Anne Pedro-Carroll is the author of Putting Children First, and a stepmother herself for 30 years. She says it is especially important to respect the child’s relationship with the other parent. Moving into the role of the child’s parent too quickly or pressuring them to refer to you as "Mum" or "Dad" when they already …

We all make mistakes, even though we may not like to admit it. Being a dad is one of the hardest jobs in the world, and once you throw step kids into the mix, the role gets even harder. There’s no one right way to stepparent, as you’ll have to tailor your approach based on …

An honest and groundbreaking guide to understanding the complicated emotions that develop between stepmothers and children. When faced with often overwhelming challenges, what woman with stepchildren is unfamiliar with that “stepmonster” feeling? Half of all women in the United States will live with or marry a man with children. To guide women new to this …

What are you thoughts on this? Maybe you are already a stepmother, what has been your experience? What can you do to prepare yourself? What discussions do you think you should have with your partner? Please leave a comment

If you’re one of the more than 15 million stepmothers in the country, you know the particular trials—and joys—of stepfamily dynamics today. You wonder if you’re doing the right thing and, as a stepmother, many of your specific questions are unique. In this second edition of Stepmotherhood: How to Survive Without  Feeling Frustrated, Left Out, …

In her book The Happy Stepmother Dr. Rachelle Katz states: “As you might expect, the reasons for stepfamily problems are complex. One contributing factor is that many of us are just not prepared for this role and have no idea how demanding the job can be.” Some turn a blind eye to the potential problems.  …

You found the love of your life, and you vowed to have, to hold and to stepmother. You always thought that in time you’d grow to be the perfect, loving family. So why does it seem that the harder you try, the more unappreciated you feel? As a stepmother, therapist and founder of the popular …

Becoming a stepmother is a life-altering event in any woman’s life. The issues are extraordinarily complex and women are overwhelmingly unprepared. Yet concerns usually focus on the effect remarriage has on the children. The Enlightened Stepmother approaches the subject from a totally new perspective — that of the stepmother. Based on information — sometimes controversial …

Becoming a stepmother is a life-altering event in any woman’s life. The issues are extraordinarily complex and women are overwhelmingly unprepared. Yet concerns usually focus on the effect remarriage has on the children. The Enlightened Stepmother approaches the subject from a totally new perspective — that of the stepmother. Based on information — sometimes controversial …

Becoming a stepmother is a life-altering event in any woman’s life. The issues are extraordinarily complex and women are overwhelmingly unprepared. Yet concerns usually focus on the effect remarriage has on the children. The Enlightened Stepmother approaches the subject from a totally new perspective — that of the stepmother. Based on information — sometimes controversial …