The Stepmom Diaries Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

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.

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

• 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.

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.

 

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.

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

• 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

Resources Mentioned:

• 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

Share This Episode:

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.

Love The Stepmom Diaries?

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!

Connect with Cameron:

• Website: stepfamilysolutions.com

• Instagram: @stepfamilysolutions

• TikTok: @stepfamilysolutions

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. 

About Katie: Katie Kimball helps change kids' relationship to food, both through work in the kitchen and helping parents of picky eaters. She's a former teacher, two-time TEDx speaker, writer, and mom of 4 kids. She created the Kids Cook Real Food eCourse, which was recommended by The Wall Street Journal as the best online cooking class for kids. Her blog Kitchen Stewardship helps families stay healthy without going crazy, and she's on a mission to connect families around healthy food, teach every child to cook, and instill those all-important life skills! Links Mentioned In This Episode:

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

Are you enjoying The Stepmom Diaries?

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!

Stepmom Outsider Syndrome Is Real.

But the good news is, you can do something about it. In this episode, we'll talk all about how to deal with feeling like an outsider in your own family. And I'll give you five great tips you can implement RIGHT NOW to feel more like you fit in - and to learn how to take a step back when you need to. 

Resources Mentioned In The Episode:

• The BLENDED Family Formula For Stepmom Success: This is a six-week course that will transform your stepmom life. I'll open the doors in a few weeks for registration. To be added to the waitlist for more information, head HERE.
• How To Bond With Your Stepkids: I've got a great blog post on this topic, and a freebie with ideas for things you can do to bond with your stepkids. You can access it HERE.
• Stepmom Outsider Syndrome: The Hard Truth: If you enjoyed this episode, I've also got a post on the issue that you can access HERE.
• And don't forget, I'm giving away a free 30-minute coaching session! All you have to do to win is enter. And you can do that by going to The Stepmom Diaries on iTunes and leaving a (preferably awesome) review. Take a screenshot of your review and send it to hello@thiscustomlife.com or post it on social media and tag me - and I'll pick a lucky winner for a session. Good luck! 

Do You Have A Stepmom Anchor Statement?

When you were getting serious with your partner, you probably discussed some of the logistics of what blending your families would look like. Whether you would attend sporting events or pick kids up from school. But did you discuss your role at a deeper level? Did you think about your stepmom purpose? Your "why"? 

Obviously the "why" starts with you falling in love with your spouse. But what are your hopes and goals for being a stepmom? What kind of stepmom do YOU want to be? 

Today we're going to talk about why you need to understand your stepmom role and how you can figure out the kind of stepmom you want to be. And I'm going to help you create your own Anchor Statement, which will help you get clear on all of your goals, your priorities, and your needs going forward.

Resources Mentioned In The Episode:

My upcoming FREE Stepmom Masterclass: The 3 Stepmom Lies Keeping You From Living Your Best Blended Family Life. For more information and to sign up, click HERE. In the Masterclass, I'll help you uncover the things. you're doing that you don't even realize are holding you back. And the simple tweaks you can make right now to start LOVING your stepmom life! 

One of the most common challenges for stepmoms is how to relate to their stepchildren's biological mom, or "biomom" in stepmom speak. Especially if it's a high conflict situation. 

When you started dating and then settled down with someone with kids, you probably didn't expect that so many aspects of your life would be controlled by someone outside of your marriage or your immediate family. Someone who might not like you. 

So how do you deal with a biomom who doesn't like you? How do you deal with her if it's a high conflict situation? We'll talk about all of that and more in this episode.

Resources Mentioned In The Episode

"Ten Quick Tips To Deal With A High Conflict Bio Mom" that you can download for FREE right here. 

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. Head to our show notes for more of his tools. 

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

In this episode, we're going to talk about new year's resolutions. Why I stopped setting them this year, and what I did instead. And that it's not too late for you to try it, too. 

I also give you a hint about some SUPER exciting things coming your way this year. For a free sneak peek, sign up HERE!

You can find the show notes (and other goodies) at www.thiscustomlife.com/episode11. 

Forgive and Forget - not as easy as it sounds!

In our last episode, we talked about gratitude and being intentional about things you're thankful for. Forgiveness goes hand in hand with gratitude, believe it or not, and that's what we're talking about today.

Forgiving someone is hard. Really hard. In this episode, I'll give you four steps to take so you can both ask for and grant forgiveness in your daily life.

Links Mentioned In This Episode:

Stanford Forgiveness Project: https://learningtoforgive.com/9-steps/

Mayo Clinic: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/forgiveness/art-20047692 

And don't forget . . . Text 44222 with the word "STEPMOM" if you'd like a preview of our BLENDED Family Formula. You can also find it HERE.

Did you know that gratitude is more than just being thankful? It's about forgiveness, too. And the two go hand in hand in helping you build a positive frame of mind. This is the first of a two-part series about gratitude and forgiveness and how they relate to your stepmom life.

In today's episode, we'll talk about five ways you can reset your outlook by looking for more ways to be grateful in your daily life. 

You can find the show notes at: www.thiscustomlife.com/episode8

Can you imagine falling in love with someone who has a child and then moving from your big city home to the same small town they and their ex have lived in for years and years? Add in all the challenges around being in an LGBTQ+ blended family and you'll have the journey of today's guest.

 

We talk about all of that and more with Beth McDonough, owner of The Inclusive Stepmom, as well as CMO and Editor-in-Chief of Stepmomz, the first mobile app for stepmoms.