This episode is all about having imposter syndrome as a stepmom, and how to best deal with it. Spoiler alert: you DO BELONG IN THEIR LIVES, and you're doing great. 

We also talk about our best advice for NEW stepmoms - things we wish we could have done differently, and our best tips to succeed as a stepmom. 

Minisode submission: ...."Fast forward to 2021, six months in our new home, and my fiance lets it slip that he had actually slept with his ex-wife BEFORE coming over to my house to tell me he wanted to work on his marriage back in 2018.  It hit me like a ton of bricks.  Here I was thinking how he was such a good guy but all along he had cheated on me with his ex.  The response I received was that this was three years ago so I just shouldn't worry about it and should be glad that we are together now since our relationship had been great up until this point.  It is hard enough dealing with the ex but imagine if your man SLEPT with the ex during your relationship?  I feel so torn and sad about this information and am really struggling.  

This minisode talks through one stepmom's challenges with her 12-year-old stepkid who is particularly difficult. Refusing to get along, is annoyed by everything, and then on TOP of all of that, her hubs says if she can't figure out how to get along with his kid, he might want a divorce. Should she stick it out? Is it worth it? Hear our take. 

As stepmoms, we constantly battle with the need to feel accepted. In this episode, we talk about:

• The difference between acceptance and appreciation?

This minisode covers a submission from one of our listeners surrounding her stepson, who has been increasingly disrespectful and ungrateful. Layered on top of an already complex situation involving false allegations, CPS, and losing custody of two kids already - this one is a challenge. Listen in as Bailey and Alyse give this stepmom advice on how to disengage and handle her specific situation.

We're BACK! Spend the first 10 minutes catching up on life with us, but if you want to skip RIGHT to the meat of the episode, skip to minute 11.

In this episode, Bailey and Alyse talk through the challenges which come along with having to deal with family courts, or as Alyse calls it, "the clown show". We talk through ways to handle situations thrown your way and then dive in on prenups in a blended family situation.

**Disclaimer: This episode does not serve as legal advice. For legal advice applicable to your individual situation, please consult an attorney**

We are so excited to have Joseph Goldberg as a guest on our show. His last three years have been devoted to the study of research that explains the causal factors of high conflict interpersonal disputes,  and family relational problems. The new factors from the neurobiological research put a new spin on not only what causes these problems to surface, but what parents can now do to resolve their ruptured relationships with their children.

MORE ABOUT JOSEPH:

Joseph Goldberg is a recognized expert in parental alienation. He is a Psycho-Legal Education and Litigation Support Consultant, which means he provides continuing education to lawyers, mental health professionals, and to parents who are engaged in high conflict, complex custody disputes that involve parent-child relationship problems.

Visit his website to learn more: https://www.parentalalienation.ca/ 

In this minisode, we unpack a historically tumultuous situation between a stepmom, her partner, and his ex-wife, who has shown to be high conflict. She wants to apologize to the stepmom, but the question remains: is it genuine? And even if it is, are we obligated to accept? 

Shawn Simon, MA, is a Board Certified Educational Therapist who works with children. Therefore, when she met the man of her dreams, who just happened to come with a couple of kids, she thought being a stepmom would be a breeze. She was wrong. However, as someone born with only one arm, she’s learned to overcome obstacles. Thus, she knew she could face the challenges of step-mothering. Shawn is published in the Association of Educational Therapists’ Journal and is an award-winning inspirational speaker in her field. She lives in Southern California with her husband, two step-kids, three rescue dogs, and one sixteen-year-old cat. Shawn is currently at work on more books for stepfamilies.

Follow Shawn on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shawncranesimon/

Visit her website: https://stepmomshawn.com/

Order her book "Stepping into a New Role: Stories from Stepmoms" here:

https://www.amazon.com/Stepping-into-New-Role-Stepmoms/dp/1940310954/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=stories+from+stepmoms&qid=1589780313&sr=8-1

https://www.4rvpublishing.com/shawn-simon.html

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/stepping-into-a-new-role-shawn-simon/1136816236?ean=9781940310954 

Perhaps our most important episode of the year, this one is fully dedicated to talking about all things Mother's Day (after a brief 4-min awkward story from Bailey). We talk about how to set proper expectations for yourself, your partner, and your stepkids for the day. We share our own feelings around gift-giving, being a childless stepmom celebrating, and all things in-between.