creating joy despite divorced mom/stepmom conflict
So I have a moment at the end of the Dr. Phil Show that we did a few weeks ago that I’m hoping no one will see, but that my ex-husband David assures me is the one moment they will probably be sure to include (air date: Dec. 1). Great… Just what I wanted to… [Continue Reading]
Fire up your recorders! The show we taped last week in L.A. will be on Tuesday, December 1st. We're on the first half of the show (including David, Carol's husband and my ex – poor guy) and then there's another mom/stepmom/dad combo on during the second half of the show. I had big plans to… [Continue Reading]
It appears that the mom from the mom/stepmom team that was to appear on the show this coming Tuesday has changed her mind. The show would now like to instead focus on taking questions from both moms and stepmoms in the audience, so you're in luck if you live in Los Angeles or close by,… [Continue Reading]
If you live in Austin, or thereabouts, come say hello to Izzy Rose and I at our table at the Texas Book Festival this weekend! (Carol's out of town.) We'll be there gabbing up a storm while inhaling gallons of coffee, and passing out vast amounts of candy and raffle tickets for some cool prizes… [Continue Reading]
So we've gotten some great responses from folks willing to appear on the Dr. Phil Show with us, but we're still looking… I've passed everything along to the producers. Keep those messages coming! (marine2marine@gmail.com) As it stands, there's a film crew coming to my house tomorrow morning at 8 sharp, so I'm doing my best… [Continue Reading]
I need your help! Can you help us absolutely plaster the internets with our request? Carol and I have the opportunity to be on the Dr. Phil show next Tuesday and are doing a pre-interview with a producer today. We're looking for two (update: now only one) stepmom/mom sets of women who can't stand each… [Continue Reading]
I'll be one of the guests of honor over on The Stepmom's Toolbox on Tuesday, talking about the intricacies of the mom/stepmom relationship. Drop on by for a visit and ask me a question! I'd love to hear from you!!
There's a funny little thing that can happen with people you love that drags the relationship down without you even noticing it – until after the fact. I just came back from visiting my daughter Sophie, who moved out a short time ago into her own cool, little abode with roommates just north of the… [Continue Reading]
It's been too long!As a writer friend of mine sometimes says, sometimes the fields need to lie fallow before they're ready to be planted again…. I needed to take some time to rethink some things about what I talk about on this here blog and now I'm eager to jump back in. I'd like to… [Continue Reading]
Happy Stepfamily Day to all the stepfamilies out there! Being in a stepfamily has its unique challenges, but there are also many opportunities to create new and lasting connections, new opportunities for love and support. Surprising little islands of closeness and intimacy, the chance to really see each other anew. Sure, I hear many stories… [Continue Reading]
Conflict with another person can be so painful… Particularly in these situations where you're so at once intimately tied to another person, and yet, still don't even know them, it's easy to get your feelings hurt. And to feel attacked. Judged. And then, on the heels of hurt feelings — anger and self-defense. If only… [Continue Reading]
I'm joining forces with three other good friends* in the hopes of getting more publicity for blended family and "dual-family" issues, just in time for National Stepfamily Day on Sept. 16th. It's estimated that only 20% of American families are now nuclear families. And stepfamilies have an almost 75% rate of divorce! The single-parent family… [Continue Reading]
Here’s an easy way to know if you’re ever going to break through the impasse with the stepmother or bio-mom. Ask yourself: am I stressed? Does my stress level stay at a pretty consistent level? (Sure, you might also be thinking, Well, it’s because of HER that I’m so stressed, but not so fast, Buster….)… [Continue Reading]
For the second week in a row, I've fallen off the posting wagon, so just wanted to apologize for not adhering to what I'd said I'd write earlier. Chalk it up to an extra migraine-y couple of weeks, which culminated in a two-day, back-to-back marathon spent in bed with ice packs on the noggin, that… [Continue Reading]
