Cover 1
Title Page 3
Copyright Page 4
Endorsements 5
Dedication 7
Acknowledgments 15
Introduction 17
Chapter 1 Why Is It So Complicated? 21
Tip –1 Accept That Stepfamilies Are Founded on Loss 22
Tip –2 Learn Why and Where the Pain Exists 22
Tip –3 Embrace What’s Normal 23
Tip –4 Recognize That Each Child Is Different 23
Tip –5 What to Do When You Feel Outside the Circle 24
Tip –6 Encourage Your Hubby to Spend Time With His Kids 25
Tip –7 Help Your Hubby Heal 26
Tip –8 Understand That the Ex-Wife Is Here to Stay, Even if She’s Gone 26
Tip –9 Discover How to Let Go 27
Tip –10 Release the Guilt 28
Tip –11 Keep an Eye on Your Own Child 29
Tip –12 Build a Bridge 30
Tip –13 Avoid the “D” Word 30
Tip –14 Create a Spa for the Soul 31
Chapter 2 When Your Hubby Is Stuck: Stepmom Frustration 33
Tip –15 Look at His Single-Parenting Days 34
Tip –16 Is Your Husband Parenting out of Fear or Guilt? 35
Tip –17 “What If It Were MY Child?” 36
Tip –18 Explore How Your Hubby Was Parented 36
Tip –19 Research How Children Cope With Loss 37
Tip –20 Encourage; Don’t Emasculate 38
Tip –21 Set Healthy Boundaries 39
Tip –22 Learn What Hill to Die On 40
Tip –23 Communicate Productively 42
Tip –24 Help Your Hubby Articulate 42
Tip –25 Stop Stepping Into Your Husband’s Role—Even if He Won’t Step Up 43
Tip –26 Decide Whether You Want to Be Right—Or Married 44
Tip –27 Accept That the Church Might Not Be Equipped 45
Chapter 3 Will We Ever Get Along?—The Ex-Wife-in-Law 49
Tip –28 Reverse the Roles 50
Tip –29 Repeat After Me: “You Can’t Control Her” 51
Tip –30 Acknowledge That She Is the Mom 52
Tip –31 Clarify Your Intentions 52
Tip –32 Communicate Clearly With Your Husband 53
Tip –33 Prepare for Difficult Situations or Lies 54
Tip –34 Pay What Was Promised 56
Tip –35 Don’t Throw Gasoline on the Fire 57
Tip –36 Overcome Evil With Good 58
Tip –37 You Can’t Fix Crazy 59
Tip –38 Learn That Hurt People, Hurt People 60
Tip –39 Provide Stability in the Home 61
Chapter 4 The Full-Time Stepmom—When Mom Is Missing 65
Tip –40 There Will Be Grief 66
Tip –41 Guard Your Heart 68
Tip –42 Don’t Guard Your Heart 68
Tip –43 The Kids Want Dad 69
Tip –44 It’s Not YOU! 69
Tip –45 Comfort the Broken Heart 70
Tip –46 Carve Out Couple Time 71
Tip –47 Pray 71
Chapter 5 Things I Wish My Stepmom Knew: A Different Perspective 73
Tip –48 “It Feels Like I Lost My Dad” 74
Tip –49 “I Like You” 75
Tip –50 “My Mom Hates You” 75
Tip –51 “I Don’t Like Sharing My Dad With Your Kids/Grandkids” 76
Tip –52 “Thanks for Making My Dad Happy Again” 76
Tip –53 “Why Do You Dislike Me?” 77
Tip –54 “Thanks for Reaching Out to Me” 78
Tip –55 “My Dad Is Acting Like a Teenager. It’s Ridiculous.” 79
Tip –56 “I Can Tell You Things I Can’t Tell My Parents” 80
Tip –57 “Are You Getting My Inheritance?” 81
Tip –58 “I Feel Terrible for the Way I’ve Treated You” 82
Chapter 6 The Childless and Child-Free Stepmom—Unique Challenges 85
Tip –59 When Your Husband Believes You Already Have Kids 86
Tip –60 Coping With Infertility 87
Tip –61 When Adoption Is an Option 88
Tip –62 When Your Husband Changes His Mind 88
Tip –63 Should We Consider the Kids? 89
Tip –64 Ignore Judgmental Attitudes 91
Tip –65 Instant Motherhood: A Culture Shock 91
Tip –66 Overcoming Guilt and Shame 92
Tip –67 Answering “Mommy” Questions 92
Chapter 7 “What Did You Say?” Educating Family and Friends 95
Tip –68 Choosing to Love Your Stepkids—A Different Kind of Affection 97
Tip –69 You Simply Fell in Love With a Man Who Has Kids 97
Tip –70 You Can’t Fix Stupid 98
Tip –71 You Didn’t Know What You Were Getting Into 99
Tip –72 Listen to Wise Words 99
Tip –73 Stop Attempting to Explain 100
Tip –74 Are You Teachable? 101
Tip –75 Your Situation Is Unique 102
Chapter 8 Holidays, Weddings, and Mother’s Day—Oh My! 105
Holidays 106
Tip –76 Expect the Unexpected 106
Tip –77 Murder Norman Rockwell 107
Tip –78 The Best Predictor of the Future—The Past 107
Tip –79 Create New Memories 108
Tip –80 Address Favoritism 108
Weddings 109
Tip –81 Lower Your Expectations 109
Tip –82 Step Aside: A Gift to Your Husband and His Kids 110
Tip –83 Find an Ally 111
Mother’s Day 112
Tip –84 Explain Your Expectations 112
Vacations 113
Tip –85 Work Toward New Traditions 113
Tip –86 Create Privacy and Personal Space 114
Tip –87 Learn Why the Kids Don’t Care 115
Chapter 9 Let’s Hear It From the Men—Hubby’s Perspective 119
Tip –88 “I Have No Desire to Reconcile With My Ex-Wife” 120
Tip –89 “I Know This Is Harder Than We Thought It Would Be” 121
Tip –90 “I’m Scared” 121
Tip –91 “I’m Afraid of Losing My Kids” 123
Tip –92 “I Just Want Peace” 123
Tip –93 “I Don’t Think or Parent Like You Do” 124
Tip –94 “Sometimes You Make the Situation Worse” 126
Tip –95 “Please Be Patient With My Kids” 126
Chapter 10 Mirror, Mirror on the Wall—A Peek Inside 131
Tip –96 Explore Whether You Are an Enabler 134
Tip –97 Confess Your Weakness 135
Tip –98 Find the Root Reasons 135
Tip –99 Learn How Codependency Has Affected Your Life 137
Tip –100 Take Steps to Heal 138
Tip –101 Discover the Difference Between Healthy Boundaries and Improper Consequences 138
Chapter 11 Who’s Your Daddy? Satisfying Our Deepest Longing 141
Pre-Marriage Stepfamily Quiz 151
Notes 155
About the Author 157
Books by Laura Petherbridge 159
Back Ad 161
Back Cover 163