For stepmum support, tools, workshops and coaching, visit: https://stepmumspace.com

Episode Summary

In this episode, Katie speaks with Charlotte — a stepmum to a little girl — about the heartbreak of wanting more time, more connection and more space to love… but not being able to.

Charlotte adores her stepdaughter. She wants to be involved, present and part of her world. But right now, that isn’t possible — and it hurts. She opens up about the quiet grief of being left out, the sting of feeling second best, and the emotional tightrope she walks between her partner and his ex.

This is a tender, validating conversation about the emotional cost of loving a child you can’t fully show up for — and the invisible pain stepmums often carry alone.

In This Episode We Explore

• What it feels like to love a child you don’t have full access to
• The emotional toll of feeling sidelined in your own relationship
• How loyalty binds between homes leave stepmums feeling stuck
• Why feeling “second best” isn’t personal — it’s structural
• The grief stepmums experience when they want to love more than they’re allowed
• What happens when your partner’s past overshadows your present
• How to protect your emotional wellbeing when you’re walking on eggshells
• The difference between loving a child and having a place in their world

These themes mirror the highest-search pain points stepmums look up when they feel excluded, invisible or overwhelmed.

If This Resonates
For personalised strategies, emotional tools and stepmum-specific support, book a free introductory coaching call:
https://www.stepmumspace.com/booking

Learn more about Katie’s approach and experience:
 https://www.stepmumspace.com

Who This Episode Is For

• Stepmums who feel left out or “second place”
• Women struggling with ex-partner dynamics
• Anyone loving a child they can’t fully bond with
• Stepmums walking on eggshells in their relationship
• Listeners carrying grief, confusion or emotional exhaustion
• Anyone searching for real, honest stepmum stories

Keywords
struggling stepmum, stepmum support, feeling left out as a stepmum, stepmum boundaries, stepmum and ex dynamics, stepmum podcast, stepmum emotional wellbeing, second best in stepfamily, stepmum grief, stepmum validation, stepmum relationship challenges

Helpful Links
Stepmum Space website: https://stepmumspace.com

Instagram: @stepmumspace
1:1 Coaching & Couples Coaching: https://stepmumspace.com

You’re not alone. Your love is real, your role matters, and your feelings deserve space.

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