This honest and empowering episode of The Stepmom Side Podcast dives deep into how codependency shows up uniquely in the stepmom experience. From emotional overfunctioning and people-pleasing to the fear of abandonment and control, Alicia shares real talk from her own life, plus tools you can use to start healing. If you've ever felt like your value is tied to how much you give—or that you're doing way more emotional labor than anyone else—this episode is your sign to pause, reflect, and start taking back your emotional power. Learn how your childhood patterns may be impacting your role now, what boundaries look like in real time, and why reclaiming your identity matters more than ever.

Highlights of this episode:

• What codependency actually is
• Why stepmoms are especially vulnerable to it
• The real-life signs you're stuck in people-pleasing
• How to begin creating space for your own needs again
• Permission to stop over-functioning in your blended family

Resources mentioned:

Episode #98: Feeling Powerless as a Stepmom? It Might be the Victim Mindset

Codependency by Psychology Today

Episode #106: Why Stepmoms and Their Partners Keep Having the Same Fights with Annmarie Chereso

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What if conflict isn't the problem—but the portal? In this raw and real episode, Alicia is joined by Annmarie, a fellow stepmom and conflict resolution ninja, to unpack what’s really going on underneath the same old fights. (Spoiler: It’s not about the dishes.)

They dig into:

• Why your drama triangle has assigned seating
• How to tell if you're reacting from love or fear
• What your partner’s defensiveness actually means (it’s not about you… kinda)
• Why kids shapeshift between houses and how it’s not personal
• Using conflict as a gateway to unconditional love and radical self-awareness

Whether you’re blowing up over socks on the floor or questioning your entire role in the stepfamily, this conversation is your loving slap-in-the-face reminder that healing is hard, but worth it.

Connect with Annmarie:

www.annmariechereso.me

Quiz: What's Fueling Conflict in Your Relationship?

Instagram

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This episode is a raw, unfiltered Ask Me Anything from the stepmom trenches (on Instagram). Alicia gets real about some of the most vulnerable (and let’s be honest, slightly rage-inducing) questions stepmoms are dealing with—like:

• “Why do I feel like I won’t be good enough until we have a kid together?”
• “Will I ever feel relaxed around the ex?”
• “How the hell do I let go of the hate and bitterness?”
• “Am I the only one who dreads vacations with the stepkids?”
• “How much are we spending on legal fees for this chaos!?”

If you’ve ever googled “how to get divorced from your stepmom role,” this episode is your permission slip to breathe, laugh, and get some damn clarity.

What You'll Hear:

• The emotional pressure stepmoms feel to have an “ours baby” to feel equal
• The real reason being around her (the mom) makes your skin crawl
• Why venting to your partner about the ex might be making things worse
• The truth about high-conflict coparents and why peace might not be the goal
• How to survive vacation chaos without lighting everything on fire
• The shocking (and sickening) cost of legal fees for blended families

If you've ever asked yourself, “Is it just me?”—it’s not. And Alicia’s got stories and truth bombs to prove it.

Resources Mentioned:

• Mastering Stressors (Free Guide)
  Learn how to slow your reaction, shift your mindset, and feel like you're back in control again.
  👉 aliciakrasko.com/stressors

Join the Community:

Need a space to vent, heal, and figure this whole stepmom thing out without being judged? Come join the chaos-free zone inside The Stepmom Side Community.

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Transition days. You know, the ones where your quiet, clean house suddenly turns into a full-blown chaos factory. Whether your stepkids are arriving for the weekend, the week, or every other Tuesday, transition days can bring stress, overstimulation, and a whole lot of feelings you didn’t expect. In this episode, Alicia is answering real questions submitted through her Instagram broadcast channel from stepmoms just like you who are trying to survive the emotional rollercoaster of blended family life.

From feeling totally withdrawn to dealing with a stepkid who “hates you” on day one, Alicia breaks down what’s normal (spoiler alert: a lot more than you think), how to communicate your needs to your partner without starting WWIII, and how to stop shrinking yourself just to keep the peace.

You’ll also hear how transition day stress affects your relationship, your mental health, and why a simple routine—yes, even just ordering Chinese food—can be the thing that brings everyone back to center.

