Our Stepfamily Life
Should Stepmoms/Bonus Moms be celebrated on Mother’s Day?
When a stepmom is told she is not the “real” mom, it can hurt, especially on Mother’s Day. But aren’t a stepmom’s experiences real?
Tips For Stepmoms
Your Job Isn’t to be a Superhuman, Stepmom
Hey Stepmom, your job as a stepparent isn’t to be a perfect stepparent. Your job isn’t to be a superhuman. You’re not even called to replicate the biological parent!! And above all, remember — you’re definitely not supposed to be the ultimate “meeter of every need.” No. God made that Read more…
Tips For Stepmoms
Let’s Talk About Respect
I had just sat down to join my family for dinner after cooking and serving everyone,” one stepmom began. “As soon as I sat down, my (future) 7-year old stepson said, ‘but I wanted a drink!’” This stepmom continued by expressing how livid she was when her fiancé didn’t put Read more…
For All Moms
When a Kid Just Wants Dad
“Just Dad can come in. I am really mad.” Knowing that I am a stepmom, you might assume that this note was left for me by a disgruntled stepchild. You might assume that, as the stepmom, I had done something to upset the child. Or you might think that Dad Read more…
For All Moms
5 Steps to Keep Your Sanity When The Kids Are Fighting All Day!
You’ve been stuck inside your four walls for a while now during quarantine. You’ve been making extra meals, dolling out extra snacks, cleaning up extra piles and possibly even homeschooling the kids. Maybe you’re working from home, or trying to parent the kids from your workplace via cell phone. You Read more…
Stepdaughter Stories
3 Tips for Stepmoms to Survive the Teen Eye-Roll Phase
In our first year of marriage, my stepdaughter turned 13 and was in 7th grade. To be honest, that was a good year. The following year, however — 8th grade — now, that was hard! I saw a lot of eye rolling that year. And there was a lot of Read more…
Tips For Stepmoms
When You Don’t Relate To Your Stepchild
We all know that it’s easier to get along with a stepchild when we relate to him or her as a person. It’s easy to love lovable people, right?! But what if that stepchild is our polar opposite? What if she does things totally backwards from how we would? What Read more…
Stepson Stories
Are All The Investments Worth It?
It seemed so far away. Eight years ago, when our first “ours baby” was born, I remember thinking that some day WAY in the future, when she turned eight years old, my stepkids — her older brother and sister — would be out of the house. Someday way in the Read more…
Stepdaughter Stories
Do Stepkids Get Spoiled At Christmas?
Early on, I convinced myself my stepkids would end up spoiled from all the gifts they were receiving. They had double the parents, so that meant there were *four* generous sets of grandparents to indulge them with gifts, plus lots of extra aunts and uncles on all sides! On a Read more…
For All Moms
When I Just Don’t Know How To Pray
“I know I should pray about this, but I don’t know where to start. I’m just so confused.” Sound familiar? Sometimes the thoughts swirling around our heads are just too tangled up to eloquently put to words in a prayer that makes any sense. So we give up trying. Read more…