Stepfamilies are currently the fastest growing family type in the UK, with current estimates suggesting that 1 in 10 of all families are now stepfamilies. Yet despite the ever-growing number of stepfamilies, there remains a dearth of information and support for them. How to be a Happy Stepmum provides the first step in this support by guiding stepmothers through the pitfalls of adapting to stepfamily life; firstly by identifying what type of stepmother they are and then by addressing each of the recognised factors related to becoming a successful and happy stepmother. Based on sound research and written by an expert in the field, this book is essential reading for all stepmums.

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

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.

An honest and groundbreaking guide to understanding the complicated emotions that develop between stepmothers and children. When faced with often overwhelming challenges, what woman with stepchildren is unfamiliar with that “stepmonster” feeling? Half of all women in the United States will live with or marry a man with children. To guide women new to this role—and empower those who are struggling with it—Wednesday Martin draws upon her own experience as a stepmother. She's frank about the harrowing process of becoming a stepmother, she considers the myths and realities of being married to a man with children, and she counteracts the cultural notion that stepmothers are solely responsible for the problems that often develop. Along the way, she interviews other stepmothers and stepchildren and offers up fascinating insights from literature, anthropology, psychology, and evolutionary biology that explain the little-understood realities of this unique parent-child relationship and—in an unexpected twist—shows why the myth of the Wicked Stepmother is the single best tool for understanding who real stepmothers are and how they feel.

A funny, honest, and empathetic resource for the novice stepmother on maintaining sanity, solving hair-raising identity issues, regaining a sense of humor, and surviving what you did for love.... What happens when the honeymoon comes to a screeching halt and you're faced with a houseful of rambunctious children, an ever-present ex-wife, and a new husband trying to balance the chaos? This helpful guide includes advice on: • The kids: Adjusting to suspicion, resentment, and biological-parent loyalties • The ex-wife: Living calmly alongside her, whether she's a psycho or the perfect mother • The holidays: Accommodating old family traditions and developing new ones • The sex: Keeping love alive through the kids' bed-wettings and nightmares • The finances: Building safety nets and avoiding financial disasters • The urge to be evil: Accepting it, and then stopping yourself from saying something you'll regret—to him, the kids, or her • Plus an invaluable list of resources, websites, publications, and organizations specifically for the new stepmother

This book is a long-awaited definitive instruction manual for the most difficult role you never imagined having, and couldn't possibly prepare for--being a Stepmom. Cathryn Bond Doyle became a stepmother in 1996. Cathryn has developed specific techniques and insights to help stepmothers handle the stress and relationship challenges that may arise with their families. In addition to learning from her own journey, she has worked with thousands of stepmothers, through her support group at smoms.org (which she founded in 2000), to build this collection of proven and practical approaches and tools. Cathryn shows you how to recognize, compassionately acknowledge and understand your own reactions to potentially upsetting stepfamily situations, resist the urge to over-give, resolve your resentments, strengthen your relationship skills, build your connections with your partner and stepkids, and deal with any difficulties that may crop up if the bio-mom of your stepkids is neither kind nor civil. The Table of Contents is designed as your guide to getting specific info on a wide spectrum of common stepmothering "dilemmas." The chapters are written to stand alone in support of each topic so you can get right to the answers most important for you and your situation. Additionally, there are thirty-one proactive tips included to help you and your partner improve daily stepfamily life and so much more. Peppered throughout the forty-one chapters of the book are stories from twenty veteran stepmothers. They share their personal challenges and how they've handled them through working with Cathryn and using her strategies. They each describe how they've become more savvy, confident and self-aware women as a result. These women join Cathryn as Stepmoms on a Mission (SMOMS) and all believe-wholeheartedly-that any woman in the role of stepmother can benefit from this book and the hard-earned wisdom it imparts.

Stepfamilies are currently the fastest growing family type in the UK. Yet despite the ever-growing number of stepfamilies, there remains a dearth of information & support for them. 'How to be a Happy Stepmum' provides the first step in this support by guiding stepmothers through the pitfalls of adapting to stepfamily life.

The stepmother's role often is ambiguous and underappreciated, and frequently it carries unrealistic expectations. The book answers women's concerns and questions, including: How can I be a caretaker and a key emotional connector in the family if the children don't accept my influence? How shoud I cope with children who are confused about their family and torn between loyalty to their biological mother and me? When should I step back in conflicts and when should I insist that my husband stand up for me? In addition it addresses the spiritual and emotional climate of the home, providing perspective and guidelines to help stepmothers and their families thrive.

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.

What's missing in your stepfamily?If you're in a stepfamily, you may feel as if something is missing. You can't put it into words yet, but you know it's a problem. Maybe you're new to this. Maybe not. Still, everything from badly-behaved exes to parenting rifts causes squabbling that disrupts the harmony in your home. The Stepmom's Book of Boundaries helps you thrive despite rocky relationships, schedule snafus, and more. Stepmom Magazine Contributor and Master Certified Stepfamily Coach Claudette Chenevert provides clear explanations, humorous insights and exercises to help you pave a path to healthier boundaries and more enforceable House Rules-for your own version of the white-picket-fence dream.