Tag Archive for: parenting

134: Lost Yourself in Stepmotherhood? How Curiosity Can Help You Find Yourself Again with Amy Nesbitt

Have you ever looked around and realized you've spent so much time caring for everyone else that you've forgotten what brings you joy? It's a feeling many stepmoms know all too well. Between navigating blended family dynamics,…

133: Amy Porterfield on Finding Your Identity as a Stepmom

Finding your stepmom identity can feel overwhelming. Many stepmoms wonder where they fit in their blended family, how they can build meaningful relationships with their stepchildren, and whether they are doing enough. Bestselling author…

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…

129: What LGBTQ Families Want You to Know About Parenting, Acceptance, and Belonging with Jaimie Kelton & José Rolón

Have you ever realized that the things that make a family look different on the outside don't change what matters most on the inside? In this episode, I sit down with Jaimie Kelton and José Rolón to talk about LGBTQ families, parenting,…

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…
photo of mother working at home

4 Simple Questions To Help Kids Change Their Behaviour

If we notice positive behaviour and comment on it, the positive behaviour will be repeated as long as we keep commenting on it and rewarding the child with positive attention. If we consistently comment on negative behaviour, we are inadvertently rewarding the child with attention. They will repeat this behaviour as long as we keep giving them attention for it.
girl holding string lights

How to Show Your Kids It’s Okay to Be Queer

So many of us instill the “straight” mentality, or heteronormativity rather, in little everyday moments that we don’t even realize we’re establishing norms and expectations that make our kids assume they’re straight, cis kids living in a straight, cis world, and that everything else is different. There are a few ways you, as parents, can incorporate an inclusion state of mind into your kids’ everyday life, regardless of whether or not anyone in your family is queer. The biggest piece of advice I can give other parents who want to make an effort to normalize queerness is to try not never assume heterosexuality.
Couple Holding Hands

A Stepmom’s Guide to Being a Supportive Partner

It is easy to be a loving, supportive and kind partner when you are comfortable with how things are going. It’s easy to feel safe and secure when your partner is making parenting decisions that are in alignment with your values.…
Mother and Adult Daughter

All Mothers Matter

I recently watched my grandmother die. She was nearly 93, at the end of a long and storied life, and she had no pain. My mother and I were with her, alone together in the room as she left us. In offering condolences, the hospice workers commented…
Stepmum and Stepdaughter

Being a Stepmom Rocks! The Perks of Stepmotherhood

Stepmoms endure many challenges in their role. They can be deemed as “evil” or “wicked”, but the perks of being a stepmom are something that can’t be forgotten. Being a stepmom rocks in many ways. 1. You Gain Acceptance & Love Creating…
Family Reading a Book

The Importance of Structure and Consistency in the Lives of Children

Through my own experience with my stepdaughters, and with many years in the education system, I have learned the value of structure and consistency for children. Learnersdictionary.com defines structure as, “the quality of something…
Stepmum and Stepson

How My Stepson Changed the Way I Parent

I consider the bond I have built with my stepson to be one of the most important and meaningful relationships of my life. I also consider him to be one of the major influences in how I parent my own daughter. At the beginning of my step-parenting…