(Sorry for the lack of new content lately – busy trying to get some new projects off the ground. Why do things always take twice as long as we think they're going to?!) Peggy Nolan wrote a great post over at The Step Mom's Toolbox that I'd like to point you to, called "Changing the… [Continue Reading]
Wouldn't it be helpful to have more stories of ex-wives and stepmoms out there, telling the truth about their lives, letting us take a peek inside? Well maybe YOU can tell your story… or eventually just hear some! I just got this very cool invitation from Eve Claxton of StoryCorps (they do the up-close, real-life… [Continue Reading]
I just listened to a really in-depth interview Carol and I did with husband/wife team Phillip and Lisa Mulford over on Communication 360 and I hope you'll give it a listen too. It's raw and emotional and extremely honest. However cringe-y it is to hear your own recorded voice (I always think I sound like… [Continue Reading]
However new or weird the idea of getting along with the stepmother or bio-mom might seem to you, the benefits of doing so are probably annoyingly obvious. Yeah, you've probably heard this all before (do I hear yawning?): less stress better communication smoother flow to life in general brainstorming help with the kids = better… [Continue Reading]
Imagine a medieval battlefield (perhaps you’ve seen Braveheart) where two lone warriors are fighting, wounded and bloody. At some point, they realize the futility of their struggle and know if they don’t stop, one — or more likely, both of them are going to end up dead. Who puts down their weapon first? And THEN… [Continue Reading]
Check out our latest coverage from The Huffington Post in an article called "Stepmothers, Mothers, and the 'B' Word" and the longest interview we've done yet — in Austin's own LiveMom, a great resource for local stepmoms and moms! We'll be taping an extended interview about ex-wife/stepmother issues with Communication 360 early tomorrow morning, so… [Continue Reading]
Here’s a crazy image for you: picture a hay wagon, careening along a bumpy road, strewing bits and pieces of straw in its wake. On one side of the truck, you have a stepfamily — the father and stepmother tersely yelling at each other to hang on tight and make sure Little Timmy doesn’t go… [Continue Reading]
If you're planning on attending our free support group to create stepmom/mom partnership Tuesday at 7:30, please note, the location is incorrectly listed in the Austin Chronicle. It's at Central Market Cafe (north location, off 38th St.) and not at BookPeople, like our previous meetings. There was something about having to slip behind an author… [Continue Reading]
Feeling your way into potential stepmotherhood? Are you dating a divorced man with kids and things are looking promising? Here are a few ideas for setting a healthy course from the very beginning that will make you thank yourself later. Bond over the good stuff, not the bad. Don’t make a part of your bonding… [Continue Reading]
I was recently asked to review a fascinating novel that got me to thinking about some of the powerful, unspoken issues that create tension and conflict between moms and stepmoms. It's called “The Unit” and was written by Swedish writer Ninni Holmqvist. The set-up: when men and women reach a certain age (60 and 50)… [Continue Reading]
Anyone else suffering from end of the week fatigue after the holiday last weekend (here in the U.S.)? Today was a packed day, so I didn't finish my review of The Unit by Ninni Holmqvist, but it's coming first thing on Monday. A big shout out to all the new visitors we've had lately from… [Continue Reading]
(Art by Carol Marine) Erin over at the Erin Experiment has a great post up called I know why the stepkid screams. It's about the mind-boggling familial combinations after a divorce, asking you to consider what it's all like from the child's perspective. Here's an excerpt: Life is tough enough when you've got a… [Continue Reading]
(Angelina Eberly* / photo by Alan P. Van Dyke) 1. While our overall divorce rate has dropped down to 49%, a staggering 75% of remarriages involving children end in divorce. 2. Moms and stepmoms are desperate to escape the feeling that a perfect stranger is constantly trying to undermine them. Who IS this person, really?… [Continue Reading]
