In this episode, Alicia chats with Daren, a life coach specializing in divorce recovery and dating. Daren's personal journey through a painful divorce and loss of identity propelled him to guide others facing similar challenges. From co-parenting struggles to redefining self-worth, Daren's experiences offer profound insights into navigating the emotional turbulence of post-divorce life. Together, they explore the highs, lows, and powerful lessons learned along the way.

Highlights from This Episode:

1. Embracing Identity Loss and Rebuilding: Daren shares how the loss of his roles—as a husband, corporate manager, and close-proximity parent—forced him to confront and redefine his identity.
2. Healing Through Vulnerability: Discussing the difficulty men face in opening up, Daren reveals how crucial vulnerability and community are for healing, especially for men, who often hesitate to ask for help.
3. The Role of Accountability: Daren’s sessions with male therapists gave him tools and "tough love" accountability, offering the perspective that real growth comes when we're willing to call ourselves out.
4. Small Steps to Lasting Change: Both Daren and Alicia reflect on how small, consistent changes—rather than sweeping life overhauls—lead to significant progress over time.
5. Turning Pain into Purpose: Daren talks about his journey from suffering to purpose, using his own experiences to help others navigate post-divorce life with a renewed sense of hope.

Daren's book: The Husband's Diary on Amazon

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Welcome to the very first episode of The Stepmom Side Podcast! In this introductory episode, Alicia, the host and Stepmom Coach, dives into her journey—from her small-town Iowa roots to her current life as a stepmom in Michigan. If you follow her on Instagram, you already know this episode has been a bit daunting for her. Talking about stepmom life? Easy. Talking about herself? Eh, not as much! But here we go, and she’s spilling all the tea on her life, her family, and how she’s navigated the ups and downs of being a stepmom.

Key Points:

1. Alicia’s Journey – Starting in Iowa, moving to Florida, then Texas, and finally Michigan to be with her husband. 
2. Becoming a Stepmom – Alicia shares how she met her stepkids at ages 8 and 11. She answers common listener questions about her early days in the family, her family’s opinions (or lack thereof) on her marrying someone with kids, and how she adjusted to her new life.
3. Family Dynamics – Did Alicia's family have thoughts about her marrying someone with kids? Probably, but she didn’t ask (because why invite unnecessary opinions?).
4. Relationship with the Kids’ Mom – Alicia reflects on her experience and initial insecurities. While the kids’ mom has always been kind, Alicia faced jealousy and doubts—wondering if her relationship could feel “special” given her husband's past and age gap.
5. Biggest Struggles – The early challenges: jealousy, insecurity, awkwardness, and the lack of control in her new role. Alicia, a naturally independent person, had to find her place in a household she couldn’t fully control—a rude awakening, to say the least!
6. Finding Balance and Freedom – Alicia shares her passion for travel, discussing how she kept her independence while respecting her husband’s and stepkids’ schedules.
7. The Awkward "Mom" Title – What do the kids call her? It’s “Alicia,” plain and simple. And while the kids occasionally call her "Dad’s wife" or "Stepmom," they’ve never called her "Mom," and that’s fine by her.

Takeaways:

• Independence and Confidence – Alicia shares how she managed to keep her own identity and independence while also taking on a stepmom role.
• Real Talk on Jealousy and Control – The honest reality of learning how to deal with emotions like jealousy and how Alicia navigated the awkwardness of parental roles.
• Finding Your Place in the Stepmom Journey – For anyone feeling out of place or unsure, Alicia’s story is proof that it’s okay to struggle as long as you keep finding your footing.

Follow Alicia for More: Get more insight into Alicia’s journey, plus tips and advice on being a stepmom on Instagram @aliciakrasko. Don't forget to subscribe to The Stepmom Side Podcast for more episodes on real-life stepmom struggles, wins, and everything in between!

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.