My mother and father divorced after 15 years of marriage when I was 6. They met in Thailand early in his ARMY career, fell in love and he brought her back to his small Texas hometown in the United States. She spoke no English. They had my older brother shortly after arriving and had me six years later. Six years after that, they divorced and my brother and I chose to live … [Read more...]
Trip to the Altar: A Lesson From My Broken Family
This past Christmas was spent with my soon to be in-laws. It was the first time I celebrated a major holiday without my family, and it was bittersweet. Don't get it twisted, I LOVE my future in-laws. The way they've accepted me and love me, is nothing but a blessing from above. However, I couldn't ignore the feeling I felt deep in the pit of my stomach or the tears that I … [Read more...]
Co-Parenting Through the Holidays: How to Cope When Your Kids are Away
This year, I'm celebrating the season solo. Oh, the joys of co-parenting! My ex is picking up our daughter mid-month. Although Thanksgiving somewhat prepared me for her time away from "mommy's house" as she calls it, her absence will still be felt. I'll miss her making mashed potatoes on her kid kitchen and pretending to fix a feast. I'll miss seeing her face light up like the … [Read more...]
Stepfamily Survival Tips: 10 Ways to Ensure a Happy Holiday Season
by Janice R. Love, The holidays are exciting for most families; however without planning, holidays for stepfamilies can be disastrous. My husband and I are a blended family of eight children and have been married for over ten years. Here are our ten tips for ensuring a happy holiday season. Plan, Plan, Plan – It has been said if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. … [Read more...]
Video: Short Film Captures the Challenges and Love of Blended Families
When you bring together a blended family, everyone (and I mean everyone) will experience growing pains....from the step-parent, to the biological parent, to the kids. They all have to go through a period of adjusting to their new reality. And this period can be easy for some and it can be very difficult for others. I know this reality all too well as Lamar and I have a … [Read more...]
7 Reasons Not to Hate Your Child’s Stepmom
When I found out my daughter’s dad moved on, I was devastated. It felt like someone stabbed me in the back and the heart at the same time. I yearned to pick up the phone and call her—the other woman who later became the wife. I wasn’t sure what I would say, but I was sure that the sentences would be filled with four-letter words. I didn’t dial a single digit. Although a … [Read more...]
Singles with Kids: Things to Think about Before Blending Your Family
One of the challenges we have as singles is how to deal with children in a relationship, whether those children are ours or those of our mates. It’s a delicate, sensitive issue for lots of parents, but one we have to address because our children deserve to see what healthy relationships look like. We have to be sensitive to our children’s needs and cautious about whom they are … [Read more...]