No One's the Bitch - Mom/Stepmom Partnership Revolution

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(Like it or not, the two women in your child’s or stepchild’s life are typically the hands-on parents. Gender roles die hard! With both sides vying for [...]

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 hear.
I [...]

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 university. [...]

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….) [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

(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? Do you [...]

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 [...]

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 met — hoo [...]

(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 [...]