I have been a stepmom officially for just over a year now, but I have played a significant role in my stepkids’ lives for over three. There are a lot of growing pains the come with being a stepmom. You have to learn how to navigate a delicate parenting situation with your spouse. You have to get … More The Hardest Pill to Swallow As a Stepmom
That first Mother’s Day as a stepmom stirred up lots of complicated feelings of jealousy and guilt and shame. I was envious of all of the moms who got to have a completely ordinary day, seemingly oblivious to how lucky they were to be able to be with their kids every single day. … More A Stepmom’s Struggle with Mother’s Day
I realized early on that being a stepmom was going to have a lot more mental gymnastics involved than I ever anticipated. But I never want to miss out on an opportunity to support and love my kids because of a fear of what others might think. The mental load of a stepmom is heavy, but it becomes lighter once you stop trying to cater to everyone around you and prove your worth as a parent. … More The Mental Load of a Stepmom
When I was pregnant, there was no discussion on what my baby would call me, her dad, or her grandparents beyond, “Grandma wants to be called Mimi instead,” or “Instead of daddy, let’s teach her ‘papi’ in Spanish.” The fundamentals were not at issue: I am the mom, and dad is the dad. But what … More My Thoughts on Stepparenting, Pt. 2
What do you think of when you think of a step mom? Before I began to step into my role as a step/bonus mom, thinking of stepmom usually conjured images of the evil stepmother from Cinderella or the ostracized stepmom from The Parent Trap. The role of a stepmom tends to have a pretty negative … More My Thoughts on Stepparenting, Pt. I
Step by Step Parenting 