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Stepparents

This Blended Family's Story Is A Bit... Unusual

Posted 05.10.2013 | Divorce

As part of our Blended Family Friday series, each week we're spotlighting a different stepfamily to learn how they successfully blended their two fami...

My Stepson Is a Marine

Judy Osborne | Posted 05.07.2013 | Divorce
Judy Osborne

There are few guidelines for stepmothers and stepfathers about how to understand child development or to parent effectively, instantly. They jump into middle of a kid's development and try to make sense of it. Usually with little support.

WATCH: Is It Okay For Stepparents Not To Love Their Stepkids?

OWN | Posted 04.29.2013 | OWN

Sasha the Diva's family is in turmoil. The popular radio personality has been married to her husband, Kevin, for two years, making Kevin the stepfathe...

3 Reasons You Should Be Nice To Your Kid's Stepparent

Marina Sbrochi | Posted 04.26.2013 | Divorce
Marina Sbrochi

Here is what my ex's wife does for my children: she loves them.

REVEALED: What Makes A Good Stepdad

Posted 04.11.2013 | Divorce

What's the secret to being a good stepdad? A new study out of Brigham Young’s School of Social Work delves into what stepchildren say contribute...

My Proudest Moment As A Stepparent

Posted 03.29.2013 | Divorce

Every stepparent remembers the moment they finally earned their stepkids' seal of approval. It's a meaningful moment -- as any stepparent can tell you...

16 Ways To Be A Better Stepparent

Posted 03.28.2013 | Divorce

When you marry someone with kids, it's understandable to want to win over your new stepkids quickly. But the road to a stable relationship with your s...

How To Win Over Your Stepkids

Posted 03.26.2013 | Divorce

It's a rare stepparent who hasn't tried, in their own way, to win over their stepkids. Whether it was snapping up two Justin Bieber concert tickets or...

My Stepdaughter Wants Nothing to Do With Me

Susan Stiffelman | Posted 05.18.2013 | Parents
Susan Stiffelman

When you fell in love with your husband, I am sure you had great hopes of creating a happy family that included both of your children, but as you are discovering, blending a family is often easier said than done.

How I Stopped Hating My Ex’s New Wife

Posted 10.05.2012 | Divorce

By Alisa Jaffe Holleron for YourTango.com My ex-husband and his new wife picked up the kids recently to take them on a two-week road trip. My so...

Going to Therapy with my Mother

Shannon Bradley-Colleary | Posted 07.16.2012 | Women
Shannon Bradley-Colleary

"Don't let your life be all about men the way mine has been," my mom said on the long distance line as I sobbed about my latest tortured love affair circa 1991.

All The Time In The World

Darcie Maranich | Posted 07.14.2012 | Weddings
Darcie Maranich

Four and a half months after his sudden deployment, Jeff was sent home. The girls and I made T-shirts with catchy slogans: Welcome Home Baghdaddy; Glad You're Back from Iraq.

How My Relationship With My Mom Changed Post-Divorce

Natasha Burton | Posted 07.11.2012 | Divorce
Natasha Burton

There was one aspect of my life that never changed, even when my family's structure did: My relationship with my mom. In fact, in many ways, my parents' divorce only made our bond stronger.

I Want Breakfast in Bed! When is Stepmother's Day?

Raina Wallens | Posted 05.08.2012 | Parents
Raina Wallens

It's stepparents -- the very people who don't actually have an official day -- who could, well, kind of use one.

Why Facebook Can Be Stressful For Step-Parents

Barbara Goldberg | Posted 06.06.2012 | Divorce
Barbara Goldberg

Did you know that there is no delineation for a stepparent on Facebook?

What it Means to be a 'Mature Mom'

Ann Blumenthal Jacobs | Posted 05.21.2012 | Fifty
Ann Blumenthal Jacobs

Mom was in her late 30s when I was born. In the suburbs of the 50s, that could have gone down in Ripley's Believe it or Not, but, it was dealt with directly -- she lied about her age.

The Thing I Miss Most About Being Married

Jennifer Cullen | Posted 12.14.2011 | Divorce
Jennifer Cullen

Our definition of family is no longer a neatly wrapped package of two adults and two children with a dog and, perhaps, a hamster. Nope, my family definition is messy.

How To Survive Stepfamily Snafus

Linda Lipshutz, MS, ACSW | Posted 11.30.2011 | Divorce
Linda Lipshutz, MS, ACSW

Ironically, our children are often more realistic about the challenges facing the remarriage than we are.

The Case Against "Stepmother"

Joel Schwartzberg | Posted 11.29.2011 | Parents
Joel Schwartzberg

What message does the word "stepmother" convey more clearly than "You're NOT a mother"? And why does a father's new wife need to be contextualized in relation to the mother at all? It declares a winner... as if society doesn't already halo moms over non-moms enough.

In Praise of Stepfamilies

Janice Van Dyck | Posted 10.11.2011 | Parents
Janice Van Dyck

Stepparents have bad reputations. Just ask Cinderella and Snow White. But from my arguably unenviable position of stepmother, I'd like to talk about the better side of stepfamilies.

How to Break The News To Your Grown Kids

Erica Manfred | Posted 08.06.2011 | Divorce
Erica Manfred

The worst thing you can do when you tell your grown kids about your divorce is to expect them not to feel strong emotions, not to feel grief and pain ...

Are Divorced Parents Doomed To Die Alone?

Vicki Larson | Posted 06.12.2011 | Divorce
Vicki Larson

I wouldn't say that I'd been cocky about my aging parents -- I knew at some point they would pass. But for a long time, as I watched my friends strugg...

When Guilty Father Syndrome Threatens Your Marriage

Donna Estes Antebi | Posted 11.17.2011 | Healthy Living
Donna Estes Antebi

The greatest challenge to a second marriage is not usually direct conflict with the stepchildren, but rather, conflict over the parenting of the stepchildren, especially if the new husband suffers from Guilty Father Syndrome.

How To Deal With An Out-Of-Control Stepdaughter

Susan Stiffelman | Posted 05.25.2011 | Divorce
Susan Stiffelman

Dear AdviceMama, My stepdaughter recently moved in with her mom because she disrespected everyone here, especially her dad. She hits him, curses at h...

WATCH: Step-Parenting The 'Modern Family' Way

Posted 05.25.2011 | Divorce

On last week's episode of ABC hit "Modern Family," Jay (played by Ed O'Neill) has a tender moment with his step-son, Manny (Rico Rodriguez). Manny an...