STEPMOM

As a new stepdad, are you finding it tough going? Being a new stepdad can be a bewildering experience. You fell in love and got married, likely not aware of how difficult it can be to make a stepfamily work.

Some of the experiences a new stepdad faces are these:

Feeling like “the outsider” – your wife and her kids have so much shared experience, and talk about the past when you weren’t part of the family.

Not having an easy time relating to or understanding your stepchildren (especially if you don’t have children of your own).

If you do have your own children, but not full-time, you might be experiencing sadness or guilt that your stepkids get more of you than your own children.

You might feel that the stepchildren are out of control, or need more discipline and training, but your wife does not see it the same way, and protects them.

Confused about how to, or whether to take on the role of disciplinarian, and finding that it causes problems between you and the kids, or you and your wife, when you do.

Feel you want more of your wife’s time and attention, but that the stepchildren are always there and wanting her attention.

There should be a guidebook for the new stepdad! He is so little understood, and often feels he should know how to fix the problems in the stepfamily. Sometimes he just backs off, which can further distance him from his wife, and slow the bonding process between him and his stepchildren.

When you understand the what you are going through is common to all new stepdads in your situation, you find that there’s nothing wrong with you! You have just rowed into unfamiliar waters in this role, and need a navigation guide to help you through it…

We offer an online, 6-week course just for that purpose!