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
For us, the day was about more than just Kevin and I getting married; it was about us becoming a family, starting a new chapter in our lives, and committing to working on our marriage and family for forever. … More Our Blended Family Wedding
When divorce and parenting become intertwined, there can be lots of strong feelings. If there’s one thing I’ve learned through this process, though, is that I’m extremely grateful to co-parent with someone who is as equally committed to my daughter’s happiness as I am. … More Why We’re Committed to Peaceful Co-Parenting
What better time than Valentine’s Day to share our love story? After all, the longer we’ve been together, the longer the story gets, so if I don’t start writing soon, this project will become too large for me to take on! This story begins on August 29th, 2022, when we first met, and since our … More Our Love Story
Co-Authored with Kevin Allen When I separated from my ex-husband in November 2022, I was almost twenty-three years old, had a two year old daughter, hadn’t yet graduated college, and had my whole life ahead of me. I had gotten married at only nineteen, so I knew when the time came, I would want to … More 6 Hard Truths About Dating After Divorce
On September 22nd, 2024, my best friend and the love of my life got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. The moment was perfect, and it was one of the happiest of my life. There’s so much I could write about me and Kevin. I could write about how we met, … More Our Engagement Story
This post is in honor of my mom’s birthday, because I don’t have much to give other than what I can make or write with my own two hands. Happy birthday, Mom! I remember my first night at college like it was yesterday. My family all flew out to Hawaii with me to help me … More Lessons from My Mom
Step by Step Parenting 