Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast The Stepmom Diaries | Blended Family & Stepmom Support Podcast

Ever feel relieved when your stepkids go back to their other home, then immediately feel guilty about it? You're not alone. And it doesn't make you a bad stepmom.

In this episode of The Stepmom Diaries, Cameron Normand talks with Alyssa Kirk, founder of Stepmom Social Club, about stepmom guilt, impossible expectations, high-conflict co-parenting, and why taking care of yourself isn't selfish. From the pressure to treat your stepkids like your own to the judgment that follows when you do, Alyssa and Cameron get honest about the realities of blended family life.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why it is okay to need a break when your stepkids leave.

• The double standards and unsolicited advice that can fuel stepmom guilt.

• Grounding yourself before reacting to high-conflict co-parenting situations.

• Why connecting with other stepmoms can make the role less lonely.

They also talk about the evil stepmother stereotype, dealing with online criticism, and finding friends who understand the realities of your family. You don't have to love every minute of stepmom life to care deeply about your family.

Resources Shared in This Episode:

• Find Alyssa: Stepmom Social Club on Instagram and Patreon.

• Want to find your people? Join us inside Stepfamily Circle, the supportive community for stepmoms navigating blended family life: https://stepfamilycircle.com/

Please consider rating and reviewing The Stepmom Diaries on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps the show grow and reach more blended families who need honest conversations like this one.

"I don't like being a stepmom today."

Have you ever thought that and immediately felt guilty about it? Maybe you're dreading another custody weekend, feeling resentful about everything you're expected to do, or just wishing you could take a little break from stepmom life.

I've been there. And here's something I want you to hear: You can love your stepfamily without loving every minute of being a stepmom.

In this episode, we're talking about those complicated feelings so many stepmoms experience but are afraid to admit out loud. More importantly, we're looking at what those feelings might actually be trying to tell you.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why feeling frustrated or resentful doesn't make you a bad stepmom

• How stepmom guilt can make an already difficult situation feel even worse

• Three questions to help you understand what's really behind your resentment

• Why changing your boundaries and responsibilities may be more helpful than changing your attitude

You don't have to love being a stepmom every minute to be a loving stepmom.

Resources Mentioned:

• Episode 125: A deeper look at what's actually within your control as a stepmom

• Looking for a community of women who really get what it's like to be a stepmom? Come join us inside the Stepfamily Circle: https://stepfamilycircle.com/

If this episode made you feel a little less alone, share it with another stepmom who might need to hear it.

Please consider rating and reviewing The Stepmom Diaries on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps the show grow and reach more blended families who need honest conversations like this one.

Can you love your stepkids and still grieve the child you may never have? It's one of those complicated feelings that can be incredibly hard to admit, even to yourself.

Infertility as a stepmom brings a unique kind of grief. You're already part of a family, helping raise children, and watching your partner experience parenthood while wondering if you'll ever have a child of your own. And the guilt, resentment, and heartbreak that can come with those feelings? They're not always easy to talk about.

In this episode, Cameron sits down with Jen Powell, founder of The Sober Stepmom, a coach who supports childless stepmothers navigating identity, belonging, grief, and the emotional complexities of stepfamily life.

Together, they open up about their personal experiences with IVF, including Cameron's five unsuccessful rounds of treatment and Jen's heartbreaking decision to cancel an embryo transfer.

But this conversation goes beyond infertility. They explore what happens when the family you're already part of makes it harder to pursue the family you imagined, and why those feelings can bring an entirely different layer of guilt and grief.

• Why infertility as a stepmom can feel especially isolating when you're already helping raise someone else's children.

• The complicated emotions childless stepmoms often struggle to admit, including guilt, resentment, and grief.

• What led Jen to cancel her embryo transfer and why that decision was both heartbreaking and necessary.

• Why putting yourself first during infertility doesn't make you a bad stepmom, even when other people don't understand your decisions.

Loving your stepfamily and grieving the child you hoped to have can both be true, and you deserve the space to feel both.

• Connect with Jen Powell, founder of The Sober Stepmom:

• Instagram: @the_sober_stepmom

• Facebook: The Sober Stepmom

• Grab our FREE "10 Essential Scripts for Stepmoms": https://stepfamilycertification.com/stepmom-scripts

Please consider rating and reviewing The Stepmom Diaries on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps the show grow and reach more blended families who need honest conversations like this one.

Should a stepmom discipline stepkids? It's one of those questions that sounds simple until you're the one living it.

A lot of stepmoms come in wanting to help, be supportive, and feel like a real part of the family. But when you're expected to parent without the same history, authority, or connection, things can go sideways fast.

In this episode, Cameron sits down with April Eldemire, LMFT, a licensed marriage and family therapist, couples therapist, blended family expert, and former stepmom with more than 13 years of experience working with couples.

Together, they dig into the big question: Should a stepmom discipline her stepkids, and if so, when?

April breaks down what stepmoms often take on too soon, what the biological parent should be handling instead, and why trying to "parent like a mom" before the relationship is there can backfire.

They also get into the bigger issue underneath all of this: What is actually your job as a stepmom? Because the answer may look very different than you think, and it may even look different with each stepchild.

• When should a stepmom discipline stepkids

• Why connection before correction matters so much when building trust with your stepkids.

• How unclear roles can leave stepmoms feeling like the bad guy, and what the biological parent can do to better support their partner. april-cameron

• The simple 15-minute weekly trick that can completely change how you and your partner handle stepfamily stress, parenting, and decisions.

If you have ever wondered whether you are too involved, not involved enough, or taking on responsibilities that should belong to your partner, this conversation will help you think differently about your role.

Being a good stepmom does not mean doing all the parenting. Sometimes the healthiest thing you can do for your relationship with your stepkids, your partner, and yourself is to get very clear about what is actually yours to carry.

Connect with April Eldemire, LMFT:
Website: Couples-thrive.com
Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and TikTok: @couplesthrive

Grab our FREE "10 Essential Scripts for Stepmoms": https://stepfamilycertification.com/stepmom-scripts

April's Blended Family Quick Win Toolkit gives couples practical tools to reduce "my kid/your kid" conflict and start parenting more like a team in just 7 days.

Please consider rating and reviewing The Stepmom Diaries on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps the show grow and reach more blended families who need honest conversations like this one.

What if some of the things you've been told a blended family should look like are actually making things harder?

This episode is a special one pulled straight from our recent Stepmom Summit, where I sat down with three of the leading researchers in the stepfamily field to talk about how to make a blended family work based on what the research actually says, not what Instagram, your neighbor, or the Brady Bunch would have you believe.

Dr. Brad van Eeden-Moorefield is a professor of family science and human development at Montclair State University whose research looks at how stigma, culture, policy, and the expectations placed on families affect real stepfamily relationships.

Dr. Bailey M. Oliver-Blackburn is an associate professor at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock who studies stepfamily communication, conflict transformation, and family resilience, including what happens when children move between homes with very different rules, beliefs, and values.

Dr. Todd Jensen is a professor at UNC Chapel Hill and director of the Thriving Through Family Transitions Research Lab. Much of his work focuses on what helps kids thrive in stepfamilies and how strong relationships between stepparents and stepchildren actually develop.

And between the three of them, there is a LOT of research to unpack.

• Why there is no single right way to be a stepparent and what actually matters more for building a strong relationship with your stepkids

• What research says helps kids thrive in blended families, including warmth, timing, connection, choice, and learning to "read the room"

• How to navigate very different rules, routines, beliefs, and values between two households without making your stepchild feel stuck in the middle

• Why stepfamilies are not broken versions of first families and what decades of research tell us about creating relationships that work for your family

If you've ever wondered whether you're doing this whole blended family thing wrong, this conversation may completely change the way you look at your family. There isn't one perfect formula. There are many paths to strong relationships, and the research is finally catching up to what stepfamilies have needed to hear for a long time.

Get access to all of this year's Stepmom Summit recordings for just $97 and catch the sessions you missed or rewatch your favorites before the offer ends October 4th, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET: https://thestepmomsummit.com/rs-upgrade-purchase

Dr. Brad van Eeden-Moorefield: https://inside.montclair.edu/directory/brad-van-eeden-moorefield 

Dr. Bailey M. Oliver-Blackburn: https://baileyoliverblackburn.com/ 

Dr. Todd Jensen: https://www.instagram.com/drtoddjensen/ 

Please consider rating and reviewing The Stepmom Diaries on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps the show grow and reach more blended families who need honest conversations like this one.

High-conflict co-parenting has a way of making it feel like someone who doesn't even live in your house somehow has way too much control over what happens inside it.

The texts, the emails, the constant curveballs, the tension with your partner... it can start to feel like your entire relationship is being shaped around someone else's chaos.

In this episode, I'm talking with Livi North, founder of Unfuck Your Co-Parenting, where she helps parents and stepparents navigate high-conflict co-parenting, parallel parenting, and difficult exes without letting the chaos take over their lives.

• How to tell the difference between normal post-divorce conflict and a truly high conflict dynamic

• Why strong boundaries matter more than trying to change a high conflict ex

• How getting angry for your partner can accidentally create even more stress

• Why parallel parenting, intentional couple time, and limits around venting can help keep the conflict from consuming your relationship

Because the truth is, you may never be able to control what a high-conflict ex does. But you can decide how much space their behavior gets to take up in your home, your relationship, and your life.

→ Connect with Livi North: Visit unfuckyourcoparenting.com for resources and coaching, including a $189 one-hour intro call; follow @unfuckyourcoparenting on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook; and listen to the Unfuck Your Coparenting podcast.

