TW: Hospice/Death This episode covers quite a bit about the first 8 months of our relationship and the personal struggles I went through. I recommend a box of tissues if you have ever faced the loss of a parent/stepparent and if you've struggled with being 'wanted' by your stepkids. To say that I was completely devastated by the year 2015, it would come as no surprise to those close to me.

&nbsp;Melissa Rainer, mother of three girls, takes you on her journey from Instamom to becoming the legal mother of her two stepdaughters.&nbsp;The stories are all true.&nbsp;Nothing is held back.&nbsp;Everything is on the table.&nbsp;Melissa shares the difficulties she had with her own parents growing up and how those play into her own parenting skills (or lack thereof).&nbsp;She’ll take you through her battle against outsiders’ perspectives on parenting children that "aren't yours," which can come from just about anywhere (biological mom, bio-mom’s parents, in-laws, friends, family, neighbors, and pretty much anyone with a perspective and a mouth).&nbsp;&nbsp;Melissa illustrates how she walked (and eventually severed) the tightrope of conflicting, contradictory, and ever-changing perspectives that caused difficulties in her marriage and in her relationships with her children.&nbsp;Instamom Podcast covers a host of topics, including: parental alienation, therapy, co-parenting, suicide &amp; suicidal ideation, abandonment, loss, grief, and plenty of new traditions. This is her story, and it definitely is a roller coaster.&nbsp;Follow along with her wherever you get your podcasts and on Instagram at&nbsp;instagram.com/instamompod.&nbsp;Go buy her a coffee at&nbsp;buymeacoffee.com/instamompod.&nbsp;You can also join the private Instamom Podcast Community Facebook page by becoming a member on BMC.&nbsp;Thanks for listening!