Articles by Esme
While all couples need to focus on their relationship, to keep it strong, this is especially so when you're a Stepmum or if you both have children. Couples often have many things to disagree on or argue about, but throw stepfamily dynamics into the mix and it can create even more arguments or...
So you're in love with Mr Right and he has children. You are thrown into the world of becoming a Stepum - sometimes almost instantly. It's a huge culture shock. Regular Mums have time to adjust to the idea of a child coming, throughout pregnancy, and seeing that child evolve from a tiny baby. As...
As a Stepmum, thrown in the deep end, with an instant family, it helps to discover some coping strategies to help remember who you are, keep grounded, and to focus on the relationship with your partner, so you don't both get bogged down with day to day domesticity, trivia, child schedules and...
Being a Stepmum can bring with it a lot of legal matters. If your partner or Husband is not getting to see his children, he may have to apply to the family court. While we always recommend legal advice, it can help to get tips and information from others who have been through it. We also have...
As a Stepmum, your bond with the step children is much more fragile than that of a birth parent. Even if you have a very close relationship with your stepchildren. When it comes to behaviour issues and discipline, things can go wrong between you. A stepchild will accept a parent telling them off...
Holidays are great. But when you're a Stepmum there can be a whole lot more to deal with than just packing and organising. Like - are the step children coming or not? Sometimes this can get stressful. You had the holiday dates agreed, booked the holiday, and now Birth Mother has a) changed her...
Blended families can be wonderful. But the idea of one big happy family can sometimes not go quite so well. You have a mix of parenting dynamics between you and your partner or Husband, sibling rivalry and step sibling rivalry dynamics and Birth Mum dynamics with schedule agreements. It can take...
Many Stepmums complain of stress and exhaustion and having no control over anything. There can be happy, fun times being a Stepmum and times alone with your partner or Husband that are happy. But there are times when you can feel invisible, unappreciated, wondering who you are, and just plain...
Having a new baby is amazing! And also it's a time when you can be tired and emotional, maybe having issues with breast feeding or sleepless nights. Meanwhile you also have your stepchildren coming and going and maybe not enough support or understanding.
Post on the forum for support and...
If you're having your first baby and are already a Stepmum with stepchildren, it can be an exciting time but also with added worries and pressures. It's not just about looking after children when you're pregnant as in any regular family, where you can organise and delegate more. It's about...
This is something that has become more recognised in recent times. It's not surprising it's quite common, considering the multiple issues second wives and stepmums have to deal with. Many people don't understand the complex situations. It isn't just being with a man who has an ex he shares...
Parental Alienation is the darker side of being part of a step family. There are degrees of it, from disruption and hostile behaviour - to try and estrange the children from their Dad - to severe child abuse where a child is "turned against" the other parent via manipulation, lies about the...