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Parallel Parenting with a High-Conflict Ex: Boundaries That Protect Your Stepfamily
If you’re juggling a high-conflict ex, 50/50 schedules or loyalty binds, this one’s for you. Katie talks to Lauren, a Scottish stepmum who reconnected with her high-school love—now a dad of three with two exes—and built a calm, child-centred blended family through clear boundaries, parallel parenting and a truly united couple stance.
We cover: meeting kids at their pace, handling retaliation without taking the bait (haircuts, earrings & house rules), why a written agreement beats a verbal one, transitions in a 50/50 schedule, and keeping sibling connections strong across big age gaps. Lauren also shares choosing not to have biological children—and still feeling like a whole family.
Next steps: 1:1 coaching, the January Stepmum Reset Workshop, and downloadable tools at stepmumspace.com.
Timestamps:
00:03 Intro & themes
02:10 How the blended family began
07:40 Meeting each child at their pace
10:22 “You’re the boss of your own hair” (child agency)
16:18 Retaliation & staying out of the drama
20:18 What supportive partners actually do
25:53 Mediation + written agreement (game-changer)
31:18 Transitions without loyalty binds
32:47 Sibling dynamics (18/18/7)
35:44 Choosing not to have bio kids
37:45 Advice for struggling stepmums
Keywords: stepmum support, blended family, parallel parenting, high-conflict ex, custody agreement, 50/50 schedule, stepmum boundaries, mediation, withheld access, stepfamily transitions
Links/CTA:
• Book a free intro for 1:1 coaching • Join the January Stepmum Reset Workshop • Download tools for tricky moments → stepmumspace.com
Socials: @stepmumspace
Ready for structured support?
If you’re living with anticipatory anxiety before contact, walking on eggshells at home, or constantly replaying conversations long after they’ve happened, Back in Control is my structured programme for stepmums navigating complex stepfamily dynamics.
It’s designed to help you move out of chronic vigilance and into steadiness inside your own home.
Learn more:
www.stepmumspace.com/back-in-control
Support the show
View all episodes
By Katie SouthIf you’re juggling a high-conflict ex, 50/50 schedules or loyalty binds, this one’s for you. Katie talks to Lauren, a Scottish stepmum who reconnected with her high-school love—now a dad of three with two exes—and built a calm, child-centred blended family through clear boundaries, parallel parenting and a truly united couple stance.
We cover: meeting kids at their pace, handling retaliation without taking the bait (haircuts, earrings & house rules), why a written agreement beats a verbal one, transitions in a 50/50 schedule, and keeping sibling connections strong across big age gaps. Lauren also shares choosing not to have biological children—and still feeling like a whole family.
Next steps: 1:1 coaching, the January Stepmum Reset Workshop, and downloadable tools at stepmumspace.com.
Timestamps:
00:03 Intro & themes
02:10 How the blended family began
07:40 Meeting each child at their pace
10:22 “You’re the boss of your own hair” (child agency)
16:18 Retaliation & staying out of the drama
20:18 What supportive partners actually do
25:53 Mediation + written agreement (game-changer)
31:18 Transitions without loyalty binds
32:47 Sibling dynamics (18/18/7)
35:44 Choosing not to have bio kids
37:45 Advice for struggling stepmums
Keywords: stepmum support, blended family, parallel parenting, high-conflict ex, custody agreement, 50/50 schedule, stepmum boundaries, mediation, withheld access, stepfamily transitions
Links/CTA:
• Book a free intro for 1:1 coaching • Join the January Stepmum Reset Workshop • Download tools for tricky moments → stepmumspace.com
Socials: @stepmumspace
Ready for structured support?
If you’re living with anticipatory anxiety before contact, walking on eggshells at home, or constantly replaying conversations long after they’ve happened, Back in Control is my structured programme for stepmums navigating complex stepfamily dynamics.
It’s designed to help you move out of chronic vigilance and into steadiness inside your own home.
Learn more:
www.stepmumspace.com/back-in-control
Support the show