The day God revealed to me his plans for my stepmom journey was the day my life took a much-needed turn! I remember standing in my light blue dining room and staring out the window with tears rolling down my face as I told God… "I am so tired." I was tired of feeling like I wasn’t being the best mom to my biological children. I was tired of the pressure to be mommy to my … [Read more...]
Search Results for: stepmom
Blended Families Week: A Stepmom Speaks Out
My mom was a stepmother to 3 of my stepbrothers. In the house it was my mom (their stepmom), their dad (my stepdad), and me (the only girl and the baby.) Two of them lived at the house the majority of the time and my oldest stepbrother stayed for a couple of years; none of them shared the same mom but would visit or stay with their moms for periods at a time. I asked my mom a … [Read more...]
7 Reasons Not to Hate Your Child’s Stepmom
When I found out my daughter’s dad moved on, I was devastated. It felt like someone stabbed me in the back and the heart at the same time. I yearned to pick up the phone and call her—the other woman who later became the wife. I wasn’t sure what I would say, but I was sure that the sentences would be filled with four-letter words. I didn’t dial a single digit. Although a … [Read more...]
6 Things Every Woman Should Know When Dating a Man With Children
I "met" Deesha Phillywaw through her book Co-parenting 101: Helping Your Kids Thrive in Two Households After Divorce. I wish I read her work before I became a co-parent. While dating a man with children, I didn't take into account certain things thoroughly discussed in the chapters of the book. For instance, I wasn't used to being someone's second priority and having to … [Read more...]
The 4 Greatest Lessons I Learned Growing Up in a Blended Family
I love that BMWK has dedicated an entire month to blended families. According to smart stepfamilies.com, 40 percent of married couples with children are actually blended families. Dedicating a week to discuss it just makes sense. I personally don't know life outside of a blended family. My parents ended their relationship very early, and my dad married and began a new family. … [Read more...]
10 Conversations Stepfamilies Must Have About Finances Sooner than Later
By Janice R. Love Managing money in traditional families can be challenging, but in Stepfamilies financial matters are magnified and even more complicated. For instance, when my husband and I first became a stepfamily, I was receiving child support from my ex, and my husband was paying child support and alimony to his ex-wife. Now that are children are grown and two are … [Read more...]
7 Great Mother’s Day Survival Tips for Step-moms
by Janice R. Love, My first Mother’s day holiday as a step-mom occurred during our visitation weekend. Our plans were to return my stepchildren to their home on Sunday morning. My wonderful husband wanted me to feel appreciated, so he took his children shopping on Saturday to buy gifts. Later out of curiosity, I asked hubby what his children were doing for their mother. He … [Read more...]
5 Ways the Church Can Be a Blessing to Blended Families
by Janice R. Love, The church has been the foundation in the African American community for decades. Individuals and families seek membership for many reasons including: Christian growth and development, opportunities to serve God and others, friendships, assistance with accountability, having a sense of community, friendships, and having a healthy environment to raise … [Read more...]
Stepfamily Survival Tips: 10 Ways to Ensure a Happy Holiday Season
by Janice R. Love, The holidays are exciting for most families; however without planning, holidays for stepfamilies can be disastrous. My husband and I are a blended family of eight children and have been married for over ten years. Here are our ten tips for ensuring a happy holiday season. Plan, Plan, Plan – It has been said if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. … [Read more...]
Blended Families Week: Stepdads are Great Too!
My parents met when they were both in the Air Force. They married when I was four and my older sister was seven. Looking at the wedding pictures, I remember being there, but for the longest time, I thought my dad was mine biologically. It wasn’t until I was older that I was told he was not. You see my dad adopted me and my sister after he married my mom, so I didn’t get a … [Read more...]
Blended Families Week: 7 Things I Liked about Growing up in a Blended Family
I've had a blended family since I was a toddler. All I've known is having 4 parents. I like to think that I was lucky enough to have two sets of parents growing up, as it definitely made my upbringing better. This is more than having two Christmases (although that was definitely a perk). I had 4 adults who were proud to call me their daughter. I lived with my mom and my … [Read more...]
Relaxed Without Permission: 3 Ways to Ensure That Your Kid’s Natural Hair Stays Safe When Away From Home!
For the second time in the past few weeks I’ve been told similar horror stories. In both situations children with natural hair were sent for short visits with relatives and were returned with relaxed hair! In the first story the mom sent her two daughters to be with their dad and stepmom for Spring Break and the stepmom put relaxers in both girls hair. In the second story … [Read more...]
VIDEO: Woman Offers to Donate Her Kidney on Facebook
One year ago on April 3, 2012, Natasha Coe completed her task of donating her kidney after posting a Facebook status in 2010 asking who might need one. The death of an ex's uncle from kidney failure and following research led to Coe's decision to donate her organ. Sixty-year-old Debbie Will, stepmom of a high school classmate, became the recipient of her left kidney. Coe now … [Read more...]
Blended Families Week: Dos and Don’ts to Parenting With Your Child’s Other Parents
My mother and my stepmother, whom my dad remarried when I was a teenager, call each other "wife-in-laws." Growing up, my father lived in a different state, so my stepmom would come into town without him. My mom, my stepmom, my siblings, and I would often go out to the mall or to eat, etc. I took for granted the fact that my mother and stepmother had a good relationship. I … [Read more...]
Praises To My Mother
I have always had a very open relationship with my mother. She calls me sister-daughter and she's my sister-mom. Although she had me at 24, she always made the lines clear: she was my mother, and yet, she found a way to also become my friend. I wasn't a trouble maker by any stretch of the imagination, but when I found myself doing something I knew I shouldn't have been doing, I … [Read more...]