You’re Not Alone. In my work with stepmoms, I’ve heard one word come up repeatedly: control. So many stepmoms have told me how they feel like they don’t have control over their lives. They feel like they can’t speak up and they can’t make parenting decisions. In fact, they feel like major life decisions, such
Do I belong here? Am I good enough to be here? Do I deserve to be here? You may have asked yourself these questions the first time you attended a Parent/Teacher conference. Or the first time you helped out at Girl Scouts. Or when you met all the soccer team parents. Maybe you felt like
“Our painful experiences aren’t a liability–they’re a gift. They give us perspective and meaning, an opportunity to find our unique purpose and our strength.” -Dr. Edith Eger I recently finished reading The Choice, a book full of hope and inspiration. Dr. Edith Eger, the author, shares her story of surviving Auschwitz. Although she suffers so
I couldn’t stop crying. My whole body was wracked by sobs. I couldn’t eat. I had a sick, gnawing feeling in my stomach. After sleeping for a few hours, I would wake up, and remember what happened. I kept thinking that I would wake up from this nightmare, and he would be here again. When
Guest post by author Karen Struck What does family mean to you? Today’s definition of family means something different to each and every one of us. My favorite definition of family is quoted by an unknown author: “Family isn’t always blood. It’s the people in your life who want you in theirs; the ones who
We’re excited to announce that The Stepmom Project has been named one of the Best Stepmom Blogs of 2020 by Healthline! We are honored to be part of the quality resources available to stepmoms. Read the article to find out about all of the avenues for stepmom support and community. One of the best things
Stepmoms often ask me about my recommendations for the best books for stepmom support. My first reaction is to tell them I think it’s great that they are reaching out and being proactive about finding support. It’s better to start looking for resources in the beginning instead of waiting until you’re really struggling. Regardless, one
Mother’s Day is coming up, and while this should be a beautiful day, it can be a difficult day for many different reasons. If you’ve lost your mother, or if you can’t become a mother, it may be a day of heartache for you. As a stepmom, your family might not recognize you at all,
Connecting with teenagers can be difficult on a regular day, even without factoring in a time when we are largely confined to our homes. Add this on top of constantly evolving stepfamily dynamics and you have a real challenge. So, any way you can connect with your teenage stepchildren will be a small victory. Here
Since we’re all spending more time at home these days, we have more time to be creative and try new things. Something that I enjoy is coloring in adult coloring books. Personally, I’ve found that when I’m upset and ruminating over something, coloring redirects my thoughts to the present. I focus on whatever I’m coloring,