High Heels in the Dung Pasture (or Further Adventures in Taking Responsibility)
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 [...]
Dr. Phil episode on conflict between moms, stepmoms and dads to air Dec. 1st!
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 write [...]
Dr. Phil: now taking questions from the audience, as well as video questions
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, [...]
Read more »The shifting sands of connections
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. [...]
Happy Stepfamily Day!!
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 [...]
New stepmom? Heading off conflict from the get-go…
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 experience [...]
Erasing the enemy – Part Two
(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 [...]
Erasing the enemy – part one
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 typical [...]
Monday Maybe: Be stubborn about the truth!
(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 [...]
The Stepfamily Letter Project
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 each [...]

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