If you've been on my blog before you know that I am a celebrity/popular culture junkie. Since November, I've been following the Sandra Bullock saga (who hasn't?) and writing about it here, on Psychology Today and The Huffington Post. So, Sandra's now a mother and an ex-stepmother-to-be. What does it matter? Hope you'll check out my latest article on Psychology Today — and leave a comment!

You might know from reading my blog and/or my book that I tend to look to sociology, human behavioral ecology, history, and even literary theory when I'm trying to explain what happens in stepfamilies and why women with stepkids think, feel, and act the way we do. I don't think psychology alone can adequately explain our culture's deep suspicion of and antipathy toward stepmothers. And I don't believe that we can "fix" a stepmother's situation by exploring her feelings in isolation, or focusing on what she alone is bringing to the table. Stepfamily systems are complex, everyone plays a role in the difficulty that often reigns, and too often, a stepmother who is demonized by the kids and her husband or partner as "the problem" feels herself further demonized by therapy that focuses on "her issues," as if those issues are not linked to actual dysfunction within the couple and stepfamily.

As I've been giving a few talks over the last weeks and reading your comments and emails, I'm getting a sense of what's keeping you up nights.

I'll be giving a talk called "What do women with stepchildren want?" sponsored by the Associates Lecture Series of the Training Institute for Mental Health on Friday April 9th at 7:30 p.m. Hope you can make it. Cost is $15 and the address is 115 W. 27th S., 4th Floor, New York City, 10001. For more information click on this link:

Ever wonder if your/your partner's teen (or you) might actually be not only really into social media, but addicted to it? Today on my psychologytoday.com blog, check out the special guest post by Dr. Stephanie Newman...and leave a comment!