There’s a wonderful interview out in the Courier-Post (south Jersey area) by Kim Mulford, if you’d like to take a gander. It’s called “Wicked? No Way?” and she was genuinely wonderful to talk to. She really “got” it! And there was a lively conversation about stepmom/mom relationships over at Jacque Fletcher’s blog, Becoming a Stepmom,… [Continue Reading]
Check out a lively conversation taking place over on The Step Mom’s Toolbox at the moment. Peggy Nolan wrote three posts (One, Two and Three) about the element of self-deception and how it plays itself out as a stepmom, and just extended family relationships in general. A funny conundrum: if you’re unwilling to consider that… [Continue Reading]
If you've got young, antsy kids driving you bananas and you're looking for alternatives to endless hours online or watching the boob tube, check out a fantastic new book called Mike Stellar: Nerves of Steel by a friend of mine, K.A. Holt. Here's what Publisher's Weekly had to say about it: Even though he lives… [Continue Reading]
There's a short, but powerful post up at Becoming a Stepmom, by Jacquelyn Fletcher. She talks about the loss of control after a divorce and remarriage that everyone feels, no exceptions. And it's that loss of control that leads to fear, which can then lead to anger, which spills over into bad behavior and a… [Continue Reading]
Check out our updated list of recent coverage for No One's the Bitch! We've got upcoming interviews with a writer for the Huffington Post, Communication360, The Courier-Post (greater Philadelphia area) and WOCM-FM 98.1 in Maryland. Two of those are done and the writers are scribbling away, two more to go. We'll post links once we… [Continue Reading]
Still struggling with the "other woman" in your life? Join the club! We're (Carol and I) hosting another free meeting in Austin, TX tonight to help moms and stepmoms better understand each other and create the beginnings of a parenting partnership (yes, it is actually possible!). We get along great now, but when we first… [Continue Reading]
Don't you love it when you stumble upon something new online that sucks you in right away? Hop on over to With Eyes Wide Open, a new blog started by a stepmom who's trying to get her bearings after marrying only last month (though they've been together for five years). You'll see her wondering what… [Continue Reading]
Yes, you too could be a winnah!You've still got time to sign up for our mailing list and be entered into today's raffle. We'll also do one last drawing on Monday (everyone needs a little extra happiness on Mondays, right?). The mailing list may be used for announcements and new content that's not on the… [Continue Reading]
(If you missed Part One, it’s here.) The stepmother clicked the button to end the call before it started ringing. Then she took a deep breath and began to dial again. She stopped halfway, remembering some of the worst verbal insults that had made their way back to her, some of the angry and hateful… [Continue Reading]
Just a quick reminder, our next meeting hosted by Carol and I will be this coming Tuesday, June 16th at 7:30pm at the award-winning BookPeople. We've created a Meetup group here, if you'd like to join. Or you can always check our Events page…. We still have raffle prizes to give away too! Tonight, we're… [Continue Reading]
Once upon a time, there was a mom and stepmom, stuck with each other in their lives, like a splinter in their thumb that couldn’t be removed. Thumbs get used a lot, so this was a bad thing, this constant, wincing reminder of the splinter as they went about their days. It was a pretty… [Continue Reading]
I was talking to my friend Bernadette yesterday from Slow Family Living about putting together a panel for next year's SXSW — and was surprised at her surprise by a part of our conversation. Context: she has four kids under the age of 11. My two girls are 14 and 18, with one already out… [Continue Reading]
Welcome to our first guest post! It's by Katherine Shirek Doughtie, one of the co-authors of a "sister" site, the fabulous, but sadly currently dormant The DHX: The Doughtie Houses Exchange — which is also about creating cooperative mom/stepmom relationships. (Katherine is the mom and Jill Doughtie is the stepmom.) The post is actually a… [Continue Reading]