→ Upgrade your bedtime with Cozy Earth's temperature-regulating bamboo sheets and pajamas, and use code STEPMOMDIARIES at CozyEarth.com for up to 20% off.

→ Unfuck Your Co-Parenting: The Coaching Couch Podcast (Available wherever you listen to podcasts)

→ Connect with Livi on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and Facebook: search the handle @UnfuckYourCoparenting

→ Free High Conflict Ex Guide: Get our FREE 10 Quick Tips To Dealing With Your Spouse's Ex, and stop letting your partner's high-conflict ex take over your life at stepfamilycircle.com/high-conflict-ex-tips.

Please consider rating and reviewing The Stepmom Diaries on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps the show grow and reach more blended families who need honest conversations like this one.

Have you ever felt like the harder you try to be a good stepmom, the worse things seem to get?

That was me in my first few years of stepfamily life. I tried to make the kids like me, stepped into authority too quickly, rearranged my entire life around our parenting schedule, and kept wondering why I still felt like I was failing.

What I eventually learned is that I wasn't dealing with a lack of effort. I was trying to navigate a stepfamily using a first-family blueprint.

Once I started digging into published stepfamily research and the academic work around stepfamily dynamics, so much of what I had been experiencing finally made sense. Those lessons, combined with my own lived experience, ultimately became part of the foundation for the Stepfamily Coach Academy.

•  Why trying too hard to make your stepkids like you can actually work against connection

•  Why building a relationship needs to come before stepping into authority

•  How treating your stepfamily like a first family can leave you feeling like you're constantly failing

•  Why keeping your own life, understanding your role, and learning the actual research on stepfamilies can change everything

If you're a newer stepmom looking for tips for new stepmoms, I hope this episode gives you something I desperately needed back then: proof that there really is a roadmap for this.

The 2026 Stepmom Summit: Out Loud → https://thestepmomsummit.com/
We're LIVE September 14th-18th, 2026 with more than 30 experts talking about the parts of stepfamily life we need to start saying Out Loud! 

Stepfamily Coach Academy → https://stepfamilycertification.com/   

Want to understand stepfamily dynamics on a much deeper level or use what you've lived through to help other families? The Stepfamily Coach Academy brings together published research, the academic study of stepfamilies, practical frameworks, and lived experience to train the next generation of stepfamily coaches.

If this episode made you think of another stepmom who is trying way too hard and wondering why it still isn't working, send it to her. And if you haven't already, subscribe and leave a review so more stepmoms can find the support they've been looking for.

Please consider rating and reviewing The Stepmom Diaries on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps the show grow and reach more blended families who need honest conversations like this one.

Have you ever felt like people see you differently the second they find out you're a stepmom?

The wicked stepmother stereotype has been around for centuries, showing up in fairy tales, movies, and cultural stories long before any of us stepped into this role. And even when no one says it out loud, that stereotype can quietly shape how other people see stepmoms and how stepmoms start seeing themselves.

In this episode, Cameron unpacks the shame behind the wicked stepmother stereotype and the pressure so many stepmoms feel to prove they're loving enough, patient enough, helpful enough, or "good" enough to belong.

She also explores what happens when that pressure turns into overfunctioning, shrinking in your own home, or staying silent about how hard stepfamily life can actually be.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why the wicked stepmother stereotype still affects modern stepmoms

• How shame can show up as overfunctioning, shrinking, and silence

• Why comparing yourself to your stepchild's biological mom puts you in a competition you were never supposed to enter

• How to separate the cultural story about stepmoms from the truth about who you actually are

You did not break up a family simply by becoming part of one. And you do not have to spend your stepmom life proving that you deserve your place in it.

Sometimes the first step is recognizing that the story you've been carrying was never yours to begin with.

•  Free Resource: 10 Essential Scripts for Stepmoms: https://stepfamilycertification.com/stepmom-scripts 

If this episode hit home, share it with another stepmom who might still be trying to prove she isn't the villain in somebody else's story. And don't forget to follow The Stepmom Diaries so more stepmoms can find these conversations too.

Please consider rating and reviewing The Stepmom Diaries on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps the show grow and reach more blended families who need honest conversations like this one.

What does your stepchild actually need from you, even if they cannot put it into words?

In this episode of The Stepmom Diaries, Cameron sits down with Robin Breuner, host of Step Stories: Thriving and Surviving Life in Blended Families, to talk about the stepmom and stepchild relationship from a perspective stepmoms do not often get to hear: the adult stepdaughter looking back.

Robin shares what she wishes her own stepmothers had understood, what she now sees differently as an adult, and why giving stepchildren space to maintain their relationship with their biological parent can actually help build trust with a stepparent.

• What Robin wishes her stepmothers had understood about her behavior as a child

• Why stepchildren may need one on one time with their biological parent, and why stepmoms should not take that personally

• How stepmoms can become a safe adult without trying to replace a child's mother

• Why education and realistic expectations matter before and during stepfamily life

• Learn more about Robin: https://robinbruner.com

• Follow Robin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stepstoriespodcast/ 

• Free Resource: 10 Essential Scripts for Stepmoms: https://stepfamilycertification.com/stepmom-scripts

Please consider rating and reviewing The Stepmom Diaries on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps the show grow and reach more blended families who need honest conversations like this one.

When Bio Mom Doesn't Like You: Dealing With a High Conflict Bio Mom

There are some parts of becoming a stepmom you expect to be complicated.

Your relationship with your partner's ex probably isn't one of them.

But when you're dealing with a high conflict bio mom, suddenly someone outside your marriage can affect your schedule, your relationship with your stepchildren, and sometimes even how peaceful your own home feels.

And if you're someone who is used to being liked? It can be especially hard to understand why this person seems determined not to like you.

In this episode of The Stepmom Diaries podcast from 2021, Cameron talks about how stepmoms can navigate conflict with a biological mom without getting pulled deeper into the drama. She also shares one of her favorite communication strategies for high conflict situations: the BIFF method developed by Bill Eddy of the High Conflict Institute.

• How to create healthier boundaries with a high conflict bio mom

• How the BIFF communication method can keep difficult conversations from escalating

• Why protecting kids from adult conflict and loyalty binds matters so much

• How to stop waiting for bio mom to like, approve of, or validate you

One of the biggest shifts Cameron talks about is realizing that you do not have to convince your stepchildren's mom that you are a good person, a good partner, or a good stepmom.

You can control your boundaries. You can control how you communicate. You can control the environment you help create inside your own home.

You cannot control what she thinks about you.

And sometimes accepting that is where the peace starts.

Get your FREE copy of my guide"10 Quick Tips To Dealing With Your Spouse's Ex" that you can download here: https://stepfamilycircle.com/high-conflict-ex-tips 

Bill Eddy, of The High Conflict Institute, has some great resources to deal with high-conflict situations - both in blended families and in the workplace. 

Another great resource is Stepmom Magazine - an online publication with the tagline, "Even when it's good, it's complicated."

Please consider rating and reviewing The Stepmom Diaries on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps the show grow and reach more blended families who need honest conversations like this one.

Have you ever felt like you have to be helpful enough, easygoing enough, or needed enough to truly earn your place in your stepfamily? Psychotherapist and bestselling author Terri Cole joins Cameron to explore how a father wound in stepmom life can quietly show up as overfunctioning, people pleasing, resentment, and the belief that everyone else's needs should come before your own.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why high achieving, capable women can still carry a deep worthiness wound

• How overfunctioning and constantly putting yourself last can become your way of trying to belong

• How to tell when a difficult stepfamily situation may also be activating something from your past

• How stepmoms can help children feel seen, valued, and emotionally safe without trying to replace a parent

Terri also shares her own experience becoming a stepmom to three teenage boys and why she believes stepmoms have to stop silently suffering, walking on eggshells, and waiting for someone else to give them permission to matter.

Terri Cole's new book, Father Wound
Learn more and preorder at fatherwoundbook.com. Terri also shares information there about her virtual Father Wound retreat for preorder customers.

Connect with Terri Cole
Find Terri, her work, podcast, upcoming appearances, and more at terricole.com.

Please consider rating and reviewing The Stepmom Diaries on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps the show grow and reach more blended families who need honest conversations like this one.

What happens when you have an ours baby in a blended family and suddenly one child is staying home while their siblings leave for another house?

In this episode of The Stepmom Diaries, Cameron sits down with Morgan Lindahl and Amanda Gonzales, two moms and stepmoms who created a resource specifically for the children in blended families who stay behind when their siblings transition between homes.

Morgan shares how becoming a biological mom changed the way she saw herself as a stepmom and gave her a new perspective on her stepchildren, their mom, and the emotions that come with moving between two homes. Amanda brings both her personal experience and her background as a children's therapist to the conversation, including why predictability and consistency can look very different in a blended family.

They also talk about something that does not get nearly enough attention: what life feels like for an "ours" baby in a blended family when their brothers or sisters leave. For some kids, transition day means suddenly going from a full house to being the only child at home, and those repeated goodbyes can bring some very big feelings.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How having an ours baby can change your identity and confidence as both a mom and stepmom

• Why sibling transitions can be especially emotional for the child who stays behind

• How to create connection and security when blended family schedules are constantly changing

• Why intention and self compassion matter when you cannot make every transition feel easy

Morgan and Amanda also share the story behind their book, How Many More Days?!, which was created to help children process the goodbyes, waiting, and reunions that come with having siblings who live between two homes.

Learn more about Morgan and Amanda's work and Pre-order a copy of the book, How Many More Days?! & get their 25 Transition Day Rituals download for FREE!
Simply add both products to your cart and use the code: STEPMOMDIARIES  https://forthekidswhostay.com 

Follow Amanda & Morgan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forthekidswho.stay/

Get our free Stepmom Scripts Guide with real-life scripts for common stepfamily conversations: https://stepfamilycertification.com/stepmom-scripts

Please consider rating and reviewing The Stepmom Diaries on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps the show grow and reach more blended families who need honest conversations like this one.

