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…
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,…
couple people woman relaxation

The Problem With Inclusivity in Online Stepmom Communities

One of the biggest, most universal struggles of being a stepmom is feeling like an outsider, in your own family, in your extended family, in mommy circles, and in the general parenting community. Online stepmom communities are meant for us to have a safe space where we all feel like we belong. The problem is, we all don’t...
Introverted Stepmum

Tips for the Introverted Stepparent

There are many stepparents struggling to fit in and find peace in their families, not because they don’t get along with their stepchildren, but because they’re introverts in a family of extroverts.  And introverts and extroverts often…
Woman Quiet

One Thing You Should REALLY Stop Telling Stepmoms

I have heard it from my parents, my husband, and my friends. Strangers on the internet have told me. It seems to be an understood fact of life at this point. Any time a stepmom asks for advice, expresses her concerns, or just wants to vent,…
Pensive Stepmum

The Metaphor That Changed My Entire Perspective on the Stepmom Role

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I was in a really bad place. The slightest mention of the family he had before me sent me into turmoil and agony. I didn’t understand why I couldn’t come first. Why I couldn’t be his only. I loved his daughter, and logically, I understood…
Pensive Stepmum

Tell Me, Stepmom: Would You Rather Be Right or Happy?

So often I see stepmoms calling moms horrendous names, and I see equally horrifying things from moms about stepmoms or the children’s fathers. It makes my stomach churn. Not because they don’t deserve it. Not because they haven’t done…
Pensive Stepmum

Lessons Learned When I Embraced My Role as Second Wife

Coming into my role as a second wife to the love of my life was no easy feat. It’s as if everywhere I turned there was another reminder of his former life, of the woman he loved before me. It was inescapable, perpetual torture. I wanted…
Stepmum and Stepson

It’s Not You, It’s Me

Wow! Ever feel like your stepchild doesn’t like you? This can be a constant feeling. A feeling that creeps up then leaves as quick as it came. Or if you are lucky, something you hardly, if ever, have to deal with. Me, I’m in the middle.…
Woman Thinking Positively

Positive Thoughts, Positive Actions, Positive Results

Do you ever have times in your life where you just feel like everything is going wrong like you're on an insane roller coaster that keeps your world upside down? Recently, I have been feeling that way, and let me tell you…I need to get…
Stepmum releasing energy

Letting Go of Negative Emotions

Have you ever looked at yourself in the mirror and thought, what is going on? What am I becoming? I started looking at a version of myself that I didn't recognize. Have you ever felt outraged over someone else's behavior and became obsessive…
Stepmum Meditating

Be True to You

People tend to describe me as kind, fun, driven, adventurous, helpful, creative, confident, hard-working, and loyal. My sister calls me the “goodwill ambassador” because I am always trying to make friends, keep the peace, and find balance.…
Stepmum Zen

Get Your Zen On

Every stepparent is overwhelmed with a roller coaster of emotions on a regular basis. At least, I know I am. How do you set aside time to nurture your soul? I've dealt with anxiety my entire life. As a child, I bit my nails, chewed pen caps,…
Guilt Trip

Stepping Away from Divorced Parent Guilt

Creating boundaries is important for self-care… oftentimes, our survival. They are a healthy way to protect ourselves from some tricky situations we may find ourselves in as a stepparent. Figuring out what we can control, and what we can’t,…
Pensive Stepmum

The One Thing I Stopped Doing as a Stepmom That Changed EVERYTHING

The stepmom journey is nothing if not unpredictable. Just when you think you’ve finally mastered a decent amount of challenges as a stepmom, a new and unexpected challenge pops right out at you. Just as you feel your feet are finally…