Being a stepparent is tricky. How do you get involved in your stepchildren’s lives without overstepping? How do you go about disciplining a stepchild? How do you approach the holidays? Stepfamilies do have their benefits but taking on the role of a stepparent is never going to be easy. On the bad days, it can feel like you ‘set your hair on fire, and you’re trying to put it out with a hammer.’Jean McBride is a marriage and family therapist in Northern Colorado who has helped more than 20,000 families navigate divorce. She has spent the past 11 years specializing in post-divorce relationships, which encompasses parenting during and after divorce, remarriage and stepfamilies. Jean serves as a divorce coach trained in the Collaborative Divorce model as well as a speaker and consultant in the area of divorce and remarriage. She is the author of Encouraging Words for New Stepmothers and Talking to Children About Divorce.Today, Jean joins Katherine to share her take on why the role of stepmother is the most complex. She explains the difference in societal expectations for mothers and fathers, discussing how those expectations impact stepmoms and stepdads. Jean walks us through some of the common mistakes made by new stepparents and the ongoing discussion a new couple should have with regard to parenting. Listen in to understand the concept of diplomacy within a stepfamily and learn how to approach the holidays in a way that makes everyone feel welcome and equal.Topics CoveredThe complexity of taking on the role of stepmotherThe challenge for stepmothers to be involved without oversteppingJean’s advice for new stepparentsTake it slowLet biological parent leadWhy it can be simpler for stepfamilies if both adults have childrenHow the societal expectations for fathers impact stepdadsThe common mistakes made by stepfathersThe ongoing discussion a new couple should have about parentingExpectationsParenting styleCommunicationDisciplineThe concept of diplomacy within a stepfamilyHow to make stepchildren feel welcome during the holidaysThe value in establishing new holiday traditionsMixing biological and stepparents at holiday celebrationsJean’s guidance for stepfamiliesManage expectationsGet help (i.e.: books, online resources, life coach)Connect with Jean McBrideJean’s Website: www.divorcehelpforparents.comResourcesEncouraging Words for New Stepmothers by Jean A. McBride: amazon.com/Encouraging-Words-Stepmothers-Jean-McBride/dp/0970772912Talking to Children About Divorce: A Parent’s Guide to Healthy Communication at Each Stage of Divorce by Jean McBride: www.amazon.com/Talking-Children-About-Divorce-Communication/dp/1623156858Connect with Katherine MillerThe Center for Understanding Conflict: http://understandinginconflict.org/Miller Law Group: https://westchesterfamilylaw.com/Katherine on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kemiller1The New Yorker’s Guide to Collaborative Divorce by Katherine Miller: https://www.amazon.com/New-Yorkers-Guide-Collaborative-Divorce/dp/0692496246Email: [email protected]Call (914) 738-7765