Here's the Globe and Mail article by Sarah Hampson that's based on our interview from yesterday morning, it's called "Evil stepmothers have feelings too." She works fast! I think the piece accurately represents some of the struggles that stepmoms go through — and also features thoughts on the issue by Wednesday Martin, author of "Stepmonster."… [Continue Reading]
Tomorrow we'll be doing two very different interviews on mom/stepmom issues. First, with the Globe and Mail, Canada's largest newspaper, for a column on marriage and divorce called Generation Ex by Sarah Hampson. Next up in the afternoon, an in-studio interview on KO-OP for the Radical Mother's Voice. We'll be on at 1:30 CST, so… [Continue Reading]
I've written effusively before about a book I recently read on resolving the heart of conflict called "The Anatomy of Peace" by the Arbinger Institute (yes, odd for a book to be written by an institute, but whoever wrote it, it's brilliant). I was contacted a few days ago by their Director of Community Relations… [Continue Reading]
Okay, so I won't actually be announcing them, because I'll be sending raffle prize winners an email, but the messages will go off right at 5:00, Central Standard time. Thanks to everyone who signed up for our mailing list. It was nice to see those numbers skyrocket! Because I'm still a bit technically-challenged when it… [Continue Reading]
Just a reminder about our meeting tonight at BookPeople here in Austin, Texas. 7:30 p.m., third floor meeting room. Some of the stuff we'd like to cover…. Help for understanding and working through the conflict What’s one of the biggest hurdles to getting along? (It’s not what you think!) What should you do if the… [Continue Reading]
I’m reading a fascinating book that I wish EVERYONE could read about the nature of conflict between people called, “The Anatomy of Peace: Resolving the Heart with Conflict” by The Arbinger Institute. I was prompted to seek out an in-depth analysis of the nature of tough problems between stepmoms and moms because, I must admit,… [Continue Reading]
Hey everyone! While it's been nice to see new folks signing up for our emailing list, we haven't quite had as many folks sign up as we'd like — maybe because, like us — you're totally and completely weary of having ONE. MORE. THING. arrive in your inbox that feels like a just another must-do… [Continue Reading]
You know those people you talk to on the phone that you've never met before—and in the very first few seconds, you hit it off? Peggy Nolan is one of those people. I've been intrigued by a wonderfully stubborn optimism evident in her writing on The Step Moms Toolbox and decided to dig a little… [Continue Reading]
As promised, here are a few shots of our reading on Friday at BookPeople below. I'll load up the rest on Flickr tomorrow and you can scroll through to your heart's delight! It was so great to see so many supportive and warm faces, both familiar and new. The evening was hosted by actress Laura… [Continue Reading]
Check it out! Carol and I are featured in the Washington Post today in a sweet little feature on moms and stepmoms that get along, such as the "Miller Girls," an ex-wife and stepmom who became, and stayed, close friends, even in the face of illness. An excerpt:" Linda, the younger daughter, said the relationship… [Continue Reading]
Happy Mother's Day to all moms and stepmoms! Here are a few favorite quotes for you to ponder, courtesy, in part, of a wonderful site called Interlude Retreat, a little breath of calm and fresh air online…. To love deeply in one direction makes us more loving in all others. -Anne-Sophie Swetchine There's an evolutionary… [Continue Reading]
If you're in Austin, come on out for our book signing tonight at the fabulous BookPeople! BOOK PARTY AND SIGNINGFriday, May 8 from 7:00 – 8:30pm BOOKPEOPLE603 North Lamar Blvd.Austin, Texas 78703events@bookpeople.comStore Phone: 512-472-5050 On the eve of Mother’s Day, celebrate your “Other Mother” with cupcakes by Hey Cupcake!, cocktails and conversation, hosted by actress… [Continue Reading]
Tired of trying to figure out who’s at “fault” when it comes to the problems between you and the mom or stepmom? Here’s some food for thought! Chapter 6: Be Accountable (No One Else to Blame) From No One’s the Bitch (Globe Pequot Press), © Jennifer Newcomb Marine and Carol Marine, used by permission.
