OFFICIAL BLOG

Fieldnotes

Being a Stepmother Can Weigh You Down — Special Guest Post on Standing Tall by Kim Cottrell

Published by Wednesday Martin
Self confidence starts with standing tall in your life
Self confidence starts with standing tall in your life


In researching my book Stepmonster, I came across dozens of studies in the sociological and psychological literature on stepfamily adjustment concluding that stepmothers have the toughest adjustment trajectory; experience high levels of anxiety; and are prone to burn-out, depletion, and even clinical depression at rates higher than mothers or stepfathers.


Father's Day Fun...and Fun Facts about Fathers and Fatherhood

Published by Wednesday Martin
Dad's involvement makes a huge difference.
Dad's involvement makes a huge difference.


The Council on Contemporary Families, a think tank on family life that I looooovvvveeeeeee, recently sent out a mailing all about fathers and Father's Day. As a lover of research-based insight (and trivia), I wanted to share. Happy Father's Day to the Dads and Stepdads reading. As a group you are more involved with your children and stepchildren than ever before, and making an unprecedented impact on not only your sons and daughters, but on the footprint of fathering more generally. You're changing the way your children will parent. I love you!


The Dad Effect: A Book for and About Fathers that You're Going to Love

Published by Wednesday Martin
How cute is this father/son shot?
How cute is this father/son shot?


Like a lot of books for and about stepmothers, books for fathers and books about fatherhood can be a little...trite. And Hallmark card-ish. Or lite. They're either "funny" or "self-help-y." Which is fine, if that's what you want. But if you want a really comprehensive, comparative look at fatherhood, if you want answers to the questions, "What happens to men when they have kids? How does it actually affect them?" you will love a book called Fatherhood: Evolution and Human Paternal Behavior. Don't be put off by the wonky title. Yes, it's wonky, but this book is also accessible, fun, and fascinating.


The Dad Effect: How Fatherhood Changes Men and Why We Need More Books about Fathers

Published by Wednesday Martin

What’s a father? From anonymous sperm donors to highly involved hunter-gatherer fathers in pre-industrial tribes, to stepfathers, gay dads, and divorced dads, Kermyt Anderson and Peter Gray’s new tome on fatherhood (Fatherhood: Evolution and Human Paternal Behavior, Harvard University Press) covers all the bases and provides a uniquely comprehensive, truly comparative look at the topic. 


Will You Divorce? One Factor Puts You At Greatest Risk

Published by Wednesday Martin
Not a pretty picture
Not a pretty picture


There's been a lot of talk in the media recently about the "science" of a healthy, happy marriage. Based on the last decade of research, experts have identified some factors that put a marriage at risk for divorce. Have a look at my latest post for psychologytoday.com on the topic...and tell me about it: Have you ever considered divorce in your remarriage/repartnership with children? What changed your mind?


Stepmothers/Older Mothers: an Anthropologist on Why We Do What We Do When We Do It

Published by Wednesday Martin


I asked Kermyt G. Anderson, an evolutionary biologist and anthropologist, to weigh in on the topic of delayed childbearing. You know, older mothers! He makes the interesting point that in stepfamilies, we're often pushing our reproductive careers to the max, since we might be repartnering a little later in life post-divorce (or breakup), and then wanting to have a child or a family.


Let’s Stop Expecting Sandra Bullock to Be a Stepmartyr

Published by Wednesday Martin

Sandra Bullock is a huge star, America’s Sweetheart, an Oscar winner, an uber-celebrity—and one of us. I’m talking about her having married a man with kids from a previous relationship (or, in this case, two previous relationships).