Stepparenting
Colorado schools start earlier than many states. Our neighborhoods here are buzzing with the back-to-school sounds of buses rumbling through neighborhoods and kids chatting in packs as they return from the bus stop. In fact, I would argue that at least in this region of the U.S., fall inspires more feelings of change and new beginnings than […]
The combination of keeping up with my freelance writing contracts and having kids on a summer schedule has wrought a little havoc with my blog posting routine! However, from the number of comments (none!) I received on my school-home connection questions, it appears that many of you are on “summer time” as well. I am […]
Your turn! The purpose of today’s post is to ask your opinions about how stepparents and schools can work together to strengthen the school-to-home connection. (Yes, I’m looking ahead to fall…or some of you may have kids who go to school year round.) You do not need to be registered on the blog to post […]
The days are long But the time is short. — Unknown Although you wouldn’t know it from my picture, summer officially starts in four days (and maybe my picture will change at exactly the same time!). A few of you may be committed to year-round school with two-week breaks every quarter, but most of […]
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 […]
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 […]
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?
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 […]
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 […]