Wow! Yesterday was a whirlwind! We were flooded with emails, tons of hits, and the book soared to Number 2 on Amazon's Bestseller list in two categories: Divorce and Stepparenting!! It's still bouncing around from No. 1 to No. 9 in their Hot New Releases categories too. Very exciting! This book has been five years… [Continue Reading]
Like a little gremlin that escaped from the attic, our book is officially out there in the world! If you'd like to help us obsess over our Amazon status on this holiest of launch days and reach Bestseller status (however briefly!), you can buy the book at Amazon. Just some of what you’ll find inside… [Continue Reading]
We’re running a promotion from May 6- June 15! On May 6th, we’ll start collecting email addresses from everyone who signs up for our mailing list OR buys the book at our site and enter your name into a weekly raffle drawing (one drawing a week, for a total of four weeks) for the following… [Continue Reading]
To celebrate the official launch of our book on Tuesday, May the 5th, we're offering: a free, downloadable companion No One's the Bitch Workbook (maintain your privacy and the pristine innards of the book at the same time!) raffles prizes through June 6! Come back on Tuesday for a full list of prizes, but for… [Continue Reading]
No One’s the Bitch: A Ten-Step Plan for Mothers and Stepmothers is a revolutionary, new approach to diffusing the traditional animosity between moms and stepmoms — and creating a brand, new version of an extended family that’s healthier and happier. If you’re ready to move forward and are curious about how to start resolving some… [Continue Reading]
One of the weirdest things I’ve ever had to do was something I did while I was writing this book on creating mother/stepmother harmony last year. As some of you may or may not know, Carol’s an artist (a very busy, successful one). We collaborated on the outline and topics for the book. And I… [Continue Reading]
Here's a really cool idea, courtesy The Step Mom's Toolbox: on Mother's Day (Sunday, May 10th), send a card to the "other woman." Meaning, if you're the mom—send a card to the stepmom. And if you're the stepmom—send one to the mom. Madness, isn't it? Peg Nolan of The Stepmom's Toolbox is challenging 5,000 women… [Continue Reading]
By now, you’ve probably heard all about the public catfight going on between supermodel stepmom Gisele Bundchen (left) and actress mom Bridget Moynahan (right). Moynahan dated New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady for three years and discovered she was pregnant soon after they broke up, at which point Brady and Bundchen were already dating…. [Continue Reading]
Woohoo! Our book is #1 in TWO different categories on Amazon: divorce and stepparenting! This is so exciting we can barely stand it! The status is updated hourly, but it's been up there awhile now…. A special shout-out to all of Carol's readers who helped propel the book to the top of the charts… [Continue Reading]
Woohoo! The illustrious Washington Post is interested in covering our upcoming book, "No One's the Bitch: A Ten-Step Plan for Mothers and Stepmothers" (Globe Pequot, 2009), due out May 5th. They're looking to interview a mom and stepmom that actually have a fairly cooperative relationship (not perfect, just… workable!). Do you know of anyone who… [Continue Reading]
We just got our first national review, and while it's a short one, and mixed in with a huge round-up of other books on step-parenting, it's a good one! None other than the esteemed Library Journal said, “Bitch is a worthy, energetic workbook…Chatty and funny, it provides useful ideas (e.g., make small offerings) and sound… [Continue Reading]
Sometimes I struggle with tone on this blog. I want so much to inspire people – to show them a different vision of what’s possible between families (originally I typed “bision” instead of “vision” which reminded me of “bison,” but I’m not up much on buffalo, so clearly, that wouldn’t have worked) after a divorce…. [Continue Reading]
What are some examples of celebrities that have gotten divorced, remarried, and then created a brand new extended family that works? Here's what Rumer Willis, daughter of actors Bruce Willis and Demi Moore, said about her father and step-father Ashton Kutcher in Us Magazine… "We all have so much fun together. I’m so lucky," she… [Continue Reading]
(How did it go last week? Did you refrain from any unhelpful behavior, even once? Did you stop some of your negative thoughts mid-train? What did you discover?) Question for you, moving forward…. First, let's assume that you do indeed have some changes to make when it comes to creating a better relationship with the… [Continue Reading]
(Here’s a little experiment to try this week….) Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle. -Philo If you’re wanting to create a friendlier relationship with the mom or stepmom and aren’t sure where to start, first, consider doing something simple and stopping any subtly combative behavior. Is your voice tight when… [Continue Reading]
Yesterday, I had lunch with my oldest daughter, who recently moved out of the house. I really miss her. It's hard not knowing what she's up to on a daily basis: what kind of mood she's in, hearing her sing around the house, seeing the books she's into scattered all over the table. It was… [Continue Reading]
Gratitude has been on my mind a lot lately this past week. Two Sundays ago, there was a large fire (1200 acres) out in the nearby town where David and Carol (my ex and the girls' stepmom) recently moved. It was only a few miles from their new house and we spent some harrowing moments… [Continue Reading]
When you're in a situation with a fair amount of intractable conflict, it can be helpful to step back and see what you're contributing to it. 'Course, we always like to think there's nothing WE'RE possibly doing wrong. After all, we live each day believing we're doing our utmost, acting from of place of earnest… [Continue Reading]
Check out the Introduction to our book! It's available for download as a PDF here. You're also invited to join us on our wild goose chase as we attempt to get in touch with such folks as Demi Moore and Will Smith for a book endorsement. (The clock is ticking! We're running out of time!)!… [Continue Reading]
No One’s the Bitch: A Ten-Step Plan for Mothers and Stepmothers (Globe Pequot, 2009) will be out in stores in May. What it is: A humorous, yet helpful take on navigating the minefield that typically exists between moms and stepmoms. Why it’s relevant: Over a thousand new stepfamilies form every day! Imagine all those women… [Continue Reading]
Download No One’s the Bitch_Introduction To read more about the book, click here!