When sex starts feeling like one more thing on the to do list, it is easy to assume something is wrong with your relationship. But often, what is happening in the bedroom has a lot more to do with what is happening outside of it.

In this episode, I sit down with marriage coaches and Marriage365 founders Meygan and Casey Caston for an honest conversation about intimacy in marriage, sex, resentment, mismatched desire, and why couples need to actually talk about the things they would rather avoid.

For stepmoms, this conversation hits especially close to home. Blended family life can come with stress, complicated schedules, parenting conflict, emotional exhaustion, and resentment that slowly chips away at connection between partners.

Meygan and Casey share practical ways couples can rebuild trust and intimacy, including why scheduling sex might actually help your relationship instead of hurting the romance.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why intimacy in marriage starts with trust, not sex
• How resentment outside the bedroom can affect connection inside it
• Why scheduling sex can actually create more anticipation and intimacy
• How couples with mismatched sex drives can stop keeping score and start communicating

They also break down their four Fs of a healthy sex life: foreplay, frequency, feelings, and fun, and share a simple way to start a conversation about sex with your partner without making it awkward or confrontational.

If intimacy has started getting pushed to the bottom of the list, this episode is a reminder that connection rarely happens because you magically find the time. Sometimes you have to intentionally make it.

• Check out Marriage365.com

• The Marriage Habit by Meygan and Casey Caston

• Free Resource: 10 Essential Scripts for Stepmoms: https://stepfamilycertification.com/stepmom-scripts

• The Stepmom Diaries Podcast: Ep 96. A Better Marriage Starts With A Better You, with Casey & Megan Caston

Please consider rating and reviewing The Stepmom Diaries on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps the show grow and reach more blended families who need honest conversations like this one.

Have you ever left therapy feeling heard, but not truly understood?

Maybe you were told to be more patient, create more family togetherness, present a united front, or step up and discipline your stepchildren. You followed the advice, and somehow things got even harder.

That does not mean you failed.

In this episode of The Stepmom Diaries, Cameron explains why therapy for stepfamilies can go sideways when professionals apply advice designed for first families to blended families.

Most therapists are not given meaningful training in stepfamily dynamics during graduate school or through continuing education. As a result, even a skilled and caring therapist may be working from the wrong family map.

Cameron breaks down the gap between what research tells us about stepfamilies and what actually reaches the professionals supporting them. She also shares four practical questions you can ask to determine whether a therapist understands how stepfamilies really work.

In this episode, you will learn:

• Why traditional family therapy advice can make stepfamily challenges worse

• How stepfamily relationships develop differently from relationships in first families

• Four questions to ask a therapist about their stepfamily training and approach

• What a healthy and realistic stepparent and stepchild relationship can look like

The goal is not to criticize therapy or convince you to leave a therapist you trust. It is to help you recognize whether your family is receiving advice that reflects the research on stepfamily development.

You are not failing because advice created for a different kind of family did not work for yours. You may simply need a therapist who understands the unique structure, pace, and challenges of stepfamily life.

• Upgrade your bedtime with Cozy Earth's temperature-regulating bamboo sheets and pajamas, and use code STEPMOMDIARIES at CozyEarth.com for up to 20% off.
• Patricia Papernow's research and clinical work on stepfamily development
• Todd Jensen's research on stepfamilies and the gap between research and professional practice
• Patricia Papernow's clinical book for professionals working with stepfamilies
• Stepfamily Solutions and its evidence-based approach to stepfamily coaching
• Ready to feel less alone in your stepfamily journey? Join thousands of stepmoms at the FREE 2026 Stepmom Summit for expert advice, real conversations, and practical tools to help you thrive: https://thestepmomsummit.com/

When you became a stepmom, you probably expected your life to change.

What you may not have expected was how easy it would be to lose yourself in the process.

Between navigating stepfamily dynamics, supporting your partner, caring for children, managing schedules, and trying to keep the peace, many stepmoms quietly put their own dreams, interests, and identity on hold.

In this episode, Cameron sits down with former Apple executive, creator of Whole Wellness Mamas, and speaker Amy Nesbitt to explore how curiosity can become one of the most powerful tools for rediscovering yourself. Rather than making massive life changes, Amy shares how small "experiments" can help you reconnect with the person you've always been—and maybe even discover someone new.

They also discuss how curiosity can improve marriages, strengthen relationships with stepchildren, reduce conflict, and help blended families communicate with more empathy.

• Why so many stepmoms lose their identity after joining a blended family

• How curiosity helps you reconnect with yourself

• The power of tiny experiments instead of overwhelming life changes

• Practical ways to make time for yourself without guilt

• Simple ways to connect with your stepchildren through shared experiences

• How curiosity can reduce conflict in stepfamily dynamics

Whether you've been a stepmom for six months or sixteen years, this conversation will remind you that rediscovering yourself doesn't require changing your entire life- it simply begins with being curious.

• Learn more about Amy Nesbitt: https://wholewellnessmamas.com

• Follow Amy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wholewellnessmamas

• This Japanese American Life YouTube Channel

• Amy Reads YouTube Channel

• Join the waitlist for The Stepmom Summit:
https://thestepmomsummit.com 

• Free Resource: Download our 10 Essential Scripts for Stepmoms
https://stepfamilycertification.com/stepmom-scripts 

Please consider rating and reviewing The Stepmom Diaries on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps the show grow and reach more blended families who need honest conversations like this one.

Finding your stepmom identity can feel overwhelming, especially when you are trying to figure out where you fit in your blended family. Bestselling author Amy Porterfield knows that feeling well. Long before she became one of the world's most recognized business educators, she was learning the same lessons so many stepmoms face today.

In this candid conversation, Amy opens up about the emotional journey of discovering her stepmom identity. She shares what it was like trying to earn her stepson's love, the pressure she felt to be the "perfect" stepmom, and the moment she realized she did not need to replace his mom to build a meaningful relationship.

If you have ever questioned your place in your blended family or wondered whether you are doing enough, this episode will remind you that your stepmom identity is not something you earn. It is something you grow into over time.

• Why developing your stepmom identity takes time and why that is completely normal.

• How to build a meaningful relationship with your stepchildren without trying to replace their mom.

• Why perfectionism keeps so many stepmoms from feeling confident in their role.

• How embracing your unique place in your blended family leads to stronger relationships.

• Amy Porterfield

• Get your copy of Two Weeks Notice

• The Amy Porterfield Show podcast 

• Ready to feel less alone in your stepfamily journey? Join thousands of stepmoms at the FREE 2026 Stepmom Summit for expert advice, real conversations, and practical tools to help you thrive: https://thestepmomsummit.com/ 

• Free Resource: 10 Essential Scripts for Stepmoms: https://stepfamilycertification.com/stepmom-scripts

Please consider rating and reviewing The Stepmom Diaries on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps the show grow and reach more blended families who need honest conversations like this one.

One day your stepchild is excited to see you and your spouse... and the next they're distant, angry, or refusing visits altogether.

Is it normal family conflict? Is it the stress of divorce? Or could it be parental alienation?

In this episode, Cameron sits down with internationally recognized researcher and author Amy J.L. Baker, PhD, to unpack one of the most misunderstood topics in divorce and blended families. Together, they discuss what parental alienation really is, how it differs from legitimate estrangement, and what parents and stepparents should know if they suspect someone is interfering with a child's relationship with the other parent.

Dr. Baker also explains her evidence-based Five-Factor Model, common parental alienation strategies, and how stepparents can support their partner without making an already difficult situation worse.

• What parental alienation actually is, and what it isn't

• The difference between alienation and justified estrangement

• The Five-Factor Model used to identify parental alienation

• Common strategies that can damage a parent-child relationship

If this episode encouraged or helped you, please share it with another stepmom, parent, or blended family who may need to hear this conversation.

Amy J.L. Baker, PhD: https://www.amyjlbaker.com/ 

Adult Children of Parental Alienation Syndrome by Amy J.L. Baker

Ready to feel less alone in your stepfamily journey? Join thousands of stepmoms at the FREE 2026 Stepmom Summit for expert advice, real conversations, and practical tools to help you thrive: https://thestepmomsummit.com/ 

Free Resource: 10 Essential Scripts for Stepmoms: https://stepfamilycertification.com/stepmom-scripts

Please consider rating and reviewing The Stepmom Diaries on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps the show grow and reach more blended families who need honest conversations like this one.

Are you the one tracking the dentist appointments, school forms, birthday gifts, custody schedules, groceries, and all the details everyone else seems to forget?

That invisible work has a name: the mental load.

In this episode of The Stepmom Diaries, I'm sharing my conversation with Eve Rodsky, New York Times bestselling author of Fair Play and Find Your Unicorn Space. We talk about the mental load in blended families and why so many stepmoms feel exhausted from carrying invisible labor no one else sees.

This conversation is honest, validating, and so needed for stepmoms who feel like they are holding everything together behind the scenes.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why stepmoms often carry the invisible labor

• How the mental load shows up differently in blended families

• Why boundaries and communication have to come before systems

• The real antidote to burnout

Resources Mentioned

Fair Play by Eve Rodsky

Find Your Unicorn Space by Eve Rodsky

Fair Play Cards

Follow Eve on Instagram

Get our free Stepmom Scripts Guide with real-life scripts for common stepfamily conversations: https://stepfamilycertification.com/stepmom-scripts

Get on the waitlist for The Stepmom Summit happening September 14th-18th, 2026!

