summer as a stepmom vacationing with family

Coping with Summertime as a Stepmom Without Going Crazy

Summer is a season of sunshine, relaxation, and a break from the usual routines - at least for kids who are out of school. For adults, it means figuring out how to occupy those kids. And for most, it also comes with fun summer weekends and family…

The Passionate Stepmom Is Not Made, She’s Built

I’m a mom and a stepmom. I know both jobs are two of the hardest, sometimes most thankless jobs on the planet. But one of those roles has been more of a personal challenge for me than the other. Can you guess which one it is? Yup…

Dear Stepmom on Mother’s Day, It’s Okay To Feel Sad

Being a stepmom on Mother's Day can cause a lot of uncomfortable emotions. For weeks, stores are filled with Mother's Day cards and mugs designating "Best Mom Ever" and "#1 Mom." The morning news shows are saturated with segments about Mother's…
a man on his phone with his ex-wife while his spouse looks on

So Your Partner Has Unhealthy Boundaries With Their Ex-Wife (or Husband)

“HELP! My partner’s ex is ruining my relationship.” I’ve heard that cry for help more than once for clients who are desperate to get their partner’s old relationship out of their current one. Although unhealthy boundaries (otherwise…

Stepmoms: Quit Comparing Yourself to Your Partner’s Ex!

I’ve ALWAYS obsessed with comparing myself to my husband’s ex and now I’m making it public. I fixated on her looks, parenting skills, her previous and current relationship with my husband, her hatred for me. The list goes on and on. This…

Why Its Normal To Resent Your Stepchildren

make your relationship a priority

10 Tips To Make Your Relationship A Priority

If I asked you whether your relationship is your top priority, what would you say? If you said yes . . . did you mean it? When was the last time you and your spouse had some alone time and talked about your feelings? Really connected.…
young frustrated woman screaming with closed eyes

The Ugly Truth About The Ex

When I came in to this stepmum gig, I thought I was pretty well prepared. I was a stepchild myself, had successfully navigated the relationship with my kids then stepmum…how hard could it be? Harder than I could ever have imagined. Like…

5 Harmful Habits Stepmoms Need To Break

As stepmoms, we spend so much time supporting one another in an “us against the world” mentality, which is awesome and important and so valid. But with that mentality, we often don't want to see that we ourselves might have developed some…
New stepmom article featured image

I Do, With Them Too? 3 Tips for the New Stepmom

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I will never forget the moment in my wedding when I said, “I do!” Standing at the altar, friends and family all around on a perfect April day. Everything went off without a hitch, and we had finally come to the moment of making the promise…
parallel parenting

Parallel Parenting: The Case For Another Way

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Haven’t heard of parallel parenting? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. After a divorce or split, former partners often assume coparenting together is their only option. And they’re stumped about how to handle it when things go sideways. What…
Big Family

What is the Role of a Stepparent? Redefining Parenting — One Step At A Time

Stepparents have been around for a long time. They’ve stepped in, stepped up, and they have patiently allowed themselves to be painted into the background on many occasions. There are stories of wicked stepmothers both in real life and…
Man With His Thumb Up

Why Your Husband Says “Yes” to His Ex

Do you hate it when your husband’s difficult ex asks for something and your husband jumps on the yes wagon? Or, even worse, when she wants something seemingly unreasonable – and even though you can tell from a mile away that he’ll regret…
Stepmum Drawing a Heart in the Sand

Journey to a Happy Heart

I once asked the question on social media what words people associate with stepfamily, stepmom and step kids. It is incredible to me the number of negative word associations with these phrases. Words came up like the other, difficult, adjustment,…
Mother and Daughter

‘I Don’t Have A Stepmom’

My daughter and I were cuddled up on the couch watching something together. Somehow, the subject of her brother came up and how I was his stepmom. No big deal. But then she turned to me and said, ‘Well, you are his stepmom. But I don’t…