Mama J on October 28th, 2009

I don’t get a lot of messages from readers who are thinking about becoming a stepparent.  Most of us already are.
One message I received this past summer was indeed from a divorced woman with a nine-year-old son who has been dating a widow of four years with three children (two of whom are teenagers).  I wanted [...]

Continue reading about A Reader Writes: Preparing Mentally

Mama J on September 30th, 2009

Now that I have your attention, here’s what I really think about the continued comments I’m receiving on my Selfish Stepparenting? post:  They are poignant, revealing, and I think important to the types of dialogues we have and continue to have in and about stepfamilies.  These comments raise some provocative questions, such as:  What does a child [...]

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Mama J on December 3rd, 2008

I’ve gotten some thought-provoking inquiries on my Stepparenting the
Grieving Child website.  Today I’m sharing a question about whether
grief counseling is necessary for stepfamily members who lost a
spouse or a parent.
Here is the actual question:
“Is it necessary for grief counseling for the biological parent and the
children that [have lost] to help them not take out their [...]

Continue reading about A Reader Writes: “Is Grief Counseling Necessary?”