There’s a refrain I hear pretty often in comments from stepmoms in my Facebook group, The Spectacular Stepmom. Their partner has agreed to do something, usually around discipline, rules, schedules or schoolwork, but somehow he never follows through and nothing changes. When this happens, it’s easy to get emotional because it feels like you’re being ignoredContinue reading “3 Ways To Help Your Spouse Follow Through With His Kids”
Category Archives: Podcast
ESP 2.21: Five Kinds of Stepmom Who DON’T Need to “NACHO”!
Summary Lori Wilkins Sims is my guest today. She’s the originator of the Nacho Kids method. I challenged her to come up with some situations where it’s not necessary to disengage from some aspects of raising your stepkids, and we had a lively conversation – some of it serious and some tongue in cheek. I challengedContinue reading “ESP 2.21: Five Kinds of Stepmom Who DON’T Need to “NACHO”!”
ESP 2.20 More with Tamasin Thomas on stopping those Matrimonial Money Fights!
Summary Part 2 of a 3-part series with Tamasin Thomas, therapist and financial expert. Grab her free e-book, 3 Steps to Resolving Financial Conflict from her website at tamasinthomas.com My book of Boredom Busters is also available at no cost during this challenging time – find it at essentialstepmom.com With all the “social distancing”, I’mContinue reading “ESP 2.20 More with Tamasin Thomas on stopping those Matrimonial Money Fights!”
The Road To “I’ve Got This!”
This is about getting to where you feel like you know what you’re doing, where things are starting to come more easily, where you feel relaxed and confident about step-parenting. Remember how you felt when you learned to ride a bike? You probably started off with training wheels, or with someone holding the seat andContinue reading “The Road To “I’ve Got This!””
Burning out, stepmom? Come over to my house.
Remember the 3 Little Pigs? Of course you do. We all grew up learning why we should mock the one who decides to build his house out of straw, but let’s be honest, it’s totes the easiest, fastest way to put a roof over your head! Then there’s the little guy who goes for aContinue reading “Burning out, stepmom? Come over to my house.”
A Walk For All Reasons
Part One If you don’t already love to walk, I think that you should learn to love it. Going for a walk outside together, whether in the city or the countryside, is a wonderful bonding activity and will help you have a positive impact on a child in your life. Most kids today are wayContinue reading “A Walk For All Reasons”
Sh!t Happens; Resentment Festers
But There’s A Cure! Let’s face it, being angry or sad or disappointed is no fun. On the other hand, life would be pretty boring if nothing ever prompted you to assert yourself or create boundaries or if every person and situation completely satisfied your expectations. Anger, sadness and disappointment are common words for ways we feel when things don’tContinue reading “Sh!t Happens; Resentment Festers”
She’d have to work-like-a-mother to pull this off!
Hey, dads – listen up. One of the most common conflicts I hear in second marriages with kids goes like this: “My husband/boyfriend wants me to be a ‘mother figure’ for his kids. I keep reading that it’s not the right approach but he doesn’t understand and I whenever I try to talk to himContinue reading “She’d have to work-like-a-mother to pull this off!”
Random Acts Of Kindness | Stepmom Challenge
Last week, I had one of those cool experiences that just makes you smile for the whole day. I came up a dollar short at the store on a day that I only had cash with me and no cards to cover it. This smiling girl at the next check out held out her hand andContinue reading “Random Acts Of Kindness | Stepmom Challenge”
Peer Support Is Great, But Where Is Your Stepmom Advice Coming From?
Scrolling through my social media feed one day recently, one particular post caught my eye. It wasn’t in a stepmom group, but a regular parenting forum for women trying to learn how to parent in a kinder, gentler, more enlightened way than the way they might have been raised themselves. I think it’s awesome thatContinue reading “Peer Support Is Great, But Where Is Your Stepmom Advice Coming From?”
Essential Stepmom 