Tag Archive for: co-parenting

144: What Actually Makes a Blended Family Work? What the Research Says

How to Make a Blended Family Work, According to Decades of Stepfamily Research What if some of the things you’ve been told a blended family should look like are actually making things harder? If you’ve ever searched for how to make…

132: Is It Really Parental Alienation? How to Recognize the Signs and Protect Your Family with Amy J.L. Baker, PhD

When a child suddenly begins rejecting one parent, it's natural to wonder what's happening. Is it simply part of adjusting to life between two homes? Is it the result of conflict after divorce? Or could someone be intentionally (or…

131: Eve Rodsky on the Mental Load in Blended Families

Are you the one tracking the dentist appointments, school forms, birthday gifts, custody schedules, groceries, and all the tiny details no one else seems to notice? That invisible work has a name: the mental load. In this episode…

130: The Comments Every Stepmom Hates and Exactly How to Respond

We've all been there. Someone makes a comment about being a stepmom that they probably mean well... but it still stings. "You knew what you were getting into." "At least you get a break." "They're not really your kids." In…

128: When the Rules Change House to House: How Kids Navigate Values Across Two Homes with Bailey Oliver Blackburn, PhD

Ever feel like your stepkids are living in two completely different worlds? The rules change from house to house, expectations don't always match, and somehow everyone expects the kids to make sense of it all. In this episode,…
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…
Stepmum and stepdaughter reading together

The Harsh Realities of Stepparenting

My mother-in-law is a wonderful, caring, nurturing woman. She would give you the shirt off her back in a heartbeat. To boot, she’s never met a stranger – can you imagine what kind of love that means for those of us in her family? Indescribable. But…
Stepmum Writing

How to Communicate with Mom: Crafting Your Stepmom Philosophy

My best friend is my stepdaughter’s mom. Yep, you read that right. What’s the question that follows that confession every single time? “How in the world did you get to that point?!” My biggest recommendation for helping other…
Women Talking

Things I Wish My Stepchild’s Mom Knew

I am often discredited as a stepmom blogger because my relationship with K’s mom is so great. I take very little credit for our positive relationship; that was all Amanda, K’s biological mother. She has chosen to invite me into her daughter’s…
Stepmum with Stepdaughter

The Art of Mothering

Mothering is truly an art. Bio-moms, stepmoms, foster moms, adoptive moms, soon-to-be moms, etc., all engage in the "art of mothering." According to Oxford Dictionaries, a mother can be defined as: To bring up a child with care and affection.To…
Woman Thinking

Five Essential Questions to Ask Yourself Before Becoming a Stepmom

The decision to be part of someone’s life on a long-term basis is a monumental one. If the person you love has children from a previous relationship or marriage, then making sure this decision is the right one for you and everyone…