Each member has their own unique place in a family. Ron Deal explores the myth of the "blended" family offering practical, realistic solutions for stepfamilies.
The tips, tricks and support you need to survive stepmotherhood — the perfect gift for every stepmom around You've met the partner of your dreams and have gotten your happily ever after, but now you've taken on a new role: stepmom. And you have no idea what you signed up for. Or maybe you've been a stepmom for a while now, but things are getting you down. Who do you turn to for help? Where is the stepmothering support group that'll give you the advice you need? A book for all the ins and outs of having a blended family? Who actually gets how hard being a stepmom can be? We do. We are the women who have chosen stepmotherhood and lived to tell the tale. This parenting guide holds our solutions to help you: Brave the crazy ex demands Overcome the financial hurdles of a blended family Be prepared for the legal battles and custody arrangements Handle disrespectful children Nourish your relationship Manuever the emotional breakdowns of stepmotherhood Build your own stepmom's club Understand why you need your partner to have your back Written by stepmoms for stepmoms, these tips, anecdotes, and words of advice will help you find success and support within your new family. We are the Stepmoms' Club — your club — and we're here to help you.
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 Web site stepsforstepmothers.com, Dr. Rachelle Katz knows all too well how challenging stepmotherhood can be. Based on thousands of in-depth interviews and the latest research, she's created a powerful program to help you: * Alleviate stress and take care of yourself * Bond with your new family * Set and enforce clear boundaries * Get the respect you deserve * Strengthen your relationship
Ah, high school. Is there any better place to start fresh after a horrible middle school relationship? Nope! Not unless your ex ends up at the same school as you and is now your stepsibling. What was supposed to be a sanctuary of peace where I could avoid ever seeing her again has become a living nightmare! Everywhere I look, I see her—in my house, in my school, in my class. There's no escape! She even claims that she’s the older sibling. Like hell she is! But I won't lose to her. After all, I'm the older brother in this new family situation. That’s right, we’re family now. No matter how much we may have thought we loved each other before, we saw one another’s true colors and realized we weren’t meant for each other. That’s why even though we may keep up a buddy-buddy sibling act for the sake of our parents, things will never go back to the way they used to be.
Caitlin: To say my stepmom and I don’t get along is an understatement. Fiona kicked me out of the house, and I had no place to go in our little town. Fortunately, a handsome man picks me up from the side of the road and makes me an offer that’s utterly scandalous … but also utterly irresistible. Travis: Caitlin’s perfect for what I need. She’s all alone in the world, innocent and naïve, with an angelic face and a breathtakingly curvy body. Did I offer her a dirty deal? Yes. Did she take it of her own free will? Yes. The only part we didn’t anticipate? Her stepmother’s evil machinations. But with a baby on the way, it doesn’t matter because now, I’m claiming the curvy girl no matter what. Hey Readers – We’re back for a tale of hot steam and saucy fun with My Stepmom’s Boyfriend. Caitlin is a bit of a Cinderella after her dad passes and leaves her at the mercy of her evil stepmother. However, Cait is resourceful and feisty, and she gets her revenge on said stepmother in spades. Ooh-la-la! Saddle up for some taboo fun. No cheating, no cliffhangers, and always an HEA for my readers. You’ll love it, I promise! Xoxo, Cassie
Love is in the air as Valentine’s Day approaches, and this time around, I, Mizuto Irido, am once again in a relationship. Don’t get me wrong—I’m happy to be living with my girlfriend, but the situation isn’t without its drawbacks. There are hurdles we’ve yet to overcome and conversations that need to be had. Most importantly, are we ready to take things to the next level? I’m not so sure.
Most little girls grow up dreaming of being a mom, but hardly any of them dream of becoming a stepmom. Nevertheless, approximately one million new stepfamilies are created every year. It’s no secret, being a stepmother can be a living nightmare. But it can also be an enriching and rewarding experience—one that God can use to strengthen you, helping you survive and even thrive in the toughest job you never asked for. Written by two women who are stepmothers themselves—and know the difficulties of helping to raise someone else’s children—this book is filled with down-to-earth insights and advice for stepmothers from stepmothers. It also offers expert guidance from pastors and counselors on such issues as roles, expectations, realistic goals, organization, finances, holidays, vacations, relationships with stepchildren, negotiation, forgiveness, healing the past, building a strong marriage with stepchildren on the scene, dealing with in-laws and ex-spouses, sexual tensions in stepfamilies, health, depression, stress, and much more. While there is no magic formula to guarantee stepmother success, encouragement and practical wisdom are available in this much-needed resource.
Grace + her dad, Davy = Team Gravy. No way is a new stepmom going to break up this team. . . . Filled with reverse Parent Trap-like pranks, The Stepmom Shake-Up is a hilarious and heartfelt look at what it means to be a family. Grace + Dad = the perfect team After Grace's mom died, she and her dad grew extra close. They have special nicknames and are always busy with new projects--like building a puppy condo for their dog, Potus--and they love learning random facts about the US presidents. Grace thinks her little family of two is perfect. Then some committee members at church suggest it's time for Dad to start dating again. And Dad agrees! Grace knows that adding a new member to the team will end in disaster. No problem! She and her best friend have a plan: Operation: Stepmom Shake-Up But what if a little shake-up is exactly what Grace's family needs?
"A hilarious read when you're feelin' down and hungry."—Daily Candy Life's little pitfalls can be a real drag: being dumped, fired, or left at the altar—they're all such downers. Sure, some might just grin and bear it, but why? Hilarious author Heather Whaley advises readers to revel in their misery, offering a slew of side-splittingly skewed recipes, each perfect for a different, wretched moment, including: • Lonely Christmas pudding • Caught Mom and Dad in the Act Tater Tot Casserole • Your brother Really Was Mom's favorite peach pie • fannie Mae and freddie Mac 'N' Cheese • breakfast Sandwich for Morning-After Regret In the wonderfully perverse tradition of Amy Sedaris's bestselling I Like You, Eat Your Feelings makes the perfect gift, reminding us that food and booze—unlike fair weather friends or your 401K—will never let you down.