Monthly Archives: September 2011
Empowerment to Become Stepmother
In many of the resources out there for stepmothers, there is an abundance of “woe is me” tales that can inspire dread in the hearts of even the most stalwart of women. The horror stories of stepmothers tortured by teens gone wild, vindictive exes, intrusive former in-laws, and wimpy spouses are all true.
Free to Be Me
Here’s an exercise designed to help you see what your comfort zone is, to help you figure out what kind of stepmother you want to be. Consider the statements as jumping-off points, and if something rings true for you, follow it and see where it leads.
How to Take the Heart of Your Stepchildren? Part (2)
Psychologist and author Patricia Papernow called the role “intimate outsider,” in which you are close and part of the family, but you are also just a bit outside so you have a more objective viewpoint. Your role is also going to depend on what ages the kids are when you marry their dad. Children’s behavior changes as they move from one developmental stage to the next.
How to Take the Heart of Your Stepchildren?
As you’ve begun the work of identifying what everyone in your stepfamily unit feels and wants from their family experience, you can begin to solidify what your role will be with your family members. “I didn’t always know what I was doing,” admits former family law attorney Heidi. “What is my role? What are my boundaries?
No More Mr. Mom Part (4)
I wish they were never born.’ And then I felt evil and rotten and was sure I was going to hell. Then I thought, when they come here for the summer, I am going away. I’ll go stay in a hotel down the block so I don’t have to be here. The minute my stepsons walked in the door, my husband would drop our life together.