Stepmomming Made Easy – Details, episodes & analysis

In today's episode, Kristen and guest Jessica Frew discuss the harmful habit of "shoulding" on ourselves as stepmoms, and provide practical steps to overcome this by reconnecting with our intuition, setting boundaries, and taking small actions to prioritize our own needs. Jessica shares her personal journey of rediscovering herself after nearly losing her sense of identity in stepmotherhood, emphasizing the importance of belonging to ourselves first before trying to belong in our families. This is a conversation you absolutely can't miss!

Jessica Frew is a wife, ex-wife, mom, stepmom, and BOLD action taker.  She believes that we find true peace, connection and confidence by making the next right decision.  Jessica helps you make clear, confident, and concise decisions to lead a BOLD life that feels in alignment with who you were created to be through her Triple B Decision Making Method. You can find Jessica on Instagram @heyjessicafrew and on her podcast “Your Next Best Decision”.

Links Mentioned:

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/heyjessicafrew/

Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-next-best-decision/id1464470280

Website: heyjessicafrew.com/quiz

Ready to create a stepmom life you love? Grab my FREE GUIDE 15 Ways to Become a Happier Stepmom Overnight: https://stepmomming.com/happier

Let’s work together: https://stepmomming.com/quick-links/

Join our FREE support group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/stepmommingainteasy

Welcome to Season 3 of the Stepmomming Made Easy podcast! In today's episode, I'm sharing five red flags to watch for when dating someone with kids. Stepmomming and being in a blended family can be immensely fulfilling when it's done with the right person. Avoid these pitfalls, and set yourself up for success!

Links Mentioned:

Grab the full Red Flags When Dating Someone With Kids download here: https://stepmomming.myflodesk.com/redflags

Ready to start setting boundaries, stepmom? Grab my FREE GUIDE Basics of a Boundary: https://stepmomming.com/boundaries-basics-guide/

Let’s work together: https://stepmomming.com/quick-links/

Join our FREE support group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/stepmommingainteasy

Two of the largest factors that can make an already-complicated role like stepmom even harder are blending two families and stepparenting when the children have lost their other parent. Today's guest, Rachel, shares all about her experience doing both, and how she navigated these challenges with intentionality, grace, and empathy. Even if you don't fit into either of those categories, you can learn SO much from her!

Rachel G. Scott is a devoted wife, mother, stepmother, and Ohio native. She is also the author of the upcoming book, Taking the 5 Leaps, which releases March 2024. As founder of the I Can’t Come Down Movement, speaker, and podcast host, she desires to inspire believers to walk in their purpose and assignment as they boldly take leaps of faith. 

Links Mentioned:

RachelGScott.Com

BetterThanBlended.com

Taking the 5 Leaps Book (affiliate): https://amzn.to/3PTBTCh

Ready to create a stepmom life you love? Grab my FREE GUIDE 15 Ways to Become a Happier Stepmom Overnight: https://stepmomming.com/happier

Let’s work together: https://stepmomming.com/quick-links/

Join our FREE support group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/stepmommingainteasy

When my stepdaughter asked to call me "Mom," feelings of validation, warmth, and love overcame me. They were immediately followed by alarm bells. I refused to allow it. It felt disrespectful to the irreplaceable relationship she shares with her mom and the relationship I'd share with my future child. 

In today's episode, I share the heartwarming solution we came up with, and when I think it's okay for stepchildren to call a stepmom "Mom!" As I always say, no two stepfamilies are alike!

Ready to create a stepmom life you love? Grab my FREE GUIDE 15 Ways to Become a Happier Stepmom Overnight: https://stepmomming.com/happier

Let’s work together: https://stepmomming.com/quick-links/

Join our FREE support group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/stepmommingainteasy

You don't know what you don't know... And that is never more true in blended families than when it comes to the critical importance of setting and discussing expectations with your partner! Today, I'm joined by fellow coach, Amy, who is tackling this huge topic with me! Together, we're giving you our very best tips for how to recognize your expectations for your role, home, relationship, and the ex, and how to get aligned with your partner on those things! This is a doozy of a conversation, but it's absolutely a can't miss for any stepmom!

Get ready to meet Amy Ambrozich, M.A., blended family coach and strategist.  As a down-to-earth coach, Active Parenting workshop facilitator, dynamic speaker, and SMART Stepfamily Therapy Provider, Amy has dedicated her career to supporting blended parenting couples in building a stronger parenting partnership. With her practical approach and expert guidance, Amy empowers couples to create a solid foundation, fostering a stronger bond and effective teamwork in their parenting journey.

Whether you're navigating the challenges of a blended family or seeking to enhance your parenting dynamics, Amy is here to provide the support and strategies you need. Join her as she shares her wisdom, insights, and relatable stories on podcasts, offering valuable tools for creating more harmony in your home. 

Learn more about Amy's transformative coaching services at www.daretoparent.com and get ready to embark on a journey towards a stronger and more connected parenting partnership.