Love The Stepmom Diaries? Please rate and review the podcast on Apple or Spotify. Your support helps us reach more blended families who need honest conversations like this one.

We've all been there.

Someone makes a comment about being a stepmom that they probably mean well... but it still stings.

"You knew what you were getting into."
"At least you get a break."
"They're not really your kids."

In the moment, it's hard to know what to say. Later, you think of the perfect response.

This listener-favorite replay is packed with practical, gracious ways to respond to some of the most common (and frustrating) comments stepmoms hear—while also helping friends and family better understand the realities of blended family life.

Whether you're new to your stepfamily or years into the journey, this episode will help you navigate these awkward conversations with confidence and compassion.

• Why "You knew what you were getting into" misses the reality of stepfamily life

• Thoughtful responses to common stepmom comments

• How to respond to friends and family without becoming defensive

• Ways to protect your peace while building stronger relationships

If this episode encourages you, please share it with another stepmom who needs the reminder that she's not alone.

Grab our FREE "10 Essential Scripts for Stepmoms": https://stepfamilycertification.com/stepmom-scripts

Please consider rating and reviewing The Stepmom Diaries on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps the show grow and reach more blended families who need honest conversations like this one.

Have you ever realized that the things that make a family look different on the outside don't change what matters most on the inside?

In this episode, I sit down with Jaimie Kelton and José Rolón to talk about LGBTQ families, parenting, belonging, and the many ways families are built. From infertility and surrogacy to stepfamily dynamics and family acceptance, we explore the challenges and joys of creating a family that may not fit society's traditional expectations.

What stood out most in this conversation is how much LGBTQ families and blended families have in common. The desire to love, connect, belong, and create a safe home for our children is universal.

In this episode, we cover:

• The unique paths many LGBTQ families take to parenthood
• Why representation and visibility matter for kids and families
• The double standards faced by stepmoms, stepdads, and modern families
• How to teach children about different family structures with openness and acceptance

If this episode resonates with you, share it with a friend and help us continue creating conversations that celebrate all kinds of families.

Resources Mentioned

Follow Love Take Two Podcast

The Queer Family Podcast

Follow José Rolón on Instagram @NYCGayDad

https://www.instagram.com/thequeerfamilypodcast/

Get our free Stepmom Scripts Guide with real-life scripts for common stepfamily conversations: https://stepfamilycertification.com/stepmom-scripts

Love The Stepmom Diaries?

Please consider rating and reviewing The Stepmom Diaries on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Your support helps us reach more blended families looking for practical guidance, validation, and encouragement.

Ever feel like your stepkids are living in two completely different worlds? The rules change from house to house, expectations don't always match, and somehow everyone expects the kids to make sense of it all.

In this episode, I sit down with researcher, professor, stepmom, and former stepchild Bailey Oliver Blackburn, PhD to discuss new research on co-parenting with different values and what happens when children are navigating two households with very different beliefs, expectations, and parenting styles.

Bailey shares insights from a recent study exploring how co-parents manage divergent values, the impact on children, and the communication strategies that help families reduce conflict and support kids without forcing them to choose sides.

• What happens when children are raised across households with different values and beliefs
• The surprising challenges families reported beyond politics and religion
• How parents can discuss values without putting kids in loyalty binds
• Why high-conflict co-parenting and parallel parenting deserve more research

If you've ever wondered how to protect your relationship with your stepkids while navigating differences between households, this conversation offers practical insights and plenty of reassurance that you're not alone.

Bailey Oliver Blackburn: https://www.baileyoliverblackburn.com

UA Little Rock Department of Applied Communication: https://ualr.edu/appliedcommunication/

Get our FREE 10 Essential Scripts for Stepmoms and get the exact words for your toughest stepmom conversations! https://stepfamilycertification.com/stepmom-scripts 

Join the waitlist for our free Stepmom Summit happening virtually September 14th-18th, 2026: https://thestepmomsummit.com/ 

Please consider rating and reviewing the show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Your support helps us reach more stepmoms and blended families who need these conversations.

Ever feel like you're carrying everyone else's responsibilities while somehow still feeling like you're failing? Yeah... you're not alone.

In this episode, I'm chatting with organizational expert and Escaping Quicksand author Lisa Woodruff to talk about why so many overwhelmed stepmoms feel like they're drowning, even when they're doing everything right.

We dive into the invisible load many women carry, the unique challenge of having responsibility without control in a blended family, and practical ways to create more peace, structure, and boundaries in your daily life.

• Why stepmoms often feel responsible for everything but in control of very little

• The invisible mental load that contributes to stepmom burnout

• How weekly planning conversations can reduce stress and resentment

• Simple ways to reclaim control and prioritize your own self-care

• Get Lisa's book Escaping Quicksand: https://escapingquicksand.com

• Organize 365: Practical organization systems, planning tools, and resources designed to help busy women reduce overwhelm and create a more functional home and life.

• Connect with Lisa on LinkedIn: Follow Lisa Woodruff for insights on organization, productivity, household management, and personal development.

• Follow Organize 365 on Instagram

• Get our free Stepmom Scripts Guide with real-life scripts for common stepfamily conversations: https://stepfamilycertification.com/stepmom-scripts

Love The Stepmom Diaries?

Please consider rating and reviewing the show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Your support helps us reach more blended families who need these conversations.

"You knew what you signed up for."

If you're a stepmom, chances are you've heard that phrase before. Maybe it's, "At least you get every other week off." Or, "Why do you care so much? They're not your kids." And if you're anything like me, those comments don't just annoy you. They stick with you.

In this episode, I'm unpacking some of the worst things people say to stepmoms, why these comments hurt so much, and how to stop letting other people's opinions define your role in your family. We'll talk about the hidden emotional load many stepmoms carry, the unique challenges of stepfamily life, and what to do when someone completely misses the reality of what you're experiencing.

• Why comments like "You knew what you signed up for" feel so invalidating

• The hidden emotional load and role ambiguity many stepmoms carry

• What to say when someone misunderstands your role in the family

• How to build confidence in your place within your blended family

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stepfamilysolutions/

Check out the 5-part series I did on "Things People Say to Stepmoms" HERE

Get our free Stepmom Scripts Guide with real-life scripts for common stepfamily conversations: https://stepfamilycertification.com/stepmom-scripts

Join us at The Stepmom Retreat in Florida | Nov. 6–8, 2026: [https://stepfamilycircle.com/retreat] A weekend for stepmoms who are tired of feeling alone in this role and ready for real connection, support, and growth: 

Love The Stepmom Diaries? Please consider rating and reviewing The Stepmom Diaries on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps the show grow and reach more blended families who need honest conversations like this one.

Anybody else look at the summer custody schedule and immediately feel their eye start twitching? 😅

In this episode, we're talking about why summer hits so differently in a blended family and why so many stepmoms head into this season already feeling overwhelmed, resentful, and exhausted before it even begins.

From schedule changes and camp logistics to vacation drama and invisible labor, summer can bring out every existing stress point in stepfamily life. But you are not powerless in it.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why summer creates so much stress for stepmoms

• The hidden mental load many stepmoms carry during this season

• How to protect your peace instead of trying to make summer "perfect"

• Simple communication and boundary strategies that actually help

If summer in your blended family already feels chaotic before it's even started, this episode will help you feel less alone and a whole lot more prepared.

Resources we mentioned in this episode:

Get our free Stepmom Scripts Guide with real-life scripts for common stepfamily conversations: https://stepfamilycertification.com/stepmom-scripts

Learn more about Stepfamily Coach Academy: [https://stepfamilycertification.com/]

The Stepmom Retreat: [https://stepfamilycircle.com/retreat]

Blending a family is hard. Blending a family with three teenagers? Absolute chaos sometimes. 😅

In this episode, I'm talking with Ashley Noelle, creator of Blended Bond, about the small communication shift that completely changed the way her blended family connected.

Ashley shares what it was really like bringing together two completely different households (a structured mother-daughter home and a loud, sports-heavy boy house) and how trying to make everything "perfect" actually created more pressure for everyone.

This conversation is honest, emotional, and incredibly validating for any stepmom who feels like she's trying so hard to hold everything together while still figuring it out herself.

Inside this episode:

• Why "How was your day?" often stops working with stepkids and teens
• The simple question that helped lower tension in their home almost immediately
• What kids in blended families may be silently carrying emotionally
• Why trying to be the "perfect stepmom" usually backfires
• Small ways to create more connection without forcing it

One of my favorite parts of this conversation is the reminder that blended families don't need perfection to feel connected. Sometimes the biggest breakthroughs happen when everyone feels safe enough to be honest.

• Blended Bond Conversation Cards: [https://blendedbond.com/]

• Follow Ashley + Blended Bond on Instagram: [https://www.instagram.com/theblendedbond/]

• Get our free Stepmom Scripts Guide with real-life scripts for common stepfamily conversations: https://stepfamilycertification.com/stepmom-scripts

Love The Stepmom Diaries? Please rate and review the podcast on Apple or Spotify. Your support helps us reach more blended families who need honest conversations like this one.

Ever felt like stepmom life isn't what you expected- and no matter how hard you try, you're carrying a weight you can't quite explain? If you've felt resentment, guilt, or even questioned your choices, this episode will hit home.

In this episode, we're joined by Rachel Dunne, licensed counselor, certified stepfamily coach, and founder of Spiritual Stepmom. Rachel shares her personal journey into stepmotherhood and opens up about the stepmom grief no one talks about- the hidden sense of loss, emotional overwhelm, and internal conflict that so many women experience but rarely say out loud. She also brings her clinical expertise to help stepmoms understand what's really happening beneath the surface- and how to begin healing.

