Fortunately, my step kids have never called me the Step Monster. Although I'm certain they've thought of it or other unpleasant words. I'm almost always, Stacy or Seesi or Dad's Wife (in humor).

I learned stepping into a their world with a genuine desire to do the right thing didn't mean life would work out really well, even though I knew them for some time before my husband and I were partners.

Stepmomming doesn't mean that you won't feel defeated, feel as if you add no value or aren't valued. More often than not, we feel two steps forward and five steps back and the feeling of defeat and sometimes rejection can feel worse than when are our own kids drive us crazy or reject us. It's possible we try harder to fit in with our step kids than with our own.

Fellow stepmoms, allow yourself space to breathe, healthy boundaries and the importance of 'not my issue to solve,' no matter how much you believe you know better.

Cheers.

Thanks for listening!

Stacy

Website: thecuriositycoach.co

Instagram: skehrenidema

Facebook:stacyidemacoaching

Medium: skehrenidema

Twitter: stacyidema

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Music by Pond5

Cover photo by Shari Fleming Photography

Photo artwork by Derek Hood

Who would have thought parenting would get more difficult when your kids become adults? I sure as hell didn't…

When they're so close to becoming an adult and then they're in the midst of early adulting, it is hard to remember they don't need us to fix everything or take away all of their pain. Sometimes holding space is the only immediate solution. The rest is not for us to figure out.

Cheers.

Thanks for listening!

Stacy

Website: thecuriositycoach.co

Instagram: skehrenidema

Facebook:stacyidemacoaching

Medium: skehrenidema

Twitter: stacyidema

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Music by Pond5

Cover photo by Shari Fleming Photography

Photo artwork by Derek Hood

Seriously, I thought I had this mom thing in the bag before I became I even became one myself. Then the mom thing happened and then they grew up or maybe I grew up.

Parenting and perfect should never go in the same sentence. There's no such thing as a perfect mom, nor do you want to be one, trust me!

Cheers.

Thanks for listening!

Stacy

Website: thecuriositycoach.co

Instagram: skehrenidema

Facebook:stacyidemacoaching

Medium: skehrenidema

Twitter: stacyidema

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Music by Pond5

Cover photo by Shari Fleming Photography

Photo artwork by Derek Hood

I thought co parenting the second time around would be easier, especially understanding the approach my (now) husband and his ex wife wanted to do together.

And yet, sometimes emotions run off in a direction we don't expect or when you're in the moment what you want to do and what you actually do differ greatly. Kids give you a run for your money and sometimes the frustration seems never ending.

Wishing hard might work; however, everyone reacts and response differently when shit hits the fan, including me.

Cheers.

Thanks for listening!

Stacy

Music by Pond5

Cover photo by Shari Fleming Photography

Photo artwork by Derek Hood

When you lean into co parenting and it works until it doesn't anymore. What do you do? There's only so much you can control and the best you can do is doing everything you can to stay consistent.

Life changed for us when more humans entered the world. The love for all involved wasn't lost; however, life changed and we didn't adapt well to the change.

Co parenting is possible for all. I truly believe it, especially if you're committed to wanting something different and willing to put in the effort. Not all relationships start or end like ours; however, even today I wish our story was a different. No matter what, it all works out in the end and it's on us to make the best of the situation.

Cheers. Thanks for listening!

Stacy

Website: thecuriositycoach.co

Instagram: skehrenidema

Facebook:stacyidemacoaching

Medium: skehrenidema

Twitter: stacyidema

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Music by Pond5

Cover photo by Shari Fleming Photography

Photo artwork by Derek Hood

Single parenting is hard. Hell, parenting is hard. But single parenting doesn't = 100% kid responsibility. Creating boundaries are important even when we don't feel the other parent won't do whatever it is as well as we can. As long as saying 'no' or 'not this time' won't create a situation that would physically or emotionally hurt our children or saying it's okay to say 'no' or 'maybe another time.' Proactive negotiation can also help define boundaries. When we go in always saying 'yes' because we believe it's the best thing for our kids, eventually resentment creeps in, especially when that 'yes' is not reciprocated. The process is never easy; however, it can be more than tolerable.

Thanks for listening!

Cheers, Stacy

Website: thecuriositycoach.co

Instagram: skehrenidema

Facebook:stacyidemacoaching

Medium: skehrenidema

Twitter: stacyidema

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Music by Pond5

Cover photo by Shari Fleming Photography

Photo artwork by Derek Hood

A little early exploration of parenting and relationships. Just because you have kids together doesn't mean you are partners or family. Pieces and parts might feel like it; however, we need to come into a relationship at 100%. Doing so doesn't make us bad, it just means we're not ready. Life gets real and things don't turn out as planned, so we live, learn, move on and just keep in mind that there are no instructions to parenting or relationships and sometimes doing the best you can is all you can do and being honest with yourself and the others impacted is important.

Thanks for listening!

Stacy

Website: thecuriositycoach.co

Instagram: skehrenidema

Facebook:stacyidemacoaching

Medium: skehrenidema

Twitter: stacyidema

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Music by Pond5

Cover photo by Shari Fleming Photography

Photo artwork by Derek Hood

Parenting is challenging. Whomever told you it wasn't, lied! Single parenting is even more challenging and when you transition into co-parenting and step parenting - worlds connect and collide.

Hi, I'm Stacy and I find people fascinating and life as a parent, fabulous (most days)! I've navigated parenting, single parenting, co parenting (twice) and step parenting. Some days I really mess up the parenting thing and other days I rock it.

Focused on creating a community through real and raw and real stories about how life can happen as a mom, wife, life coach, entrepreneur, and over 40's woman. I look forward to sharing nuggets of my experience and the lessons I've learned along the way.

Thanks for listening!

Cheers, Stacy

Website: thecuriositycoach.co

Instagram: skehrenidema

Facebook:stacyidemacoaching

Medium: skehrenidema

Twitter: stacyidema

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Music by Pond5

Cover photo by Shari Fleming Photography

Photo artwork by Derek Hood