Dad versus Step Dad - Stepparenting
You've been a single mom for a long time, raising your children, sharing the duty with their biological father, and now you've finally met someone special with whom you want to share your life. You've been cautious about exposing your children to ... [... more]
Bella Online |
Disciplining as a Team - Stepparenting
Probably one of the more notable challenges of living in a blended family is adjusting to the various lifestyles and attitudes each of us bring to the newly formed family unit. My step kids were old enough, when their biological mother left, to ... [... more]
Bella Online |
Being a Good Step Mom Takes Time - Stepparenting
I was not the greatest "mom" to step into the role of mother - when I inherited my step kids, I was 26 years old. I had been used to being single, to being able to go wherever I wanted - whenever I wanted to go. I had never been "tied down& [... more]
Bella Online |
How to Keep Your Marriage Strong - Stepparenting
Every relationship, if it lasts long enough, has to survive periods of intense stress. When you're building a blended family, those stresses can be more evident during the holidays, but are sometimes there all the time. While there are certain ... [... more]
Bella Online |
Before Becoming a Step Mom - Stepparenting
I've been reading out step parenting forum, and lately, there has been a lot of heart-breaking stories appearing from women who really don't want to be step moms. If you are thinking about marrying a man with children, please consider carefully ... [... more]
Bella Online |
Bonding with Step Children - Stepparenting
There is no better time than the holiday season to strengthen the bond between you and your stepchild. Whether you are in a new step parenting role or the relationship you currently have is strained, the holidays give you the perfect opportunity ... [... more]
Bella Online |
When Your Step Child's Grades Fall - Stepparenting
When your stepchild's grades suddenly swing from passing to "How did this happen?!" there may be cause for concern. However, jumping to the conclusion that he or she was goofing around instead of paying attention or not putting in enough effort [... more]
Bella Online |
Finding Joy in Step Parenting - Stepparenting
Some people think you have to be a masochist to make a good step parent. While it is true that step parenting includes a lot of painful moments, I don't think you really need to be a masochist to enjoy the process. As a step mom of three for more ... [... more]
Bella Online |
Feelings of Resentment as a Stepparent - Stepparenting
No matter how much you try not to, sometimes when you're a stepparent, you feel a bit of resentment. It could be resentment at having to share your spouse with the other people he loves, even if they're just kids. It could be the relationship he ... [... more]
Bella Online |
Grieving - Relationships That Could Have Been - ...
Last week, my family and I loaded up a big moving truck, packed our van with suitcases, snacks, and maps, and headed from Boise, Idaho to Bath, New York. It was the second time we'd made the trip; in between we'd moved back - 6 months in Reno and ... [... more]
Bella Online |
No Halfways - Stepparenting
My mom's parents divorced when she was 11 years old. Her mom remarried a few years later, and my mom and her three brothers were joined less than a year later by a new baby sister. Theirs was not always an easy adjustment, having a step dad and a ... [... more]
Bella Online |
It's Not About Blood -- It's About Heart - Stepparenting
The most common response I get when introducing my children is behind-the-scenes calculation while they try to figure out just how young I was when the oldest was born. Depending on who it is and how much time I have, I sometimes just let them ... [... more]
Bella Online |
