Being the “strict” house isn’t easy — especially when you’re parenting a teenager who has unlimited freedom at their other home.

In this episode, Alicia dives into a real stepmom story from Erica, who’s been a stepmom for 11 years and is now facing the challenges of raising a 13-year-old stepdaughter in two very different households. At Erica’s house, structure, healthy meals, and clear phone boundaries are the norm. At mom’s house, the rules are… basically nonexistent. The result? Erica feels like the bad guy, and the close bond she once had with her stepdaughter seems to be slipping away.

Alicia breaks down why this happens in blended families, why teens push away even when they love you, and most importantly — how to hold onto your values and boundaries without losing the relationship.

You’ll walk away with:

• Validation that you’re not crazy for feeling like the “bad guy” when your house has rules.
• Practical ways to hold firm boundaries without pushing your stepkid further away.
• Strategies to shift from being the “strict” house to the safe house.
• Encouragement that your consistency today builds connection for tomorrow.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re losing your stepchild to the other house because of clashing rules, this episode will remind you: you’re not the villain. You’re the steady anchor they can rely on.

👉 Join the conversation inside The Stepmom Side Community — the place where stepmoms can vent, get support, and find real strategies that work.

👉 Want personalized support? Explore 1:1 coaching at aliciakrasko.com/coaching.

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