In a recent conversation with a local pastor, I was asked why blending feels so hard for so many. I could give a list of 100+ reasons, but it can be boiled down to this: We need to stop treating stepfamilies like first families. One of the biggest mistakes is assuming it'll be the same, because it's nowhere close to the same. The relationships aren't starting from Day One. You are bringing two family histories into one new story - and trying to blend all the parts together. I could go on and on. I'm curious...What is something that surprised you about blended family life that "first families" don't have to deal with?

In blended families, holidays can cause tension. Mother's Day can be especially stressful for stepmoms who feel overlooked, unappreciated, or unsure of their role within the family. I'm curious, how does your family do Mother's Day?

I have to be honest. When I opened Our Blended Home, I was looking for a little space in the universe for me to let the "teacher/coach" side of me loose to play. Then I started listening to all the "experts" who talked about engagement, daily posts, and being active all the time. So... I went ahead and started doing that, and it felt icky. I'm an introvert, I'm happy to show up and help, but please don't make me lead conversations and small talk, I may faint! 😂 SO...Here is to a fresh start, giving you what I INTENDED to give you. Our Blended Home will now be your LEARNING HUB for all things related to stepfamily parenting. I will be offering mini-teachings, answering Q&A questions, and giving a live workshop once a month. For you, that means you get to learn at your own pace without all the noise of a social media group. You can ask questions in the community or DM me. You can chime in on the occasional poll to let me know what you want next. You can absolutely ask me to cover a specific topic in a workshop/teaching session. What we're not doing is random chit-chat for the sake of engagement. You are too busy raising kids for that! I want to be your resource for useful information and support. If you know a stepparent or their partner who is in the early stages of blending, please invite them to our learning hub, I really do want to support more blended families! Thanks so much for being here. Comment below with your feedback on this change. :)

Small shifts in communication can change everything. Try this today:Before responding to your partner, pause and ask yourself—👉 “Am I trying to understand or trying to prove a point?” That one question can completely change how the conversation goes. Engagement Question:Which one do you tend to lean toward more (if you’re honest)? Understanding or proving your point?

I often use the phrase "alignment" when talking about parenting. It's not meant to mean agreeing on everything single thing. In fact, our differences can be our strengths. If everyone had the identical opinion, life would be boring! I'm curious what alignment looks like in your home?