There is no guide on how to stepparent. No ‘What to Expect When You’re Expecting’ stepparent-style best seller. There’s no wise proverbs, ‘old wives tales’ or oral stories passed down from generation to generation to provide guidance and support to new stepparents about to embark on their stepparenting journey. Soon-to-be stepparents do not get baby […]
Here in Australia and New Zealand the first Sunday in September is Father’s Day and a time to celebrate father’s in all shapes and sizes. So we thought it a good opportunity to focus on stepdads – on those men who, through the simple act of falling in love with a single mum, become a […]
The other day one of my best friends, who is both a mother and stepmother, made some comments that seemed to suggest she was experiencing some intense doubt and internal conflict about her 13 relationship with her stepdaughter. Recently, she said, she was finding herself being more and more affected by her stepdaughter’s (and her […]
As people who are ex-partners and step-parents, it’s essential to learn how to manage conflict in a healthy way. Meeting anger with hostility (or vice versa) only continues to destroy trust and is also not a good example to set to the children about effective communication, how to manage big emotions or to resolve conflict. […]
What are transitions? Transitions are the movement or changes from one position, stage or state to another. These changes can be gradual or sudden and last for differing periods of time. They can be emotional, physical, intellectual or even physiological. There are many different transitions children and young people face in their lives, a number […]
Gratitude is said to be a state of mind that comes from truly noticing and appreciating what you have already and being thankful for it. It is apparently one of the strongest positive emotions that correlates with our happiness and wellbeing, so it’s probably worth giving it go. The theory is, that if you can, […]
Children want and need to love and to be loved by both parents, whether their parents are together, apart, separated, divorced, infrequent or frequent bed fellows or even perhaps strangers. Sadly, for some kids, in the fall out from their parent’s break-up, this is not something that is always supported, encouraged or allowed. We have […]
It is widely accepted that social support and connections have a positive influence on human beings’ physical, spiritual and mental health. At the heart of it, we are social beings and people need people. In fact, we thrive amidst healthy relationships. Relationships of all kinds provide us with a sense of belonging, shared experience, socialization, […]
‘Mutually co-operative parenting’ and ‘shared parenting’ are terms typically used when talking about the gold star type of parenting for separated parents. It implies parents that are able to work together for the sake of their children. That, with the assistance of with time, distance (and maybe even therapy), parents have been able to move […]
When you think about it, really think about it, stepmothers are pretty freaking amazing. These women take on responsibility for children who are not their own. Children who for the most part would do anything to NOT have a new stepparent in their world. These women accept their partner’s ex as a necessary part of […]
