Any time you’re feeling like a victim in your own home because your stepchildren are acting out or disrupting your life or hurting your feelings, practice compassion. Work hard to see what life must be like for those kids.
See if you have the opportunity to teach the children something. When I’m feeling sorry for myself, I sometimes think negative thoughts, read more
Many fathers express openly their desire for their new wives to instantly love their children so they can all be one big happy family. The result is a woman who is trapped by the family she is so valiantly trying to create.
Consider how this response from one dad made his new wife feel: “How could you hate a kid?” Wham! It’s easy to hate a kid if you feel threatened, or gagged and bound, or taken advantage of, or harassed. read more
My husband and I had no alone time when his sons were there. No sex. No nothing.” Sandy admits she was deeply resentful that Tim even had children, though she never let her stepsons see her negative emotions.
“I wanted to say to my husband, ‘What were you thinking?’ I was so pissed no one consulted me about this! You totally screwed up our lives by having these children. read more
Stepmotherhood is more difficult for women who feel pressure to like or love their husband’s children. I have interviewed many stepmothers who, with tears in their eyes, have whispered to me that they don’t even like their stepkids. Some say they hate them. The words are heavily laced with guilt and shame. read more
Considering how adults hurt children when they argue in front of each other, or use the kids as messengers, or badmouth the other parent, is it any surprise that a kid will do everything in her power to disrupt the household?
If your stepchildren are disruptive above and beyond the normal behaviors of an adolescent or teen, take a step back and consider: read more