It's all too easy to focus on the problems in your family, whether you're a stepmom unhappy with the bio-mom, a single mom who wishes the stepmom wasn't in the picture, or an ex-wife who's remarried and still struggling with the reality of "two" families. But it's all still a matter of focus… Where are… [Continue Reading]
Here's a thought-provoking idea from a blog (and newsletter) I really like called The Happiness Project. Are you jumping the gun and consistently characterizing the actions of the mom or stepmom in a negative light, before you really know her true intentions? Worth a thought!
Wow, I have a great new site to recommend and it makes me wonder why no one thought of this sooner! Please stop by The Stepfamily Letter Project and read a few anonymous letters — kinda like a longer version of Found, or Postsecret. They're written by stepkids, moms, husbands, and of course, stepmoms, and… [Continue Reading]
So what if you extended yourself with the mom or stepmom and it went poorly? What if you reached out to her and she screwed you? Or you were just going about your business when you suddenly realized, Whoa! That is totally unfair? Happens to all of us. Stepmom/mom scenarios are rife with little exploded… [Continue Reading]
For the past two years, instead of making a bunch of New Year's resolutions that stress me out and make me feel guilty, I've simply picked one, single word as my focus for the new year. Previously, I've used "support" and this past year, it was "ease." I can happily say I found surprising sources… [Continue Reading]
I just discovered the blog of a dear friend, Joel — one of my favorite people to climb with. I had no idea he was such a talented, closet scribbler! Here's a link to a thought-provoking post about how the names we have for each other in these newfangled family relationships don't really do justice… [Continue Reading]
Imagine if children young and old could speak in keen, poignant words about how parental conflict affects them – in terms that adults would not only understand, but get their attention as well. Then imagine that those words have been channeled into a book by a child psychologist who’s surely put in his years consoling… [Continue Reading]
Come back tomorrow, when we'll be reviewing "Keeping Kids Out of the Middle: Child-Centered Parenting in the Midst of Conflict, Separation and Divorce" by Benjamin Garber, PhD, sponsored by TLC Book Tours. Garber's got some great ideas for how parents can work together, during times when they'd be normally be pulling apart (and making the… [Continue Reading]
We’re doing something different this Christmas, inspired in part by a tight budget, but also but a desire to take our experience of Christmas into our own hands and out of the whole go-to-store/buy-gift/give-gift and get-gift formula. It’s an antidote to the state of the economy, but more than that, it’s a productive way to… [Continue Reading]
Some early Thanksgiving quotes for you, courtesy of Interlude Retreat's Thought of the Day archive, since we'll be out of town. May you feel blessed by abundance and realize all the many, many ways in which you are truly lucky! To have courage for whatever comes in life – everything lies in that. -Saint Teresa… [Continue Reading]
The ironic thing about working on your relationship with the mom or stepmom in your life is that the harder you're working at improving things between you, the less outside support you have. Just when you need it most, the cheerleaders have vacated the sidelines and are already waiting in their cars to exit the… [Continue Reading]
We get the periodical request for private help by email, and upon rare occasions, a lively rant. But what we really love are comments! When a post generates lots of activity, it's great to see what everyone's thinking, what their own personal take is on an issue, even if folks disagree. Sometimes, especially when folks… [Continue Reading]
Sure, many mothers and stepmothers may not get along well, but they've got one very important thing in common. Neither one of them is ever going to be the "nuclear wife” in a family made up of Mom, Dad and the little ones. Perhaps an acknowledgment of the challenges and heartache associated with this fact… [Continue Reading]
