blended family

I had always wanted to try a cooking class at Sur La Table. Then we took one to make croissants. Here's my review.

Have you ever heard of stepmom imposter syndrome? You may not have had a name for it, but my guess is that you've definitely experienced it. What Is Stepmom Imposter Syndrome? You probably felt it the first time you did something "parent-like" and heard a little voice inside your head say, "what am I doing [...]

It's Okay To Ask For Help - And Here's How As a stepmom, you may feel like you should know how to do this job. No, girl, no. There are so many different and unique challenges that every stepmom deals with. It is totally okay to need help. And you should feel comfortable asking [...]

Being a stepmom on Mother's Day can cause a lot of uncomfortable emotions. For weeks, stores are filled with Mother's Day cards and mugs designating "Best Mom Ever" and "#1 Mom." The morning news shows are saturated with segments about Mother's Day gifts and brunches. And you're feeling some combination of left out, like you're an imposter, [...]

Do you ever feel like you just don’t fit in to your stepfamily? Like your dream of actually blending together as a family unit will just never happen? What you're feeling has a name. It's called outsider syndrome. I'd never heard of it when I became a stepmom, but when I heard the term defined I [...]

This year I decided on a stepmom word of the year instead of a New Year's resolution. And it's not too late for you to do it, too!

If I asked you whether your relationship is your top priority, what would you say? If you said yes, did you mean it? When was the last time you and your spouse had some alone time and talked about your feelings? Really connected. Discussed your hopes or your dreams. Or even just had more than [...]

History was made today. But not the kind you think. Regardless of your political opinions, Kamala Harris has broken any number of barriers by being elected to the second-highest office in the land. She is the first Black, first female, and first South Asian to become vice president-elect. But there’s another first that you don’t [...]

When you got married, did you and your spouse spend much time talking about what your blended family foundation would look like? How about what each of your expectations was? Or what kind of stepmom you would be, or how the kids would be expected to relate to you? My guess is no. We sure [...]

If you have a friend or family member who married a man with kids, it may not have occurred to you that there are things you should never say to stepmoms. It certainly hadn't occurred to me until I became a stepmom. There are, of course, all kinds of supportive things that you can do [...]

Every stepmom needs her spouse to be her partner in order to succeed. That partnership looks different for every couple, but there are some common threads that should weave together every blended family relationship. I've written before about how hard it was to transition into stepmotherhood. And how alone it can feel. And how so [...]

While Mother's Day can be complicated for stepmoms, celebrating Father's Day in a blended family is usually a little easier. And it can be an opportunity for you to bond with your stepchildren. You can help the kids celebrate their dad by planning a fun day and letting them help you find some fun gifts. [...]