The Stepmom Side Podcast

When your stepkid says, “I miss my mom”  especially right after a consequence,  it hits different. It’s not just the words; it’s the sting behind them. The comparison. The reminder that no matter how much you love and show up, you’re still not her.

In this episode, Alicia dives into how to handle it when your stepchild brings up their mom whether it’s “I miss her,” “She does it better,” or “Mom lets me.” You’ll hear real stories (including one straight from The Stepmom Side Community), emotional insight, and a few hard truths about what’s really happening when those words come out.

Alicia breaks down:

• Why kids say things like “I miss my mom” and what they actually mean
• How to stay calm and respond in a way that keeps your power
• What not to do when it feels like manipulation
• Simple, validating phrases that defuse the tension
• Why leaning into the moment helps it lose power over time

If you’ve ever felt like you’re being compared, rejected, or just plain over it, this one’s for you. You’ll walk away with confidence, clarity, and maybe a little less sting next time those words come up.

Support the show

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.

When your in-laws are still close with your partner’s ex, it can feel like emotional whiplash. You’re trying to build a future while they’re still tethered to the past—and it leaves you wondering where (or if) you fit in. In this extended episode, Alicia gets real about her own experience of feeling like the outsider in her husband’s family and shares how she moved from frustration to clarity.

You’ll learn how to navigate this tricky dynamic without shutting people out, setting healthy boundaries around what you will (and won’t) discuss, and how to confidently define your own place in the family—even if it feels like the ex is still holding space.

This episode is part validation, part strategy, and 100% support for the stepmom who's tired of feeling like the backup option.

What You’ll Hear:

• Why it hurts when in-laws stay close to the ex
• Alicia’s personal story of feeling like the outsider
• Boundary-setting phrases you can use with in-laws
• How to talk to your partner about what you’re feeling
• Reframing your role without needing permission to belong

Support the show

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.

Kids are emotional chameleons — sweet one minute, sassy the next, and then asking for help like nothing ever happened. For stepmoms (especially those without kids of their own), those mood swings can feel deeply personal.

In this episode, Alicia gets real about how confusing and hurtful kids’ quick emotional flips can be — and why they usually have nothing to do with you. She shares a personal story about her daughter going from furious to friendly in record time and what it taught her about emotional regulation, perspective, and saving yourself from unnecessary heartache.

Alicia breaks down:

• Why kids’ moods can change on a dime (and the unseen variables behind it)
• How to stop taking every “off” behavior personally
• What emotional regulation actually looks like for kids (spoiler: it doesn’t)
• The right (and wrong) way to address disrespect or attitude
• How to keep your peace when kids forget they were just mad at you

If you’ve ever spiraled after a stepkid’s attitude shift or found yourself holding on to something long after they’ve moved on, this episode is your reminder that you’re not alone — and it’s not personal.

Join other stepmoms learning how to take things less personally (and laugh about it along the way) inside The Stepmom Side Community
.
For 1:1 coaching, visit aliciakrasko.com/coaching
.

Support the show

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.

Are you tired of repeating yourself and feeling like your partner just doesn’t hear you? Whether it’s dad guilt, lack of boundaries with the kids, inconsistency in parenting, or not feeling prioritized in your relationship — this episode is here to validate and support you.

In this episode, Alicia breaks down why communication feels so hard in blended families, why your partner may not respond the way you hope, and how being "too close" to the situation can make you the least effective person to bring up these issues.

You’ll learn:

• Why it’s normal for your partner to shut down (and why it’s not about you)
• What really causes that defensive reaction when you try to talk about the hard stuff
• How to shift the conversation without walking on eggshells
• Why outside support (like couples coaching with Alicia) can be a game-changer

If you're exhausted from having the same conversations that go nowhere, this episode will give you clarity, relief, and a path forward.

Interested in Couples Coaching? Apply here!

Support the show

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.

In this deeply honest episode, we’re getting into the emotional weeds of what happens when the ex’s belongings, photos, or influence are still showing up in your home. From hoodies and framed photos to never-ending texts between your partner and their ex, it can start to feel like you’re suffocating in someone else’s life.

Especially for childless and childfree stepmoms, the presence of “her stuff” can stir up major discomfort—and lead to fights with your partner, emotional shutdowns, or resentment toward the kids.

Alicia shares her personal experience and helps you reframe the issue so you can set boundaries without guilt, protect your peace without controlling the narrative, and finally start to feel at home in your own house. This episode offers validation, strategy, and a healthy dose of real talk for any stepmom who’s ever felt like a guest in her own home.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why “her stuff” hits different when you’re childless or childfree
• How to avoid explosive fights with your partner about the ex
• Reframing the discomfort as part of your stepmom growth
• The difference between setting boundaries and controlling the space
• Tips to stop feeling like a stranger in your own home

Support the show

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.

Is your partner’s past still taking up space in your present-day relationship? You’re not alone—and you’re not crazy. Whether it's memories of the ex, old traditions, or constant reminders of “how things used to be,” retroactive jealousy and emotional triggers are real in stepmom life.

