Stepfamilies

Mama J on June 10th, 2009

Because my 21-year-old stepson has moved back in with us for a while,  I thought this was a good time to re-visit the topic of zigzag evolution.  This was the child who moved out of the house before his senior year of high school, which was a huge zigzag at that time.  His moving back […]

Continue reading about Zigzag Update

Mama J on May 20th, 2009

Over the weekend I blogged about how day trips can give me a new family perspective, and how much I enjoy that fresh approach. I want to apply the same idea to stepparenting.  I often find I am sorely in need of another perspective, sometimes when I least expect it.  This happened a few weeks after my […]

Continue reading about Ask for Another Perspective

Mama J on May 13th, 2009

Why is stepparenting after a death different than stepparenting after divorce? After all, stepfamily members in both divorce and death situations experience various kinds of losses. Am I saying that the loss of a parent is worse than the loss of a child’s former home, or the loss of living full time with Daddy? No. […]

Continue reading about How are Grieving Stepfamilies Different?

Mama J on May 6th, 2009

Stepmom bloggers have some pretty wise things to say about Mother’s Day. Today I’m sharing the suggestions I’ve found that I think are the most helpful. And, yes, I’ve added my own comments as well. 1. Take Mother’s Day into your own hands. Plan something that makes it your day, as opposed to waiting for […]

Continue reading about Collective Mother’s Day Wisdom

Mama J on April 29th, 2009

This family form apparently reflects a very real trend. A recent article in the Colorado University Extension newsletter mentions that from 1990 to 2000, the number of custodial grandparents in Colorado increased by 73%! And, in the U.S., more than 4.5 million children under age 18 live with their grandparents. I know of one such […]

Continue reading about Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

Mama J on April 22nd, 2009

April 24 comes around every year.  It’s not like Leap Day; it never gets skipped on the calendar.  In two days, my stepchildren will again remember their mother’s birthday.  She would have been 49 this year.  At least two anniversaries each year should not go without recognition in a grieving stepfamily:  The deceased parent’s birth […]

Continue reading about They Say it’s Her Birthday

Mama J on April 8th, 2009

Last Wednesday I blogged about anger, and the very same day another of my stepparent colleagues also blogged about stepparent anger.  Are we affected by the upcoming full moon, or is this a recurring theme families need to pay attention to?  What do you think?  I’ve been focusing on ways I can “come down” from feeling […]

Continue reading about Some other Thoughts about Anger

Mama J on April 1st, 2009

Speak when you are angry and you will make the best speech you will ever regret.   -Ambrose Bierce  There are three cardinal rules I have to follow when I feel angry at a member of my stepfamily.  I’m writing about this because I have blown it before.  No real good comes out of a screaming […]

Continue reading about Sometimes I Feel Angry

Your turn:  If you have any comments or advice for this reader, please comment below or send me an e-mail at info@dianefromme.com.  I’ve recently been in e-mail dialogue with a concerned stepmother.  She’s stepparenting three elementary- and middle-school-aged children whose mother died several years ago.  My heart went out to her as I read about […]

Continue reading about A Reader Writes: If Everyone’s Fine, Why do I Feel Stressed?

Mama J on March 18th, 2009

I am running a slightly edited version of yesterday’s post for the Wednesday stepparenting blog because I think the theme of “hosting a stranger” also applies to stepfamilies.  Your partner’s kids are your brave new frontier. Will you to rise to the challenge?  One of my loves is to coordinate international exchange students.  I match […]

Continue reading about Kindness to Strangers, continued