Stepparenting
Sometimes I have a wake-up moment that reminds me of the instinct a mom has for her young. At the same time, I can’t help but compare this instinct to the ways I’ve parented my stepchildren. Neither approach is right or wrong – it’s just different. After I dropped my daughter off at last Saturday’s […]
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 […]
After all that blogging about anger, I thought that bringing in a little bit of a “spring is blossoming” feeling here on the blog might brighten up the mood. I want to share some things I actually like about being a stepparent. I compose these “nine things” lists (instead of ten things) just to be different, […]
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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 […]
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 […]
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?
(Most writers like the top ten approach, but I like for you to fill in the tenth!) Various situations in my life continue to point out the extreme importance of communication. The worst trap of all in a stepfamily is no communication. Assumptions fill the gaps and actions are based on the assumptions! One way […]
You might think that this post relates to the stepparent being new in the family. Instead, I thought I’d focus today on the new kid you and your spouse might bring into town: your baby. While your stepfamily may arrive at some household decisions together as a family, having a baby is an adult decision. […]
For both new and existing subscribers, I thought you’d want to know more about this blog as it evolves. I am a writer, parent, and stepparent who constantly ponders family issues and dynamics. Raising kids is one of life’s greatest joys and challenges. If you are among those who wish you could consult the parenting […]
This is the third in a Wednesday post series about the role of the parent in stepfamilies. Stepfamilies might feel more cohesive if the parent is able to: Be the central hub of the stepfamily. Be the main disciplinarian in the stepfamily. Be physically available (present). Be emotionally available (interested). Today we’re looking at how […]