Expert Stepfamily Advice for Any Woman Whose Partner Has Kids
False Accusations: A Stepcouple Relationship Faces the Ultimate Test by Mary T. Kelly, MA
I want to tell you the story of a couple I recently worked with. They’ve given me permission to share what they went through in the hopes that it may help you and others. It’s a story to which unfortunately many of you may relate. Continue reading “False Accusations: In the September 2016 Issue”
The July 2016 issue of StepMom Magazine is HERE!
In this month’s issue we explore:
→ Why stepkids take their anger out on YOU
→ Stepmom grief and how to cope with the sacrifices we make
→ What to do when your stepchild’s mom tries to upstage you
→ Tips to help you cope with summer schedule changes
→ The art of stepping back & taking charge of your life!
Here’s what else you’ll find inside: Continue reading “Inside the July 2016 Issue of StepMom Magazine”
Stepmoms, Stepkids and Summertime: How to Keep Your Cool When Things Heat Up by Mary T. Kelly, MA
Mark Twain once famously said, “The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco.” If you’ve ever been to the Bay Area, you’ll know exactly what he meant. As a stepmom, you may also find a correlation.
It’s the heat of summer now, yet you may be nursing a cold, cold heart. Continue reading “Summer Visitation: Inside the July 2016 Issue”
The May 2016 issue of StepMom Magazine is HERE!
The fact that you’re reading this proves how dedicated you
are to improving yourself, your relationships and your stepfamily. That makes you special. We hope you’ll read the articles in this month’s edition and take each word to heart. Here are some of the issues we address this month: Continue reading “Inside the May 2016 Issue of StepMom Magazine”
Taming the Mommy Tiger: Why Letting Your Stepkids Call You “Mom” Fuels His Ex’s Resentment (And What You Can Do About It!) by Wednesday Martin, PhD
One of the most common questions I hear from women who marry or partner with men who have kids is, “What should they call me?”
While there’s no one right answer, I do concur with the overwhelming majority of experts and women in the trenches who know from first-hand experience that there is, in a broad sense, a wrong one (to which there are rare exceptions): Mom. Or Mommy. Or Mother. You get the idea. Continue reading “Taming the Mommy Tiger – Inside the May 2016 Issue”
Stepmoms and Ex-Wives: 5 Relationship Paradigms: Which Do You Choose? by Brenda Snyder, LCSW
Few relationships a stepmom navigates are as tricky as the one she has with her partner’s ex. There are many obvious reasons for this complexity. (Perhaps, most notably, you’ve both seen the same man naked.) You may wonder what constitutes normal when it comes to your relationship with your stepchildren’s mother, as this particular pairing usually feels anything but. Continue reading “Stepmoms and Ex-Wives – Inside the May 2016 Issue”
Stepmom Sanity Savers: 4 Secret Moves to a More Empowered You by Iishana Artra, PhD
A hallmark of sanity is possessing good judgment when faced with real life circumstances. As renowned expert Patricia L. Papernow, PhD, says, in stepfamilies, “What works is not intuitive.” In other words, good judgment here is largely a matter of stopping ourselves from stepparenting by reflex.
Seven years, according to Papernow, is the average time it takes to get the hang of stepfamily life. If we’re lucky? Four years. For some, surviving the learning curve is like climbing a 3,000-foot cliff in the rain, in winter, without shoes on and while dodging falling rocks. One sudden move could lead to all sorts of ruin. (That’s how I felt the first time I gave it a whirl.) Continue reading “Stepmom Sanity Savers – Inside the April 2016 Issue”
New Stepfamily Insights: Our Special Interview With Patricia L. Papernow, PhD by Claudette Chenevert
There are several questions stepmoms have asked me over the years. They include:
◃ “Why won’t my stepkids listen to me?”
◃ “Will I ever feel included in this family?”
◃ “What can I do differently to create a happy family?”
It seems that, as stepmoms, we have this dream of coming together and being one, big, happy family. I recently had the privilege of talking with Patricia L. Papernow, PhD, about her latest book “Surviving and Thriving in Stepfamily Relationships: What Works and What Doesn’t.” Continue reading “Stepfamily Insights With Patricia L. Papernow, PhD – Inside the April 2016 Issue”
The Truth About Stepfamily Life: The Path to Peace Begins With Acceptance by Brenda Snyder LCSW
My job, as a writer and a stepmom coach, allows me to wear a few different hats. Most of the time I get to be an upbeat, cheerleadery type who encourages and assures clients that, “This is really hard, but you can do it!”
When we get down to work, I put on my coaching hat to help stepmoms and couples develop a new game plan. (Ya gotta have a strong defense!) The hat I find hardest to wear, however, is probably the most effective. It’s the one I wear when I challenge stepmoms to face unpleasant truths and then give them unpopular advice. Continue reading “Stepfamily Life – Inside the April 2016 Issue”
Taking the Stepfamily Plunge: Add Value to Stepfamily Life by Being Vulnerable by Mary T. Kelly, MA
You met a great guy—the kind of guy you’d been waiting for. He had so many of the qualities you wanted that you couldn’t believe your good fortune in finding him. Sure, he had kids. But he was worth the extra effort. You had no idea (nor could you possibly have imagined) that partnering with this wonderful guy would take you down a road of vulnerability like no other.
And, at some point, you were not only sharing your life with your new partner. You also started sharing it with his children. Continue reading “Stepfamily Life – Inside the March 2016 Issue”