Ready to create a stepmom life you love? Grab my FREE GUIDE 15 Ways to Become a Happier Stepmom Overnight: https://stepmomming.com/happier

Let’s work together: https://stepmomming.com/quick-links/

Join our FREE support group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/stepmommingainteasy

If you struggle with insecurities because your partner experienced some of their firsts with someone else, you're definitely not alone! Being Kevin's second wife brought out insecurities in me I didn't even realize I was capable of. In today's episode, I'm normalizing the experience and giving you some of my BEST tips to reset your mindset and be more confident and present in your irreplaceable relationship.

Ready to create a stepmom life you love? Grab my FREE GUIDE 15 Ways to Become a Happier Stepmom Overnight: https://stepmomming.com/happier

Let’s work together: https://stepmomming.com/quick-links/

Join our FREE support group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/stepmommingainteasy

You are in for such an incredible conversation today, stepmom! I'm chatting with Ashley Machele, a mom who shares long-distance custody of her oldest daughter. She'll share her perspective co-parenting with a stepmom and asks how she can validate and empathize with her daughter's stepmom—a perspective she references as life-changing. We discuss boundaries her daughter's stepmom crossed, how she understands the positive intention behind those actions and appreciates the stepmom regardless, and MUCH more! I'd consider this episode a can't-miss conversation for any stepmom whose stepchild has two homes.

Ashley is the founder of Our Splendid Life. She has provided resources and support for blended families since 2013. She is a certified stepfamily specialist and is finishing her Bachelor's Degree in Family Studies from BYU-Idaho. After struggling for years after her divorce, she felt inspired to do things differently. She has spent the past 15 years trying unconventional techniques to improve her situation, focusing on creating change from the inside out. She is passionate about sharing these tools with other families who are struggling in similar situations because they have truly changed her life!

Links Mentioned:

www.ashleymachele.com

www.instagram.com/ashleymachele/

Ready to create a stepmom life you love? Grab my FREE GUIDE 15 Ways to Become a Happier Stepmom Overnight: https://stepmomming.com/happier

Let’s work together: https://stepmomming.com/quick-links/

Join our FREE support group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/stepmommingainteasy

So many of my coaching clients complain they’ve sacrificed too much—some feel they’ve sacrificed everything—for their partners to get everything they want. But stepmomming shouldn’t be sacrificial. In today's episode, we're talking about the difference between sacrificing and compromising, how to set boundaries, and the importance of communicating your needs and desires to your partner.

Links Mentioned:

Sarah Knight, F*ck No book (aff): https://amzn.to/4603ecC

"Hey Stepmom, It's Okay to Take Up Space" article: https://stepmomming.com/okay-to-take-up-space/

Ready to set boundaries this holiday season? Grab my FREE GUIDE Basics of a Boundary: https://stepmomming.com/boundaries-basics-guide/

Let’s work together: https://stepmomming.com/quick-links/

Join our FREE support group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/stepmommingainteasy

When I first became a stepmom, I felt like I struggled to keep my head above water. I was overwhelmed in so many ways, and the more I struggled, the more ashamed of those struggles I became. Stepparenting is genuinely one of the hardest things I've ever done in my life, but with the right skills, I've found lasting peace and happiness in my marriage and family. If I could go back, here are 5 things I'd do now if I became a stepmom today:

1. Find a stepmom friend
2. Get to know Krista without being in a parent role
3. Do the hard work on my second spouse insecurities
4. Have a conversation with Kevin about expectations and core needs
5. Start setting boundaries

Ready to start setting boundaries, stepmom? Grab my FREE GUIDE Basics of a Boundary: https://stepmomming.com/boundaries-basics-guide/

Let’s work together: https://stepmomming.com/quick-links/

Join our FREE support group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/stepmommingainteasy

Hey, stepmom! Does your partner's guilt because of their separation and sharing custody affect their parenting? If so, this episode is for you! Today, I'm chatting with Tracy Poizner about the causes of guilty parenting syndrome, the effect it has on the children and the stepmom, and what you, as the stepmom, can do to empower your partner instead! It's a great interview full of valuable info you won't want to miss!

Tracy Poizner has been a stepmom for over 15 years and launched the Essential Stepmom facebook group about 6 years ago. Her podcast of the same name has over 100 episodes, many of them geared towards problems facing the dads such as parental alienation, bringing a new wife or baby into the family and difficulties asserting authority or enforcing household rules. She hosts a separate podcast specifically dedicated to the challenges of post-divorce fatherhood called UnDeletable Dad.

Links Mentioned: 

essentialstepmom.com

info@essentialstepmom.com

undeletabledad.com

Ready to create a stepmom life you love? Grab my FREE GUIDE 15 Ways to Become a Happier Stepmom Overnight: https://stepmomming.com/happier

Let’s work together: https://stepmomming.com/quick-links/

Join our FREE support group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/stepmommingainteasy