• There are a thousand situations, but I thought it may be nice to have a cheat sheet for just a couple of the more common situations.  It's a start!  Let's face it.  There are rules for sports.  Rules at work.  Rules at school  What about rules for the stepfamily.  As I always say, "Stepfamilies are not for the faint of heart". It would sure be easier if we could make a list of rules.  Here

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    Your StepChildren Are Champions. See Rita Pierson's TedTalk (attached) I have often said that it is difficult to know if we are happy or unhappy with our life as a stepmother because we don't know who we are or the role we are supposed to play in our families.  In the past, I have written about our roles.  Are we friends?  Quasi parents?  Memory makers?  Event planners?  Then, I saw this

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    Do Our Stepchildren Feel Entitled? I hear that word constantly.  My stepchildren feel entitled.  Their Mom feels entitled.  Everyone seems to feel entitled except us.  Hmmm…I wonder if that’s true?  Let’s tear it apart a bit and see if we can find a solution. What do we mean by entitled?  The word entitled means that you feel as if you deserve things that you have not

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    The Stepfamily MantraAhh! My Dad Married the Evil Stepmother! Run! Has your stepfamily ever told you that they are afraid of you?  Don't be surprised if they are terrified.  Yes, I said 'terrified'.  No one will tell you that they are scared.  In fact, they may act as if they tower over you and give you the impression that you are powerless.  Have you seen this type of behavior by your

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    The Very Involved Stepparent May Be a Pain!www.AnneTaintor.com I just realized that I have been a pain in the ass.  It hit me like a lightning bolt.  Let me explain my thinking. When I became a stepmother, I jumped in with two feet.  I was so excited to be related to my stepchildren.  I loved being part of their lives.  I also felt as if I might have something to offer them.  I had no

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    Drop Anchors, Not BombsFind This Image and T Shirt on The Beat Box sitehttp://www.thebeat-box.com/2012/05/ahoy-obey-clothing-drops-anchors.html When you live in a remarried home, there are tons of moving parts.  Kids are going back and forth.  We are working.  Relationships go up and down.  Emotions swirl around our heads 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  Much like the waves of the ocean can

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    Stepmothers and Mothers Are Human Beings with Basic Human Needs I always wanted to tape  a frank conversation between a stepmother and a Mother.  I always had this theory that if we could hear each other, we may think differently about the way we think, act and speak.  I am anxious to hear your feedback on the conversation. This is a personal conversation between me and a friend of

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    Are Stepmothers and Mothers Sharing Their Stepchildren? Ever since the last economic downturn, people have become entrepreneurial about how they live and work.  The biggest change has been the new Sharing Economy.  The sharing economy is one where we share each other's resources with each other either freely or cheaply.  As a matter of fact, I am a member of a barter group.  This group

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    Stepmothers May Fear Abandonment A common lament among all of us stepmothers is "When will this all end?" or "When will this get better?"  I ask myself that same question and I have reached a new conclusion.  I think it is us.  Stepmothers are a fragile tribe.  We are hard working and focused, but our hearts are easily broken. Even as I write this line, I can feel the pain of my broken

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    Every Stepmom Wants A Knight In Shining Armor Okay, I’ll admit it.  I want a Knight in Shining Armor.  I want my Knight to follow me around and defend me at all costs.  I do not need him to be my bodyguard, like the bodyguard of a celebrity or politician.  I need him to defend my thoughts, wants and desires.  I need him to pay attention to me and listen to me.  My Knight would always

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