In this episode:

• What’s actually normal on transition days
• How to communicate your overwhelmed energy to your spouse without sounding like you hate everyone
• Helping your stepkid process anxiety about going back to their mom’s house
• What to do when your stepchild seems to hate you the second they walk in
• Navigating the shift in your relationship when the house gets fuller (and louder)
• How not to lose your own damn mind in the process

Resources Mentioned:

• 🎁 Freebie: Mastering the Stressors – A stepmom’s guide to identifying what’s really causing stress and finding a better way to respond
• 🎧 Episode 67: The Stepmom Specific Anxiety No One Talks About – Why you feel it and how to manage it
• 🎧 Episode 96: Documenting for Court: Protecting Your Peace in High Conflict Coparenting with Nika Chadwick
• 💬 Join the Instagram Broadcast Channel to weigh in on future episodes and get support in real time

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Alicia gets real about what it means to support your partner through parenting challenges. From learning when to speak up to knowing when to simply listen, Alicia shares personal stories and practical tips for navigating these tough moments with love and patience. This episode is for anyone who's ever struggled with how to show up for their spouse without stepping on toes—or losing themselves in the process.

Plus, Alicia shares how couples coaching can help partners reconnect and communicate better, especially during high-stress parenting seasons.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Alicia’s personal story of learning to support without “fixing”
• How to ask the right question: “Do you want support or solutions?”
• Understanding emotional triggers in your partner
• When to talk, when to listen, and when to step back
• Couples Coaching – application-only access Apply here

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After you listen to this, tag me on Instagram @aliciakrasko and let me know what you think!
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Want to learn more about The Stepmom Side community? Here's where you get all the info. Looking forward to connecting with you on the inside.
All things Alicia visit www.aliciakrasko.com
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In this deeply relatable solo episode, Alicia opens up about a struggle so many stepmoms face but rarely talk about—what it feels like to miss out on the “firsts.” First marriage, first baby, first home, first big life moments with your partner... when you weren’t part of those, it can trigger deep feelings of jealousy, insecurity, and even grief.

Alicia shares a powerful personal story from early in her marriage—when she felt so second-best and confused that she literally googled “how to get divorced.” She also responds to a heartfelt message from a listener who’s in the thick of those feelings, despite having a kind and supportive partner.

This episode offers a step-by-step practical approach for navigating the emotional weight of not being the first, including:

• How to build confidence in your role as a stepmom—even when you feel like you’re living in someone else’s shadow
• Why it’s important to acknowledge the ache of not having your own child (yet or at all), and how that grief is valid and real
• The underrated role of time in healing and shifting perspective, with a beautiful quote from The Stepmom Side community that reframes what “firsts” really mean

If you’ve ever felt like your partner’s “second chance,” this episode will remind you that you’re actually his current choice—and that you’re creating a story together that is no less meaningful.

What You’ll Walk Away With:

• Permission to feel your feelings without guilt or shame
• Reassurance that you're not crazy, broken, or alone
• Tools for reframing missed firsts and celebrating the new “firsts” you're building now
• Language to ask your partner for reassurance in moments of doubt

Stepmom, you are not second best.
You’re just second chronologically—and there’s a big difference.

🎧 Tune in now and let Alicia walk with you through this common but rarely named experience.

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In this episode of The Stepmom Side Podcast, Alicia Krasko gets real about the silent struggle so many stepmoms face: losing themselves in the chaos of blended family life. One day you’re living your carefree (ish) life, and the next, you're the emotional project manager of a household that runs on other people's schedules and drama. Sound familiar?

Alicia breaks down how the gradual burnout happens—and why so many stepmoms feel like they’ve completely lost touch with what they enjoy. From feeling like you have to do it all, to fearing what “the mom” might think if you step back, to snapping at your partner because you’re just. so. tapped. out.—this episode is your permission slip to start taking up space again.

She shares the exact script to use when telling your partner why you’re blocking off non-negotiable me time, and gives practical tips to help you reconnect with yourself (no, you don’t need a weekend away or a 3-hour spa day… unless you want that, too).

Because the truth is? Your stepfamily doesn’t need a martyr.
They need you—the recharged, connected, joy-filled version of you.

👯‍♀️ Want to know what other stepmoms do for "me time"? Join The Stepmom Side Community and ask!
There’s a whole crew of women who get it and are walking this road with you.