Key takeaways from this episode:

• The stepmom grief no one talks about- and why it's completely normal

• How resentment and emotional shutdown happen when grief goes unprocessed

• Why stepfamily life triggers loss- not just love

• How repair (not perfection) can actually strengthen your relationship with your stepkids 

If you've ever thought, "This is harder than I expected," or felt alone in your experience as a stepmom, this episode will remind you- you're not broken, and you're definitely not the only one.

Resources Mentioned:

• Rachel Dunne Coaching: https://racheldunnecoaching.com

• Follow Rachel on Instagram: @spiritualstepmom

• Get our free Stepmom Scripts Guide with real-life scripts for common stepfamily conversations: https://stepfamilycertification.com/stepmom-scripts

Please consider rating and reviewing The Stepmom Diaries on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps the show grow and reach more blended families who need honest conversations like this one.

If Mother's Day feels more painful than joyful as a stepmom… you're not alone.

While everyone else is celebrating, many stepmoms are left feeling unseen, unacknowledged, or unsure where they fit. In this episode, Cameron Normand breaks down why Mother's Day for stepmoms can feel so heavy—and reminds you that it's not because you're doing anything wrong.

More importantly, you'll walk away with a simple, empowering plan to help you navigate the day with more clarity, confidence, and peace.

• Why Mother's Day hits differently in blended families

• The hidden grief and expectation gap stepmoms experience

• The truth about validation (and why it's not a measure of your worth)

• A simple plan to take back control of your Mother's Day

You deserve to feel seen—on Mother's Day and every day.
Hit play to go into this year feeling supported, grounded, and a little less alone.

•  

  Get our free Stepmom Scripts Guide with real-life scripts for common stepfamily conversations: https://stepfamilycertification.com/stepmom-scripts 

• Want to join us where you can take the time to find yourself again? Get on the waitlist for The Stepmom Retreat happening Nov. 6-8, 2026 in Siesta Key, Florida!

Please consider rating and reviewing The Stepmom Diaries on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps the show grow and reach more blended families who need honest conversations like this one.

Have you ever felt like you've lost yourself somewhere along the way in stepmotherhood—and no matter how hard you try, you can't quite find your way back? If you've been holding it all together on the outside but feeling overwhelmed, resentful, or invisible on the inside… this episode will hit deep.

In this episode, we're joined by Christina Nelson, host of the Radical Stepmoms Podcast and a leading voice in honest, unfiltered conversations about stepmom life. Together, we dive into the stepmom identity crisis so many women experience, and what it really takes to be a stepmom without losing yourself in the process.

Key takeaways from this episode:

• Why so many stepmoms feel like they've lost themselves (and why it's more common than you think)

• The hidden emotional load of stepmotherhood no one talks about

• How to start reclaiming your identity without guilt or burnout

• The role boundaries play in protecting your peace and your relationship

• A powerful reframe that helps you show up as yourself—not just "the stepmom"

If you're tired of feeling like you're disappearing in your own life and ready to feel like you again, this is an episode you don't want to miss.

• Radical Stepmoms Podcast: Hosted by Christina with raw, honest conversations about stepmom life and blended family dynamics

• Get our free Stepmom Scripts Guide with real-life scripts for common stepfamily conversations: https://stepfamilycertification.com/stepmom-scripts

Please consider rating and reviewing The Stepmom Diaries on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps the show grow and reach more blended families who need honest conversations like this one.

Do you feel like your stepkids keep pushing you away, no matter how hard you try? In this episode, we're talking about rejection, emotional distance, teenage stepkids, and the painful reality many stepmoms face when connection in blended family life feels one-sided.

I'm joined by Mindy Kyle, Certified Parenting with Purpose and Certified Stepfamily Coach, who has spent more than 16 years helping stepmoms navigate boundaries, burnout, and complicated family dynamics. Together, we unpack what's really happening during the teen years- and why forcing connection often creates even more distance.

Key takeaways from this episode:

• Why stepteens pull away (and why it's not always personal)

• The hidden pressure stepmoms put on themselves to "fix" the relationship

• How your emotional energy impacts connection more than constant effort

• A powerful mindset shift that helps stepmoms stop chasing connection and start building it naturally

If you've been feeling hurt, rejected, or emotionally exhausted trying to connect with your stepteen, this conversation will remind you that you're not alone, and that a healthier connection is still possible.

• Learn more about everything Mindy offers HERE

• Follow Mindy on on Instagram and TikTok

• Want to work with Cameron? Click Here

• Check out our YouTube channel where we share real-life stepfamily dynamics, expert advice, and practical tools you can actually use. Plus, you can watch full behind-the-scenes video episodes of the podcast. Subscribe and join us! 

•  

  Get our free Stepmom Scripts Guide with real-life scripts for common stepfamily conversations: https://stepfamilycertification.com/stepmom-scripts 

Please consider rating and reviewing The Stepmom Diaries on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps the show grow and reach more blended families who need honest conversations like this one.

Most stepmoms have a will. Almost none of them have a plan.
And in a blended family, that gap can cost your stepkids their inheritance- or even cost you your home.

Tara Yukawa- certified executor advisor, author, and stepdaughter- joins Cameron for a conversation that's equal parts wake-up call and practical roadmap. After navigating loss in her own blended family, Tara now helps others avoid the chaos, confusion, and conflict that happens when planning falls short.

In this episode, she breaks down what actually happens when there's no plan- and how to make sure every child is protected.

Key takeaways from this episode:

• Without a proper plan, stepchildren can legally inherit part of your home- and even force its sale

• "Everything goes to my spouse" can unintentionally disinherit your biological children

• A will alone isn't enough- you need a full plan (including trust and powers of attorney) to truly protect your family

Resources shared:

• Tara Yukawa's Website

• Free Newsletter from Tara

• Before It's Too Late by Tara Yukawa 

• Check out our YouTube channel where we share real-life stepfamily dynamics, expert advice, and practical tools you can actually use. Plus, you can watch full behind-the-scenes video episodes of the podcast. Subscribe and join us! 

Please consider rating and reviewing The Stepmom Diaries on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps the show grow and reach more blended families who need honest conversations like this one.

Transition days can be tough in any blended family, but when ADHD is part of the picture, they can feel even more overwhelming. In this episode, ADHD expert and stepmom Jennie Anderson joins the conversation to explain why kids with ADHD often struggle with moving between households and how stepmoms can help create more stability. You'll learn how emotional dysregulation, rejection sensitivity, and loyalty binds show up for these kids, and what you can do to support them without making things worse. If transitions in your stepfamily often feel tense or unpredictable, this episode will give you practical ways to help kids feel safer and more regulated.

In This Episode You'll Learn:
• Why transitions between homes can feel especially overwhelming for kids with ADHD
• How predictable routines can help reduce stress and support emotional regulation
• Why rejection sensitivity and loyalty binds can shape a child's behavior in blended families

Resources Mentioned:

• Grab this free guided planner from Jennie to help you get things done! [https://resources.thehouseofher.com/sprintplanner]

• House of Her [https://www.adhdsociety.co/house-of-her]: Jennie Anderson's program for women navigating ADHD with education and support

• ADHD Redefined [https://www.instagram.com/adhdredefined/]: Jennie Anderson's Instagram account for ADHD resources and education

Please consider rating and reviewing The Stepmom Diaries on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps the show grow and reach more blended families who need honest conversations like this one.

When kids live in two households, education decisions can get complicated fast! 

In this episode, Houlie Duque, former teacher and founder of Homeschool to Go, shares a fresh perspective on how families can rethink learning when co-parenting is part of the picture. As both a biomom and stepmom raising kids in a blended family, Houlie brings real-life insight into how parents can create flexible education plans that support children across two homes. From navigating co-parenting dynamics to designing learning around a child's strengths, this conversation explores what it really looks like to prioritize a child's growth in a blended family. If you've ever wondered how education decisions work when multiple parents are involved, this episode will open your mind to what's possible.

In This Episode You'll Learn:

• How blended families can approach education decisions across two households
• Creative ways co-parents can divide responsibilities while supporting their child
• Why adaptability and communication are key when raising kids in blended families

Resources Mentioned:

• Homeschool to Go [https://www.homeschooltogo.org/] An organization that helps families design personalized education plans tailored to each child and family structure

• Free Homeschool Masterclass (Homeschool to Go) [https://courses.homeschooltogo.org/freemasterclass-registration]  A 30-minute class explaining how parents can explore alternative education options

• Houlie Duque Instagram  [https://www.instagram.com/houlieduque/] sharing education insights and parenting perspectives

• Stepfamily Solutions [https://stepfamilysolutions.com/] Your single source of support for building and blending a thriving stepfamily

• Subscribe to the Stepfamily Solutions YouTube channel- your go-to resource for blended family life, where we're constantly dropping new videos packed with expert interviews, full podcast episodes, and everything you need whether you're navigating stepfamily life or thinking about becoming a certified stepfamily coach!

Please consider rating and reviewing The Stepmom Diaries on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps the show grow and reach more blended families who need honest conversations like this one.

What if your stepchild isn't rejecting you… but protecting someone else?

In this episode, I'm sitting down with the incredible Barb Goldberg: coach, author, podcaster, and stepmom to talk about one of the most misunderstood (and painful) dynamics in blended families: the loyalty bind.

If you've ever felt hurt, dismissed, or completely invisible as a stepmom, this conversation is for you. Because when kids feel torn between mom and stepmom, it can show up as distance, attitude, silence, or even outright rejection - and it's easy to take that personally.

But often? It's not about you.

