It used to be so much easier: If you played with someone on the playground at school, you were instantly best friends. There was no planning required, no awkwardness or wondering if you were acting too pushy. It was just pure friendship-pleasure; the kind that comes from getting lost in Read more…
“I’m just so lonely,” one mom lamented. “My old friends don’t have kids and don’t understand my mom life. My one mom friend just went back to work. It just seems like there is no one who has time for friendship.“ “I’m not cut out for finding friends; I’m too Read more…
So you met someone special. He is amazing and you are smitten. There’s just one thing: He has kids. Actually, that’s not too uncommon anymore. With the national divorce rate right at 50% of all marriages in the U.S., it’s understandable that blended families are becoming more and more the Read more…
I had always possessed a maternal desire and had hoped for a big family. But when the day came to announce my first pregnancy, I wasn’t prepared to have to hide my joy like I was doing something wrong. Like many stepmoms, I loved my new stepkids, but I longed for a Read more…
“Get some rest and enjoy being alone for the afternoon.” Those were the words my husband suggested to me on that Sunday afternoon. It was transition day and my husband’s ex-wife had just pulled into the driveway to drop off my stepkids for a week. “I’ll bring the kids with Read more…
It was my first day in my new role as insta-mom: the morning after our wedding. We checked out of the hotel, where the night before we had celebrated with family and friends. Packing ourselves and all the wedding gifts into the car, we started off on our drive to Read more…
I called my mom to let her know just how frustrated I was. How could my new husband let his kids get away with the things he did? Allowing ice cream before lunch? Leaving dirty dishes out? TV before school? Forgetting to brush teeth in the morning? And bad attitudes Read more…
Before I met her, I had a mission. I wanted to love her, shield her from pre-teen girl hurts, and teach her about healthy relationships with friends, boys and God. I wanted to take her shopping and braid her hair. Her Daddy said she needed me. And I was ready Read more…
Three years ago, there was anger: My stepson didn’t want another sibling. I had seen anger before in him when we had announced our two other ours pregnancies. But not to this level. As stepmoms with ours children, we are also just regular moms who want to revel in the Read more…