In this episode, we’re unpacking the emotional weight of feeling like you’re competing with the past—and how to move forward with confidence. We’ll talk about:

• Why retroactive jealousy is more common than you think
• How your husband’s past relationship can affect your present
• The real reason these feelings sting so deeply
• Tangible tools to process your emotions without shame
• How to create new memories and reclaim your space in the blended family

This episode will leave you feeling seen, validated, and empowered to take back your role—not as a replacement, but as a renewal.

Support the show

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.

When you thought things would finally get easier once they were grown… but your adult stepkids still make you feel like an outsider. In this episode, Alicia digs into what’s really going on when adult stepkids won’t accept you — and how to stop tying your peace to their approval.

She shares the emotional layers behind this rejection, why it’s not actually about you, and the exact mindset shifts to help you feel confident, calm, and back in control.

Whether your adult stepkids are cold, distant, or flat-out disrespectful, this truth-telling pep talk will help you release the guilt, stop overcompensating, and reclaim your power — without turning bitter or backing down.

Listen in to learn:

• Why adult stepkids struggle to accept you (even years later)
• How loyalty binds and family guilt still play a role
• The biggest trap stepmoms fall into when trying to “prove” themselves
• What you can actually control (and what you can’t)
• How to detach from their approval and find peace on your terms

Free resource:
10 Tips to Get Through the Holidays

Join the conversation:
Find your people inside The Stepmom Side Community

Get personalized coaching at aliciakrasko.com/coaching

Support the show

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.

Are you a childless or childfree stepmom feeling like a broken record? Alicia gets real about the exhausting cycle of repeating yourself to your stepkids—whether it's chores, routines, or basic expectations—and feeling like it's never enough.

She opens up about her own realization that forgetfulness and resistance aren’t about being a stepmom—they’re just part of how kids grow and learn. With practical tools and empowering mindset shifts, this episode will help you release the guilt, drop the unrealistic expectations, and approach those “reminder moments” with less stress and more confidence.

Whether you're constantly asking them to take their shoes off, clean up after themselves, or simply follow through, this episode is your reminder that you're doing it right—even if it doesn’t feel like it.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why kids need repetition, no matter who’s parenting them
• How childless and childfree stepmoms often misinterpret forgetfulness as disrespect
• Mindset shifts to reduce frustration and resentment
• Practical strategies to stop feeling like a nag
• Why needing reminders doesn’t mean you’re failing as a stepmom

Free resource:
10 Tips to Get Through the Holidays

Set Your Stepfamily Up for Success (House Expectations)

Support the show

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.

In this truth-telling episode, Alicia pulls back the curtain on one of the most common (but least talked about) emotions in stepfamily life: resentment. It doesn’t show up overnight—it builds quietly from all the unspoken expectations, invisible labor, and bottled-up feelings that come with being a stepmom.

Alicia shares why resentment creeps in when you’re doing everything right but still feel unseen, unappreciated, and exhausted. You’ll learn how to spot the early signs before they blow up, how to set boundaries that protect your peace, and how to rewrite the story you’re telling yourself so resentment stops running the show.

This isn’t about pretending to be okay—it’s about taking your power back and showing up for yourself, guilt-free.

What You’ll Hear:

• What resentment really is and how it starts
• The five sneaky ways resentment builds up in blended families (how many of these are ways it builds for you?)
• Why “invisible labor” and unmet expectations make stepmoms feel stuck
• How to catch resentment before it turns into burnout or bitterness
• Simple ways to set boundaries and reclaim control of your role
• Alicia’s personal story of realizing she was drowning in resentment—and what helped her finally let it go

If you’ve ever caught yourself thinking, “Why do I feel so angry when I’m trying so hard?” — this one’s for you.

Free resource:
10 Tips to Get Through the Holidays

Join The Stepmom Side Community:
Find your people, get real-time support, and talk about this episode with stepmoms who actually get it.  aliciakrasko.com/community

Work with Alicia 1:1:
Ready to unpack your resentment, set better boundaries, and feel calm again? Book your coaching session here: aliciakrasko.com/coaching

Support the show

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.

If you’ve tried to co-parent with someone who thrives on drama, control, or straight-up chaos… this episode is your safe space and wake-up call. In Episode 122 of The Stepmom Side Podcast, Alicia breaks down what to do when co-parenting feels impossible because the ex just won’t cooperate.

We’re not here to sugarcoat—we’re here to speak truth. Co-parenting takes two willing adults. And when that’s not happening? You need to stop wasting energy trying to fix what you can’t control. Tune in for tough love, real talk, and actionable steps that will help you reclaim your peace—even if the ex keeps lighting fires.

Whether you're knee-deep in high-conflict drama or just need a sanity check, this episode will leave you feeling validated, supported, and back in your power.

Resource mentioned:

Podcast episode #98: Feeling Powerless as a Stepmom? It Might Be the Victim Mindset

Free resource:
10 Tips to Get Through the Holidays

Support the show

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.