• What the loyalty bind in blended families actually is - and how it quietly shapes your relationship with your stepkids

• Why the teenage brain reacts from emotion and survival (and why kids often don't even remember the hurtful things they say)

• How stepmoms get stuck in emotional trigger loops - and how to calm your nervous system and break the cycle

• Why stepmotherhood is a long game - and how kids often grow up, gain perspective, and sometimes even come back around

We also talk honestly about the things stepmoms don't always say out loud - the crying in closets, the normalization of disrespect, and the cultural pressure to "just love them like your own."

This episode offers compassion for kids navigating divorce and blended family dynamics - but it also offers deep validation for stepmoms who are carrying emotional burnout in silence.

• The Evil Stepmother Speaks is a compassionate and empowering resource for stepmothers navigating the complex world of blended families with Barb Goldberg.

• Follow Barb on Instagram & Facebook

• Stepfamily Circle Membership – A supportive community for stepmoms who want help navigating conversations with stepkids, partners, and exes - without losing themselves in the process. Inside, you'll find coaching, real-life examples, and space to practice these conversations so you're not guessing anymore.

Please consider rating and reviewing The Stepmom Diaries on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps the show grow and reach more blended families who need honest conversations like this one.

AI isn't "coming." It's already here - in your kids' phones, in their homework, in their group chats, and maybe even in your marriage.

And most stepmoms have no idea how deeply it's shaping their blended family dynamics.

If you've brushed off AI as a tech trend or something you'll figure out later, this episode may completely shift your perspective. Because the reality is: kids are already using it, adults are turning to it for emotional support, and families are navigating new territory without even realizing it.

In this powerful conversation, I sit down with Sarah Dooley, founder of AI Empowered Mom, to unpack what AI is really doing inside modern families - and how stepmoms can respond proactively instead of reactively. With nearly two decades in tech- including leading AI initiatives at Visa, Sarah brings both corporate expertise and real-life mom experience to this rapidly changing conversation.

In Today's Episode, We're Talking About:

• The surprising statistics about how many kids are already using AI - and why parents can't afford to ignore it

• How AI relationships are showing up in marriages, therapy spaces, and teen lives (and the boundaries families need to discuss)

• Why AI is not private - and what every parent should know before sharing personal information

• Practical ways stepmoms can use AI right now to reduce your mental load

This episode isn't about replacing human connection. It's about using technology intentionally - so you're not left behind, your kids are safer, and your mental load is lighter.

If you've been hesitant, skeptical, or quietly curious about AI, this conversation will help you feel more informed, more confident, and more equipped to navigate this new reality inside your blended family.

• Check out Sarah's free private, 3-part mini podcast series with step-by-step instructions for using AI to reduce your mental load. 

• Stepfamily Circle Membership – A supportive community for stepmoms who want help navigating conversations with stepkids, partners, and exes - without losing themselves in the process. Inside, you'll find coaching, real-life examples, and space to practice these conversations so you're not guessing anymore.

Please consider rating and reviewing The Stepmom Diaries on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps the show grow and reach more blended families who need honest conversations like this one.

The Stepmom Diaries is officially on YouTube! Head over to @stepfamilysolutions for full video episodes, expert interviews, and bonus content you won't find anywhere else — subscribe so you never miss a thing.

The fastest way to experience stepmom burnout from trying to prove she belongs? Over-functioning in a family that was already functioning before you arrived.

High-capacity stepmoms don't come in weak. They come in capable. Responsible. Strong. And quietly determined to earn their seat at the table.

But what happens when proving your worth slowly turns into resentment… exhaustion… and losing yourself?

In this I chat with decision coach and author Jessica Frew to unpack how stepmom burnout from trying to prove she belongs nearly cost Jessica her marriage - and how setting one boundary at a time changed everything.

Jessica shares her powerful blended family story, including why she left her marriage one year in… and what brought her back with a completely different mindset.

If you're a high-functioning stepmom who feels like you're carrying everyone's emotional weight, are afraid to look "selfish" by setting boundaries, or are just quietly questioning whether you can keep doing this…then this episode will help you finally put language to what you've been living.

In Today's Episode, We're Talking About:

• Why stepmom burnout from trying to prove she belongs is so common

• The emotional cost of over-functioning in a blended family

• Why you are not the main character in your stepkids' story - and why that's freeing

• The subtle ways resentment builds when you sacrifice yourself to prove your value

• How to set one boundary at a time without blowing up your marriage

• The difference between strength and self-abandonment

This episode isn't about walking away.
It's about walking back to yourself.

Because protecting your peace isn't selfish - it's foundational.

If you've been trying to earn your place instead of simply standing in it, this conversation will help you reset.

Resources Mentioned

• Shove Your Shoulds by Jessica Frew [https://shoveyourshoulds.com/freebook]  A powerful guide to identifying the invisible "shoulds" driving your decisions and releasing the ones that aren't serving you.

• Stepfamily Circle Membership [https://stepfamilycircle.com]  A supportive community for stepmoms navigating blended family dynamics without losing themselves in the process.

• If you've lived the blended family journey and ever wondered if your experience could help someone else, this one's for you- I'm hosting a free webinar on how to turn your stepfamily experience into a paid coaching path, even if you've never coached before. Grab your spot at [https://stepfamilysolutions.com/becomeacoach]

Please consider rating and reviewing The Stepmom Diaries on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps the show grow and reach more blended families who need honest conversations like this one.

Have you ever wondered why being a stepmom feels so much heavier than you expected-like no matter what you do, it still doesn't feel like enough? If social media leaves you questioning yourself or you're constantly comparing your stepmom life to impossible standards, this episode is going to feel very familiar.

In this episode, I'm joined by Tara Clark, creator of Modern Mom Probs, to talk about stepmom pressure and comparison, why burnout is so common in blended families, and how unrealistic motherhood narratives make stepmomming even harder. We unpack why this pressure isn't personal, how misinformation thrives online, and what stepmoms actually need instead of more "do it all" advice.

• Why social media comparison hits stepmoms especially hard

• How unrealistic expectations fuel stepmom burnout (and why it's not your fault)

• A lower-pressure way to show up as a safe adult for kids in a scary, noisy world

• Why stepmoms deserve evidence-based guidance, not loud, fear-driven advice

If you're tired of feeling like you're falling short and ready to feel more grounded in your role as a stepmom, this conversation offers relief, validation, and perspective.

• Modern Mom Probs

• Modern Mom Probs Podcast

• Modern Mom Probs: A Survival Guide for 21st Century Mothers by Tara Clark

Love The Stepmom Diaries?
Please consider rating and reviewing The Stepmom Diaries on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Your support helps the show reach more stepmoms who need honest, supportive conversations like this one.

Have you ever tried to connect with your stepkids, only to feel like everything you say somehow makes things worse? If conversations keep blowing up - or you're walking on eggshells trying not to mess things up - this episode is going to hit close to home.

We're breaking down how to communicate with your stepkids in a way that builds trust instead of triggering shutdowns, power struggles, or rejection - and why so much of the advice stepmoms are given actually makes things harder.

• Why connection has to come before correction - and how discipline too early can backfire

• The most common communication mistakes stepmoms make (and why they lead to pushback)

• What to say when your stepkid says something that cuts deep, like "you're not my mom"

• How to approach conversations differently with younger kids vs. teens so they feel safe, not pressured

• Stepfamily Circle Membership – A supportive community for stepmoms who want help navigating conversations with stepkids, partners, and exes - without losing themselves in the process. Inside, you'll find coaching, real-life examples, and space to practice these conversations so you're not guessing anymore.

Please consider rating and reviewing The Stepmom Diaries on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps the show grow and reach more blended families who need honest conversations like this one.

If January already feels heavy…

 if you're tired of trying to feel hopeful... 

or if you're sitting there thinking, "What is wrong with me?" this episode is for you. 

January can be hard for stepmoms. And there's a reason no one talks about it.

• Why January hits so hard for stepmoms

• Why the 'try harder' culture and first family advice miss the mark - especially this time of year

• The patterns that come up every January

• What not to do in January if you're a stepmom

• How to reframe what's actually happening

• For Stepmoms: Join the Stepfamily Circle for scripts, strategies, and community support

• For Aspiring Coaches: Learn how to help families navigate these dynamics with wisdom and expertise at stepfamilysolutions.com/stepfamily-certification

If this hit home for you, please share it with another stepmom who needs to hear it. Post it in that Facebook group where everyone's struggling with the same thing. Send it to that friend who's been texting you about her partner not getting it.

The more we talk about this stuff openly, the more we normalize the struggle, and the more stepmoms realize they're not alone and they're not crazy.

Please consider rating and reviewing the show! It will help me reach more stepmoms just like you who need this support. Just click HERE and scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "write a review." Then just let me know what you like best!

And the best part about leaving a review? If you send me a screenshot of your review, I'll send YOU my 20-minute Stepmom Self-Care Blueprint. For FREE. It's normally $49 and it's a great tool to quickly set up a self-care plan you'll actually use. Just head HERE to send me your screenshot and grab your blueprint!

• Website: stepfamilysolutions.com

• Instagram: @stepfamilysolutions

• TikTok: @stepfamilysolutions

"My husband is an idiot."

That's what a stepmom said to me recently - not once, but multiple times. But behind those words? A mountain of hurt, exhaustion, and feeling completely alone in her own home.

If you've ever felt like you're carrying everything by yourself while your partner seems checked out, dismissive, or just doesn't get it - this episode is for you.

I'm diving deep into what "he doesn't have my back" really means, why it's about so much more than just everyday disagreements, and most important - what you can actually do about it before resentment poisons everything.

This isn't just a communication problem. It's about feeling invisible in your own home. It's about partnership (or the lack of it). And it's time we talk about it.

