Hi Friends
I’m so glad you stopped by! My name is Cameron, and I am a Certified Stepparent Coach. I built Stepfamily Solutions to help you embrace the beautiful patchwork of your blended family.
I spent years building a successful career while creating a very full life. I enjoyed time with friends, traveled, and kept up with hobbies. And then I met my husband. Who came with four kids.
I had no idea just how much more full my life was about to become. But I jumped in, just knowing my new “instant family” would be the stuff of Rockwell paintings.
Well, let’s just say that’s not exactly how it went!
My first few years as a stepmom were a real struggle. I was totally unprepared for all that came with being a stepparent. And for how complicated blended family dynamics can be.
If you’re like me, you may have dealt with coparenting issues or your spouse’s high-conflict ex. You may have struggled to figure out how to bond with your stepkids or felt like you didn’t really belong in your own family.
All while you attempted to juggle work with your new obligations. And wondering if you would ever have any time for yourself.
And if you’re like me, you’ve probably also felt like a total failure.
I was trying so hard to be the perfect wife and stepmother, build our family, and stay on top of a demanding full-time job. But conflict and chaos seemed like permanent parts of my life.
Any of that ring a bell?
I knew there had to be MORE. More order, more joy, more support.
I realized that I couldn’t make this work until I took a step back and focused on what it really meant to be a stepmom. And put some thought into what exactly I needed to succeed.
Except when I searched for resources, I couldn’t find anything that directly applied to my situation. I felt totally lost and alone. And I figured if I felt that way, other stepmoms probably did, too.
So I developed tools and systems that work – and I’m sharing them with you.
My goal is for you to be able to navigate your blended family challenges with confidence. I know you’re just trying to build the best life you can. And I want to help make things just a little bit easier for you.
I offer one-on-one coaching, support groups, and the tools, training, and resources that you need to succeed.
You know you deserve MORE.
Let me help you get it.
xo,
Cameron
A Few Fun Facts About Me
Wandering Soul
I love adventure travel. I’ve hiked Kilimanjaro, gone diving in Bora Bora, slept under the stars in Namibia, climbed the Great Wall in China, photographed penguins in Antarctica, and snorkeled with great white sharks in South Africa.
Camels are not my spirit animal
But in all my travels, I’m clear on one thing: I’ll never, ever get on a camel again and you can’t make me. (but that’s a story for another day!)
Coffee is Life
I didn’t start drinking coffee until I was 30. (long after graduating from law school with my career in politics well underway!) But now I can’t live without my ritual first cup every morning.
I’m an Ice Queen
I’m a native Floridian, but I LOVE cold weather. There’s nothing that makes me happier than cozying up in front of the fire with a hot bowl of chili while I watch football (Go Gamecocks!).
I Love to Give Back
I believe we should all give back to our communities. In the D.C. area, I served as President of the Junior League of Washington, chaired Taste of the South, chaired corporate fundraising for the Trust for the National Mall, and am currently on the board of Bright Beginnings and the Central & Mid-Coast Maine Red Cross.
Meet the Team
Dr. Patricia Papernow
Research and Clinical Advisor
Dr. Patricia Papernow is widely recognized as one of the world’s foremost experts on “blended families.” She is the author of Surviving and Thriving in Stepfamily Relationships: What Works and What Doesn’t, which has been called “the best book ever written on the subject,” and “a remarkable achievement.” With Karen Bonnell, she wrote The Stepfamily Handbook: From Dating, to Getting Serious to Forming a “Blended Family,” a practical guide that helps recoupling parents and their partners create a successful stepfamily. Dr. Papernow has written over 30 professional articles and book chapters. She provides training and consultation all over the U.S. and internationally to clinicians, guidance counselors, pediatricians, nurse practitioners, clergy, lawyers, judges and others on the front lines with stepfamily challenges.
Dr. Papernow is a member of the Experts Council of the National Stepfamily Resource Center and is the recipient of the 2017 award for Distinguished Contribution to Family Psychology from the American Psychological Association. She is the Director of the Institute for Stepfamily Education and a psychologist in private practice in Hudson, MA.
You can find Dr. Papernow HERE.
