultimately, found redemption. Oh, the roads she had to travel first to get there! Continue reading “Feel Like an Outsider? Inside the December 2017 Issue”

Holiday Tips for Stepmoms: Inside the December 2017 Issue

Stepmoms Guide HolidaysHappy Holidays? A Stepmom’s Guide to Finding Magic in the Mess By Kate Chapman

There was a time in my life when I believed in the magic of the winter holidays. Tinsel and candlelight. Snow falling softly outside. Loving families sharing time together, as children played happily inside. All was calm. All was bright. Joy and peace ruled the day.

Then I became a stepmom.

My first Christmas as a stepmom looked nothing like what I saw on TV. My days were filled with schedule shenanigans, kid shuttling Continue reading “Holiday Tips for Stepmoms: Inside the December 2017 Issue”