• What "he doesn't have my back" REALLY means (hint: it's not just about the kids' behavior)
• Why your partner might genuinely not see what you're seeing
• How resentment becomes a marriage emergency disguised as a stepfamily issue
• The vulnerable conversation that can change everything
• What to do when he won't engage (and how to know your bottom line)
• Why generic therapy advice can make stepfamily dynamics worse
• For coaches: Why this will be a top issue in your practice

• For Stepmoms: Join the Stepfamily Circle for scripts, strategies, and community support 
• For Aspiring Coaches: Learn how to help families navigate these dynamics with wisdom and expertise at stepfamilysolutions.com/stepfamily-certification

If this hit home for you, please share it with another stepmom who needs to hear it. Post it in that Facebook group where everyone's struggling with the same thing. Send it to that friend who's been texting you about her partner not getting it.

The more we talk about this stuff openly, the more we normalize the struggle, and the more stepmoms realize they're not alone and they're not crazy.

Please consider rating and reviewing the show! It will help me reach more stepmoms just like you who need this support. Just click HERE and scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "write a review." Then just let me know what you like best!

And the best part about leaving a review? If you send me a screenshot of your review, I'll send YOU my 20-minute Stepmom Self-Care Blueprint. For FREE. It's normally $49 and it's a great tool to quickly set up a self-care plan you'll actually use. Just head HERE to send me your screenshot and grab your blueprint!

• Website: stepfamilysolutions.com
• Instagram: @stepfamilysolutions
• TikTok: @stepfamilysolutions

You're not broken. You're overwhelmed.

This episode is for those moments when you're trying so hard to keep it together, but inside you're screaming. The mental load is crushing you, your patience is hanging by a thread, and even the dog's breathing feels like too much . . . 

If that rings a bell, let me reassure you that no, you're not broken. You're just overwhelmed. And there are tools to help you manage your stress.

This week, I'm joined by licensed therapist and coach Kristin Cogan for a conversation every stepmom (and honestly, every woman) needs. We're diving into the truth about "mom overwhelm:" what it is, why it hits so hard in blended families, and how mindfulness can help you interrupt the spiral before it swallows you whole.

This is the kind of episode you'll want to save and come back to - especially on the days when you feel like disappearing into the bathroom for a week.

ABOUT KRISTIN:
Kristin Cogan, MA, LPC, is a licensed therapist, coach, and mom of five based in Texas who helps high-achieving, overwhelmed moms break free from the cycle of stress and self-doubt so they can feel confident, calm, and in control again. With a down-to-earth approach and over a decade of experience, Kristin empowers women to stop surviving and start thriving - on their terms.

Learn more about Kristin at imperfectlywonderful.com 
Follow her on Instagram: @imperfectlywonderfulmotherhood

If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show. It will help me reach more stepmoms just like you so they can get MORE out of stepmom life! It's super easy – all you have to do is click HERE and scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "write a review." Then just let me know what you like best!

And the best part about leaving a review? If you send me a screenshot of your review, I'll send YOU my 20-minute Stepmom Self-Care Blueprint. For FREE. It's normally $49 and it's a great tool to quickly set up a self-care plan you'll actually use. Just head HERE to send me your screenshot and grab your blueprint!

• Website: stepfamilysolutions.com
• Instagram: @stepfamilysolutions
• TikTok: @stepfamilysolutions

What if you could take that familiar whisper of "You don't quite belong" and give it the heave-ho?

Picture this: at your stepdaughter's sorority Parents Weekend, everyone's wearing their "sorority mom" pins . . . everyone but you. That familiar whisper starts: "I wonder if they notice I don't belong here." But then something incredible happens: you pause, breathe, and choose a different thought. This episode is about that moment - how triggers that used to wreck you now don't have to.

You know what I'm talking about: It can be the smallest, most seemingly-insignificant moments that hits stepmoms where we're most vulnerable and surfaces our deepest insecurities. And then before we know it, we embark on the mental gymnastics of analyzing every interaction to verify our assumptions that we have, in fact, been rejected - or that we are, in fact, inadequate . . . and we spiral. Sound familiar?

But what if we didn't have to go down that rabbithole of doubt? What if we could catch ourselves in that moment and choose to focus on what's actually true? I'll talk you through how to do just that so next time you can change your experience. And your stepfamily.

• Website: stepfamilysolutions.com
• Instagram: @stepfamilysolutions
• TikTok: @stepfamilysolutions

• Join the Stepfamily Circle:

Ready to stop navigating stepfamily life alone? The Stepfamily Circle offers ongoing support, group coaching calls, and a community that truly gets it. Learn more at stepfamilycircle.com 

• For Aspiring Stepfamily Coaches:

Ready to help other stepmoms through coaching? Or just want to dive deep into learning everything about stepfamily life and see what happens from there? Learn about the Stepfamily Coach Academy at stepfamilysolutions.com/stepfamily-certification

If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show. It will help me reach more stepmoms just like you so they can get MORE out of stepmom life! It's super easy – all you have to do is click HERE and scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "write a review." Then just let me know what you like best!

And the best part about leaving a review? If you send me a screenshot of your review, I'll send YOU my 20-minute Stepmom Self-Care Blueprint. For FREE. It's normally $49 and it's a great tool to quickly set up a self-care plan you'll actually use. Just head HERE to send me your screenshot and grab your blueprint!

"You're not the problem. You're just doing it alone."

If you attended the Stepmom Summit last weekend, you wrapped up in a high - feeling seen and understood. But it's over now, and you're back in a house that doesn't feel like yours with zero space to land. Today we're talking about why "trying harder" isn't the answer, and what you actually need to create lasting change in your stepfamily life.

• Why Stepmom Life Feels So Isolating
• The myth of "trying harder" and the stepmom spiral of second-guessing your boundaries and interactions
• How "trying harder" leads to losing yourself in the effort
• That you're not actually failing - the system is failing you
• You don't need to try more - you need to be seen
• You weren't meant to navigate stepfamily life alone

• Join the Stepfamily Circle:

Ready to stop navigating stepfamily life alone? The Stepfamily Circle offers ongoing support, group coaching calls, and a community that truly gets it. Learn more at stepfamilycircle.com 

• If you missed The Stepmom Summit

For a few more days, you can still grab a VIP ticket and access all of the presentations and $2,000 in bonuses. Don't wait because the opportunity to grab your ticket will expire on September 15th! 

• For Aspiring Stepfamily Coaches:

Ready to help other stepmoms through coaching? Or just want to dive deep into learning everything about stepfamily life and see what happens from there? Learn about the Stepfamily Coach Academy at stepfamilysolutions.com/stepfamily-certification

• Website: stepfamilysolutions.com
• Instagram: @stepfamilysolutions
• TikTok: @stepfamilysolutions

If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show. It will help me reach more stepmoms just like you so they can get MORE out of stepmom life! It's super easy – all you have to do is click HERE and scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "write a review." Then just let me know what you like best!

And the best part about leaving a review? If you send me a screenshot of your review, I'll send YOU my 20-minute Stepmom Self-Care Blueprint. For FREE. It's normally $49 and it's a great tool to quickly set up a self-care plan you'll actually use. Just head HERE to send me your screenshot and grab your blueprint!

Every stepmom has that moment where reality hits and you think: "Wait… I didn't sign up for this."

In today's episode, I sit down with Alicia Krasko - stepmom coach, podcast host, and CEO of the Stepmom Side Community. Alicia's story will sound familiar: she went into stepmom life thinking it would be smooth sailing (kids liked her, in-laws liked her, even the ex liked her)… until suddenly, everything changed.

In the episode, we talk about:

• What happens when "happily ever after" collides with blended family reality

• Why traditional therapy often misses the mark for stepmoms (and what to look for instead)

• How to handle high-conflict situations without losing yourself

• The truth about always being asked to be "the bigger person" — and what to do when it feels exhausting

• Why stepmom struggles look so similar (and why you're NOT the only one going through this)

✨ Plus, Alicia gives us a sneak peek of her upcoming live session at the Stepmom Summit, where she'll dive into extended family drama (yes, we're talking in-laws) and how to navigate it without losing your peace.

If you've ever found yourself Googling "how to get divorced" or wondering why stepmom life feels harder than you imagined — this conversation will remind you that you are not alone, and there is a way forward.

• Connect with Alicia: aliciakrasko.com 

• Grab Alicia's free guide: aliciakrasko.com/expectations 

• Join the Stepmom Summit: thestepmomsummit.com

• You're tired of doing this alone

• You love your partner but struggle with "everything that comes with them"

• You want tools that work outside of therapy sessions and social media scrolls

If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show. It will help me reach more stepmoms just like you so they can get MORE out of stepmom life! It's super easy – all you have to do is click HERE and scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "write a review." Then just let me know what you like best!

And the best part about leaving a review? If you send me a screenshot of your review, I'll send YOU my 20-minute Stepmom Self-Care Blueprint. For FREE. It's normally $49 and it's a great tool to quickly set up a self-care plan you'll actually use. Just head HERE to send me your screenshot and grab your blueprint!

"You don't have to do this alone. You don't have to guess, or feel guilty. You just have to say yes to support that actually gets it."

Ever feel like you're walking on eggshells in your own home? Like no one truly sees how hard you're working to hold it all together?

In this powerful mini episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on why the FREE annual Stepmom Summit (coming up September 4-6th) has become a lifeline for thousands of stepmoms around the world - and why it might be exactly what you've been needing, too.

I share my own raw and real moments (yes, including the one where my stepson called 911 on me), and why this annual virtual gathering is more than just a few Zoom sessions—it's a community, a permission slip, and a freaking game-changer.

