The Stepmom Diaries | Blended Family & Stepmom Support Podcast

It's not WHAT you say, it's HOW you say it. What do you do when it feels like you and your spouse just cannot get on the same page? When even small discussions turn into big arguments. You've got to dig deep and really examine how you're communicating with each other - and that's what this episode is all about.  Also, the BLENDED Family Formula course will open its doors on April 4th for just a fe...

It's a square peg, round hole situation. What do you do when you've tried and tried and just can't make coparenting work with your spouse's ex? It can be really hard when you feel like you're forcing communication while the other house just doesn't want to make it work. The good news is, you and your partner have options. We'll talk about what you can do when coparenting seems impossible - and mor...

Nothing Is Off Limits! In today's episode, I talk to Naja Hall, founder of Blended and Black and VIP Stepmom and host of the podcast, I Know I'm Crazy. Naja describes her life's work as being "to teach empathy, accountability, and emotional intelligence in order to serve individuals and families that are affected by some of life's toughest transitions." I'd say she's succeeded. She serves stepmoms...

A Supersized Episode You Do NOT Want To Miss I was thrilled to talk with Dr. Patricia Papernow in this episode. Dr. Papernow is one of the top experts in the world working with blended families and if you attended The Stepmom Summit last month, you heard some amazing advice from her. If you missed it,  don't worry - you can still get access to her talk and all of the content from the three day eve...

Let's Get Real!  Being a stepmom can be so hard - and sometimes you want someone to break it down and give you the tough love. The real advice with no sugarcoating. That person is Maarit Miller and in today's episode, we talk to her about all the tough things. The issues like high-conflict relationships, parental alienation, and more. And she's got some great advice for anyone who's struggling.  Y...

Learning How To Step Back Figuring out when it's time to take a step back and learning how to do it is no joke for stepmoms. And today's guest, Dr. Erin Careless, is going to tell you how to do it in a way that helps both you and your stepfamily.  Dr. Careless, a self-described recovering people-pleaser, has a PhD in adult education focusing on stepmothering, is a Certified Stepfamily Coach, and t...

Being a BOLD Stepmom Today's guest is Jessica Frew. She is a wife, ex-wife, mom, stepmom, and BOLD action taker. She has a successful podcast called "Husband in Law" that she records with her husband, Matt, and her ex-husband, Steve. Together they share their stories of love, marriage, coming out, divorce, remarriage, and co-parenting to help others know they are not alone. Jessica is also a speak...

This episode is fit for a queen! In this episode, we talk to Brittany Lynch, the founder & CEO of Stepqueen and the host of top-ranked relationship podcast: Queen of your Castle. Brittany helps stepmoms from around the world to release the jealousy, resentment, anger, and insecurity that come with stepfamily life. With nearly a decade of experience as a Registered Nurse, a post-degree certificatio...

If you're dealing with a high conflict situation, you NEED this episode! In this episode, Megan Hunter, co-founder of the High Conflict Institute and Conflict Playbook, talks to us about why there's more to high-conflict personalities than meets the eye. And how you, as a stepmom, can deal with them. Megan, along with author and speaker, Bill Eddy, LCSW, Esq. developed the high-conflict personalit...

From Beauty Queen To Stepmom Coach . . . Welcome to Supersized August! Where you'll get TWO episodes a week in the leadup to The Stepmom Summit August 26 – 28 th . I mentioned the summit to you last week, but I cofounded it with Beth McDonough of The Inclusive Stepmom and we have got an incredible lineup of 23 the world's top experts on all issues affecting stepmoms. High conflict exes, self-care,...

Navigating The Teen Years It's been a hot minute since we had a guest and we have got a great one for you in this episode! We will be talking all about how to make it through the teen years and how you can support the teens in your life. Dr. Courtney Conley is an author, therapist, parent coach, and author who specializes in working with adolescents. Courtney's passion stems from her own emotional...

Yes, There IS A Formula To Love Your Blended Family Life Do you ever wish there was a formula for being a stepmom? Steps you could follow that would help you succeed? Guess what? There is! And that's what we are talking about today in this bonus episode! When I became a stepmom, I looked for the right resources. But nothing out there really spoke to my personal situation.  So I started doing resea...

