by Gayla Grace | Jun 4, 2013 | Blog, conflict, counseling, stepfamily marriage, stepfamily relationships
I’ve noticed a common theme among step couples I’m working with lately: marital issues compound stepfamily problems. In other words, if you’re struggling with basic marriage challenges, it will spill over into your stepfamily. Here’s an...
by Gayla | Feb 19, 2013 | attitude, Blog, boundaries, co-parenting, conflict, loyalty conflict, successful stepparenting
I’m addressing a question today I received from a reader. How do you cope as a stepmom when you’re dealing with a biological mom who is belittling to you and doesn’t want you in her children’s lives? The stepmom role becomes harder when the bio...
by Gayla | Jun 7, 2012 | Blog, hope, perseverance
I knew my stepson had been having gastrointestinal problems for several weeks and we encouraged him to make a doctor’s appointment. Since his mother died of colon cancer, he knows his risk factors for that disease. But it hurt my feelings to learn he had ...
by Gayla | May 9, 2012 | Blog, loyalty conflict, peace, stepmother role, take care of yourself
One of the hardest hurdles to cope with as a stepparent is the reality that we make the same sacrifices as a biological parent but reap very few rewards for our efforts. In his book, The Smart Stepfamily, Ron Deal gives three reasons why the stepmother role is even...
by Gayla | Apr 5, 2012 | Blog, feelings, loyalty conflict, stepfamily relationships
“So how do you tell the world you have lost your baby and they have lost her too. Stella is gone from here and suffers no more. She left us around noon and we are thankful for her peace. We are exhausted with grief, which is the best description I can give of...