Plus, get a sneak peek at the surprises in store at this year's event (hint: you're going to get to ask all of our speakers your most burning questions in real-time) - along with our jaw-dropping speaker lineup!

• Why even "strong" stepmoms need safe spaces

• The shift from isolation to belonging (with real stories from past attendees)

• How the summit is going 100% live this year - and why that changes everything

• Eve Rodsky – on burnout, boundaries, and reclaiming your joy

• Terri Cole – setting unapologetic boundaries

• Patricia Papernow - the globally-recognized top stepfamily expert in the field

• Samantha Boss – parenting plans during high conflict

• Kristin Cogan - mindfulness in the midst of chaos

• Jessica Frew, Alicia Krasko, and even a lawyer from the Real Housewives 👀

• Plus: top therapists, experts, coaches, and a panel of top researchers led by Emmy-winning journalist Jamie Yuccas

• You're tired of doing this alone

• You love your partner but struggle with "everything that comes with him"

• You want tools that work outside of therapy sessions and social media scrolls

The Stepmom Summit is completely virtual, packed with live speakers, and full of support that lasts long after the event ends. Replays are available for 48 hours - so no pressure, just presence.

Register now at thestepmomsummit.com

If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show. It will help me reach more stepmoms just like you so they can get MORE out of stepmom life! It's super easy – all you have to do is click HERE and scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "write a review." Then just let me know what you like best!

And the best part about leaving a review? If you send me a screenshot of your review, I'll send YOU my 20-minute Stepmom Self-Care Blueprint. For FREE. It's normally $49 and it's a great tool to quickly set up a self-care plan you'll actually use. Just head HERE to send me your screenshot and grab your blueprint!

If you've ever found yourself tangled in the emotional mess of a high-conflict ex, today's conversation is for you.

My guest, Priscilla Smith, knows exactly what it's like to live in that storm. A certified stepfamily coach and child-free stepmom (and speaker at the upcoming Stepmom Summit!), Priscilla has navigated years of tension, loyalty binds, and co-parenting chaos — all while building a stronger marriage and a more peaceful home. She's here to share how she shifted from reacting to leading, stopped letting the ex dictate her peace, and created tools that actually work in real life.

In this episode, we talk about:

• The turning point that helped Priscilla reclaim her calm

• Why waiting for a high-conflict ex to change will keep you stuck

• How to take the high road without feeling like a doormat

• The impact on your relationship — and how to protect it

• Practical self-care in the middle of constant stress

Whether you're in the thick of it right now or supporting someone who is, Priscilla's story and strategies will help you see a way forward — one that's not about "fixing" someone else, but about protecting your own energy, marriage, and peace.

Priscilla Smith is a certified stepfamily coach who helps stepmoms and their partners go from chaos to clarity to calm, especially when high-conflict dynamics and neurodiverse child needs are part of the picture. A child-free stepmom herself, Priscilla brings many years of lived experience, a calm presence, and a deep understanding of the unique challenges that come with blending families.

With a mindset-focused approach, she helps clients break free from old patterns, build new tools, and create lasting change in their relationships and daily life. She doesn't just hand out advice, she asks the right questions, helps you connect the dots, and teaches practical strategies that actually stick.

Before coaching, Priscilla spent two decades in Human Resources and leadership development, where she honed her skills in strategy, goal setting, and guiding people through tough transitions. She now works with stepfamilies across the globe from her home in central Pennsylvania, where she enjoys reading and hanging out with her dog, Bernie.

Blendedbloomingcoaching.com

Instagram: @blendedstepfamilycoaching

Priscilla's FREE Mastering Transition Days Guide:

https://blendedbloomingcoaching.myflodesk.com/transitiondayguide 

• Join the waitlist for The Stepmom Summit: thestepmomsummit.com

• Learn more about Stepfamily Coach Academy certification program

If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show. It will help me reach more stepmoms just like you so they can get MORE out of stepmom life! It's super easy – all you have to do is click HERE and scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "write a review." Then just let me know what you like best!

And the best part about leaving a review? If you send me a screenshot of your review, I'll send YOU my 20-minute Stepmom Self-Care Blueprint. For FREE. It's normally $49 and it's a great tool to quickly set up a self-care plan you'll actually use. Just head HERE to send me your screenshot and grab your blueprint!

Parenting is hard - but it can help when you're able to lower the temperature. If you've followed me for a while, you know I subscribe to the research-based "connection before correction" philosophy when it comes to stepparents getting involved in discipline.

My guest for this episode has an expertise in what she calls "compassionate discipline," which is a great option for parents looking for a way to be more responsive and less reactive. Wendy's work on positive parenting strategies is inspiring - and should give us all some food for thought as we work to create strong relationships with our kids and stepkids.

Wendy Snyder is a mom of two, certified parenting educator & family life coach, who inspires parents to learn & grow through connection based positive parenting strategies. As the host of The Fresh Start Family Show & Founder of FreshStartFamilyOnline.com, she helps parents ditch the threats, yelling & harsh punishments so they can live life as a joyful & confident parent (with kids that listen & cooperate great!). Families who take part in her learning & coaching programs experience radical shifts in their hearts, minds & souls - that help them to create rock solid relationships with their kids, while at the same time teaching important life lessons & helping to raise the next generation of leaders, change makers & important human souls. 

freshstartfamilyonline.com

The Fresh Start Family Show podcast

Instagram: @freshstartwendy

YouTube:@wendysnyder-freshstartfamily

Facebook: @freshstartfamily

FREE Quick Start Learning Bundle: 3 Secrets to Thriving with Strong-Willed Kids

Firm and Kind Parenting Blueprint 

If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show. It will help me reach more stepmoms just like you so they can get MORE out of stepmom life! It's super easy – all you have to do is click HERE and scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "write a review." Then just let me know what you like best!

And the best part about leaving a review? If you send me a screenshot of your review, I'll send YOU my 20-minute Stepmom Self-Care Blueprint. For FREE. It's normally $49 and it's a great tool to quickly set up a self-care plan you'll actually use. Just head HERE to send me your screenshot and grab your blueprint!

Today we're talking about something that can be an unexpected complication in blended family life - and that's mealtime.

Getting kids to eat nutrient-packed food is hard enough, but add in a two-house dynamic where kids may have different rules and expectations around what they eat and it can get downright thorny.

That's where Katie Kimball comes in. Mom of four and founder of Kitchen Stewardship, Katie and I talk about how to navigate picky eaters and encourage good habits, even when the other house has different rules. 

And she tells us about her FREE Life Skills Camp coming up this summer, where CEOs, chefs, tv hosts, and others will teach your kids and teens all kinds of useful skills that they'll use in everyday life. It's a phenomenal resource to help kids feel (and become) more self-sufficient. 

Life Skills Camp

Kids Cook Real Food, which the Wall Street Journal praised as the top online cooking course for kids

Free Knife Skills Class

If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show. It will help me reach more stepmoms just like you so they can get MORE out of stepmom life! It's super easy – all you have to do is click HERE and scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "write a review." Then just let me know what you like best!

And the best part about leaving a review? If you send me a screenshot of your review, I'll send YOU my 20-minute Stepmom Self-Care Blueprint. For FREE. It's normally $49 and it's a great tool to quickly set up a self-care plan you'll actually use. Just head HERE to send me your screenshot and grab your blueprint!

Kids can be tricky for stepparents to navigate. Their behavior isn't rational, they don't know how to express their emotions, and sometimes they can take out their frustration on the person who can be the easiest target: stepmom.

But there's more to the story, and that's what we're talking about in this episode. We've got one of the top stepfamily researchers with us, and he's recently released a new look at the stepfamily dynamic - from the kids' perspectives. 

He's got some really interesting, insightful, and surprising, findings that stepmoms should definitely pay attention to.  

Todd Jensen, PhD, MSW is an Assistant Professor of Human Development and Family Science and Director of the Thriving Through Family Transitions Research Lab in the School of Education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Much of his research focuses on identifying factors that promote high-quality stepparent-child relationships, particularly those involving adolescent children.

Dr. Jensen's professional activities are connected to more than 34 million dollars in funding, including support from the National Institutes of Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services, The Duke Endowment, the William T. Grant Foundation, The Annie E. Casey Foundation, and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. Dr. Jensen is a Faculty Fellow of the Carolina Population Center, a Fellow of the Society for Social Work and Research, Deputy Editor for the Journal of Family Theory & Review, and co-founder and co-chair of the Diverse Family Structures Focus Group of the National Council on Family Relations. As an educator, Dr. Jensen specializes in teaching courses on family theory and practice, human development, program evaluation, and advanced quantitative methodology.

On Instagram HERE 

On his website, toddjensen.com, where you can also find links to many of his journal articles

On Wednesday, May 7th, I'm hosting a masterclass: The 5-Step Framework To Becoming A Stepfamily Coach (even if you've never coached before. 

This FREE class is for you if you've ever thought about turning your stepfamily experience into a meaningful career or side hustle - but you're unsure where to start, how to get clients, or if you're even "qualified." Here's what you'll learn:

✅ How I turned my own stepfamily challenges into a career that fuels me daily
✅ What you really need (hint: not a counseling degree or a "perfect family")
✅ The biggest myths that hold amazing women back from making a real impact

If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show. It will help me reach more stepmoms just like you so they can get MORE out of stepmom life! It's super easy – all you have to do is click HERE and scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "write a review." Then just let me know what you like best!

And the best part about leaving a review? If you send me a screenshot of your review, I'll send YOU my 20-minute Stepmom Self-Care Blueprint. For FREE. It's normally $49 and it's a great tool to quickly set up a self-care plan you'll actually use. Just head HERE to send me your screenshot and grab your blueprint!