"Boundaries" Is Not A Bad Word Have you heard the term boundaries before? I hadn't before I became a stepmom. But over the years, I've realized how important they are to my health – and to my family. And that's what we're going to talk about today. Have you heard the term boundaries before? I hadn't before I became a stepmom. But over the years, I've realized how important they are to my health –...

Stepmom Imposter Syndrome: 5 Quick Tips To Stop Feeling Like A Fraud It's easy for "imposter syndrome" to creep into stepmom life. That feeling that you are in no way qualified to be doing this. That you don't know what you're doing. That you're not a "real" parent. Every stepmom experiences this at one time or another. The good news is that there are a few ways you can battle feeling like a fraud...

Parental Alienation Affects Stepmoms, Too. Parental Alienation is one of the hardest issues that faces blended families. And not only can it have an impact on you as a stepmom, but it can be really hard to know how you should deal with it. In this episode, we'll talk through parental alienation and how you can deal with it, both as a stepmom and as a spouse. Resources Mentions In This Episode: The...

Facing The Assumptions WE Make There are lots of assumptions out there about stepmoms. And let's face it, most of them are negative. But that's not what we're talking about in this episode.  We're going to think about the assumptions that we as stepmoms make about others. And how we can "flip the script" to try to turn those assumptions on their heads. Resources Mentions In This Episode: The BLEND...

It's hard to deal with stepkids who don't like you. Or who aren't nice to you. Or some combination of the two. The good news is that there are some things you can do to release the stress that kind of situation causes you. And that's what this episode is all about. Resources Discussed In This Episode: My piece on Five Ways To Bond With Your Stepchildren My in-depth, and FREE, Guide  To Bonding Wit...

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 for it! But where do you look for good advice or tools to help you deal with all the things? In this episode, I'm going to...

Get Control Back - IF You Want It! Hey stepmom, how often do you feel like you have no control over your life? Like everything in your life is dictated either by your spouse's ex or by the stepkids and their schedules. Today we're going to talk about how to get control back – and whether that's actually a good idea. You might be surprised by the discussion. And I'll give you five steps to take to...

Mother's Day Can Be Awkward For Stepmoms Mother's Day can make stepmoms feel "less than," insecure, like an imposter, or just plain old sad. The good news? Whatever emotions you're feeling as the holiday approaches are totally normal. In this episode, we're going to talk about why it's such a weird holiday for stepmoms and I'm going to give you some ways to cope with it.  Resources Mentioned In Th...

What to do when you're feeling out of control Have you ever felt like you've had one of those weeks, or months – or heck, years where nothing seems to go right and you just feel -off-? Or when you wake up, you feel like there's an overwhelming weight bearing down on you and you can't get control of your stepmom life?  You're not alone. Stepmom life can be overwhelming - and that's before all the p...

Stepmom Outsider Syndrome Is Real. But the good news is, you can do something about it. In this episode, we'll talk all about how to deal with feeling like an outsider in your own family. And I'll give you five great tips you can implement RIGHT NOW to feel more like you fit in - and to learn how to take a step back when you need to.  Resources Mentioned In The Episode: The BLENDED Family Formula...

Do You Have A Stepmom Anchor Statement? When you were getting serious with your partner, you probably discussed some of the logistics of what blending your families would look like. Whether you would attend sporting events or pick kids up from school. But did you discuss your role at a deeper level? Did you think about your stepmom purpose? Your "why"?  Obviously the "why" starts with you falling...

One of the most common challenges for stepmoms is how to relate to their stepchildren's biological mom, or "biomom" in stepmom speak. Especially if it's a high conflict situation.  When you started dating and then settled down with someone with kids, you probably didn't expect that so many aspects of your life would be controlled by someone outside of your marriage or your immediate family. Someon...

In this episode, we're going to talk about new year's resolutions. Why I stopped setting them this year, and what I did instead. And that it's not too late for you to try it, too.  I also give you a hint about some SUPER exciting things coming your way this year. For a free sneak peek, sign up HERE ! You can find the show notes (and other goodies) at www.thiscustomlife.com/episode11 .