🔗 Links & Resources:

• Listen to Episode 101: aliciakrasko.com/101
• Join the community: aliciakrasko.com/community
• 1:1 coaching with Alicia: aliciakrasko.com/coaching

Want a specific topic covered? Let me know here.
After you listen to this, tag me on Instagram @aliciakrasko and let me know what you think!
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Want to learn more about The Stepmom Side community? Here's where you get all the info. Looking forward to connecting with you on the inside.
All things Alicia visit www.aliciakrasko.com
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In this episode, Alicia is here to lovingly snatch you out of your spiral with a bold-but-needed reminder: You’re not that special. (And yes, that’s the best news you’ll hear today.)

Because if you’ve ever thought you were the only stepmom feeling like an outsider, overwhelmed by an ex, or questioning how the hell you ended up in this role—you’re absolutely not alone.

Alicia shares her personal experience with outsider syndrome and challenges the toxic lies stepmoms tell themselves like:

• “No one else deals with this”
• “I’m never going to be enough”
• “Everyone else has it together but me”

Through truth-telling, pep-talking, and community wisdom, this episode reminds you that you’re not crazy, not alone, and definitely not the only one Googling “how to get divorced” in the Target parking lot.

Tune in to hear:

• Why your stepmom struggles are more common than you think
• How to stop believing the shamey BS in your brain
• The difference between “blending in” and actually belonging
• And why getting in community with other stepmoms might change your life

Want to feel seen? Join the crew inside The Stepmom Side Community and stop trying to do this all on your own.

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After you listen to this, tag me on Instagram @aliciakrasko and let me know what you think!
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Want to learn more about The Stepmom Side community? Here's where you get all the info. Looking forward to connecting with you on the inside.
All things Alicia visit www.aliciakrasko.com
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Summer break in a stepfamily isn’t always sunshine and s’mores—it can be a whirlwind of transitions, mood swings, and scheduling chaos. In this episode, Alicia gets real about the emotional toll of summer break as a stepmom, especially when the stepkids are constantly going back and forth between homes.

She breaks down the most common summer struggles (spoiler: you’re not alone if the custody schedule makes you cry), and shares tools to help you find rhythm, protect your time, and reset after each transition.

Whether you're feeling burnt out by the back-and-forth or just want permission to prioritize yourself, this episode offers validation, support, and practical tips to make this season feel less like survival mode.

Want help setting expectations and boundaries for summer?
Join the community: aliciakrasko.com/community
Book a coaching call: aliciakrasko.com/coaching

Want a specific topic covered? Let me know here.
After you listen to this, tag me on Instagram @aliciakrasko and let me know what you think!
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Want to learn more about The Stepmom Side community? Here's where you get all the info. Looking forward to connecting with you on the inside.
All things Alicia visit www.aliciakrasko.com
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In this episode of The Stepmom Side Podcast, Alicia dives into a powerful truth that many stepmoms avoid: staying stuck in victimhood may feel safe—but it’s quietly stealing your joy, your voice, and your power.

If you’ve ever thought, “No one gets it,” “Nothing I do matters,” or “I’m just done trying,” this episode is your wake-up call and warm hug in one. Alicia shares how victimhood becomes a comfort zone and why breaking free is the key to reclaiming your confidence, peace, and freedom as a stepmom.

You’ll hear:

• What victimhood actually looks and sounds like (spoiler: it’s sneaky)
• Why staying stuck can feel easier than choosing change
• The emotional and relational cost of giving away your power
• A personal story from Alicia that proves you can take control, even in chaos

This is the episode to listen to when you’re ready to stop surviving and start leading your stepmom life on your terms.

🔗 Mentioned in this episode:
💥 Join The Stepmom Side Community for support, coaching, and connection: aliciakrasko.com/community
💬 Ready for personalized help? Book 1:1 coaching with Alicia: aliciakrasko.com/coaching

Want a specific topic covered? Let me know here.
After you listen to this, tag me on Instagram @aliciakrasko and let me know what you think!
Get all the FREE RESOURCES here.
Want to learn more about The Stepmom Side community? Here's where you get all the info. Looking forward to connecting with you on the inside.
All things Alicia visit www.aliciakrasko.com
Get on the list, get behind the scene info on Stepmom life, and tips delivered to your inbox.