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
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
If you’ve had a good relationship with your husband’s ex up until the engagement was announced or the wedding day approached or a new baby arrived, don’t be surprised if your relations take a nosedive for a while, and maybe permanently. read more
I doubt I could be as gracious as my husband’s ex if I were in her shoes. If you helped bust up your husband’s marriage to his ex, are you surprised she’s not taking kindly to your advances? You may feel guilty for the rest of your life, but that’s your cross to bear. read more
In her book Becoming a Stepfamily: Patterns of Development in Remarried Families, Patricia Papernow advises therapists working with stepfamilies to make sure they do not side with one member in a stepfamily and make the other side the “bad guy” because everyone has a compelling story to tell. read more