stepparenting

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 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 [...]

There are many things I was not prepared for when I became a stepmom. But one topic that's glaringly at the front of my mind these days is how to talk to and teach my white kids about race and social injustice. Talking About Race Is Hard. And I'll Probably Say The Wrong Thing. [...]

Being a stepmother can be a tough and lonely job. She's got essentially the same level of responsibility as biological parents, but isn't always perceived -or treated- like a parent. And even her closest friends and family may not understand the challenges. Or that just a few supportive words would make a huge difference for [...]

Looking for gifts for the stepmom in your life? Look no further - we have curated 25 of the best stepmom gifts around!

Well, life sure does have a way of changing quickly, doesn't it? This time last week, we knew the Coronavirus threat was emerging, but who could have thought that things would be so different in the span of a few short days? And that it would continue to change by the hour.  I'm guessing you [...]

Myths about stepmoms abound. And they're usually not super flattering. Cinderella got her prince, but her story didn't do stepmothers any favors! Hence the nicknames. Stepmonster. Wicked stepmother. Evil stepmother. You get the gist. I'm guessing most people have some sort of preconceived notion about stepmothers, even if subconscious. And even if they don't want [...]