New, long post coming tomorrow. For now, here are a few quotes I like: What is important is not what hurts and pleases, but to see what is true. And then that truth will operate, not you.-Krishnamurti He who fears he shall sufferalready suffers what he fears.-Montaigne It is not the perfect, but the imperfect… [Continue Reading]
A weird thing happened on my way to a new post…. I thought I'd peruse a few blogs on our link list and see what folks have been up to so I could point readers in an interesting direction (kind of the lazy way to generate content, but sometimes, that's all you got). My first… [Continue Reading]
There's a fascinating discussion taking place over on the Doughtie Houses Exchange (DHX) site about the weird feelings both mother and stepmothers struggle with when the children bond with the stepmother (up to 65 comments so far!). In "Other Women's Children," mom Kathy Shirek Doughtie talks about bonding with her new step-son and whether it's… [Continue Reading]
Hi all! You'll be seeing and hearing a lot more from me, now that the first draft of the book is done! I inished Saturday, and am taking a few days off to get some distance before I jump back in for revisions. We had an amazing team of twenty-three reviewers helping us (friends, family,… [Continue Reading]
Man…. Have you ever just gotten to a point with the mom or stepmom where you're about to tear your hair out? Or you feel like you're melting into a tiny, hopeless, muddy puddle? Or like you're going to catch the curtains on fire through the sheer power of your anger alone? The chapter we're… [Continue Reading]
I know it's been incredibly quiet here. I've been working on the book and Carol (and the rest of the family too) just returned from Germany. Here's one of her daily paintings from her stay in Schluchsee, a picturesque little town in the Southwestern part of the country. You can read more about the creation… [Continue Reading]
Where should we draw the line with our links? This is a question Carol and I found ourselves discussing in-depth the other day, after a recent event that I can’t discuss publicly. It certainly led to some tricky questions for us, without clear-cut answers. Such as… To what extent are we responsible for the content… [Continue Reading]
Hi Everyone, The new message boards are here! We'll hope you'll jump in and get things moving. We know no one likes getting out on the dance floor first, but we promise, if you do, we'll join you. Or perhaps you can just watch us doing some horrendous 80's moves all by ourselves. After you're… [Continue Reading]
Just wanted to let y’all know, “No One’s the Bitch: Ten Steps to Strengthening Families, One Ex-wife/Stepmother Partnership at a Time” will be published by Globe Pequot and out in bookstores in May of 2009. I know it’s been a bit quiet around here. Carol just got back from a pretty intense two-week workshop in… [Continue Reading]
Jill at the Doughtie Houses Exchange (or DHX, for short) has two great posts on dealing with socially awkward situations that actually apply to both stepmoms AND moms. In the first post, “How to make small talk with stepmoms“, she gives some great suggestions for moving ahead in a conversation without stepping on any toes,… [Continue Reading]
A few weeks ago, we talked about how sometimes you have to make some big psychological adjustments when you just can’t get anywhere with the other woman, whether mother or stepmom. Here, we talk to Morocco of The Ommy Diaries about how she’s coped with both progress… and roadblocks. See if you can relate to… [Continue Reading]
Need an hour of brainstorming and support?
Like our book? Has it given you some new weapons tools for your blended-family arsenal? Made you think? Prompted you to action? Created an actual change in your life for the better? Leave a comment on Amazon saying so and win an hour-long phone consultation with Jennifer Newcomb Marine (that would be… me) to troubleshoot… [Continue Reading]