My friend Deesha Philyaw and her Co-Parenting Radio co-hosts will be featured on CBS's Early Show Wednesday a.m. Divorce and remarriage with children plus stepparenting on national news — how do you like that? Have a look:
I recently sat down to be interviewed by Giselle Minoli of the Examiner, New York. Turns out Giselle, a stepmother herself, is interested in a stepmother revolution of sorts. We discussed stepmothering in context — social, political, economic — and imagined ways to make life easier for stepfamilies in general and women with stepchildren in particular. Hope you will have a look at our four-part interview and let me know your thoughts: what would a healthy, emancipated stepfamily look like?
I recently wrote an article about Stepmothers and being disliked (look for it in the September Issue of StepMom Magazine). Tolerating that others may dislike us for reasons beyond our control, and in spite of our best efforts, is an important skill to develop.
The August issue of Stepmom Magazine is live! In it you will find lots of helpful articles that address the topics that matter to you, including mine on the two most powerful words in a remarriage with children...Mary Kelly-Williams on grief in stepfamilies; Peggy Nolan on remarriage with kids and military deployment; as well as fantastic pieces by Joan Sarin, Susan Swanson, Susan Wisdom, and many other experts on repartnership with children. You'll have to subscribe to read the articles...but it's well worth the price. I know, it's really cheap of me to set you up this way.
Ah, that hot, vexed topic: money. Divvying it up can be tricky in any partnership. Now throw in some kids from a previous marriage, and it becomes more complicated still. Merged? Partially merged? Totally separate bank accounts? Peggy Nolan and Erin Erickson tackle this topic with their guest Kat Nelson-Reid, a stepmom and financial planner, on tonight's Stepmom's Toolbox Radio Show at 8 pm EST. To tune in, click on this link:
Stepmom Magazine is sponsoring another "Ask the Experts" virtual panel. On Thursday July 29 you can log on to the magazine's facebook page or this link to ask experts including me, Jennifer Newcomb Marine, Joan Sarin, Susan Swanson, Susan Wisdom, and others about steplife. This is a great way to ask those who have walked the walk and done the research about how to get on with it in a remarriage or repartnership with children if you are feeling stuck, frustrated, or just have a question. Hope you will join!
Save the date! Come to New York City! On Saturday, September 25th, I will be co-conducting a three-hour workshop for women with stepkids along with Dr. Rachelle Katz, author of The Happy Stepmother.
When it comes to roles and responsibilities, stepparenting is as stressful as it gets. I hope you'll have a look at my latest post for PsychologyToday.com on why you can't afford to skip a real vacation this year! Once you learn the facts about why you have to do it, tell me here and now: what are your vacation plans?
Please check out my latest post for psychologytoday.com on the very sad story of the disappearance of seven-year-old Kyron Horman.
Sure, it's a long holiday weekend. BBQs, fireworks...and for some of us in stepfamilies, stress. "Coming together" can be fraught when it's a yours, mine, and ours situation as in a remarriage or repartnership with kids. That's why Susan Swanson's Monday July 5 radio show is so timely. Check out the list of upcoming shows too. Susan is the founder of the Stepfamily Center of Los Angeles, a gifted and experienced therapist — and has walked the stepmother walk!