Ali Wilks candidly shares how jealousy and competition in her stepfamily stemmed from her own wounds, rather than from the birth mom.
She discusses the clash between her own wounds and that of her stepdaughter's wounds, which became more pronounced after giving birth to her own daughters.
Ali connects her family history, particularly her mother's experiences, to feelings of unworthiness and abandonment within the stepfamily system.
She admits to intentionally exacerbating tensions within her stepfamily but now focus on empowering other mothers through her work.
Listen to the full interview starting September 13 - 15, at www.TheStepfamilySummit.com
Sep 8, 2023
2 min
Anna de Acosta, an intuitive guide for women who care for others, shares her personal journey as a stepmom coach and her transition into a new phase of coaching.
She opens up about her relationship with her husband, their beautiful blended family, and their upcoming move from Canada back to Peru.
Throughout the interview, Anna delves into the importance of navigating uncertainty, the significance of following your intuition, and the magical unfolding of life when we let go of societal fears.
She offers valuable insights on managing transitions, supporting children during change, and reframing negative emotions.
Anna also discusses the power of mindset, self-care, and modeling healthy emotional expression for our children.
With her warmth and vulnerability, Anna reminds us that mindset work is an ongoing journey, and that it's okay to not have all the answers.
Don't miss this insightful conversation and the chance to access Anna's exclusive private podcast where she shares behind-the-scenes insights into her own transition.
To listen to this full interview, go to www.TheStepfamilySummit.com and sign up for our 4th Ultimate Stepfamily Summit.
Sep 8, 2023
2 min
Brittney Phillips discusses common triggers that stepmoms face in their relationships.
These triggers include feeling excluded or rejected by stepchildren, as well as dealing with jealousy, resentment, and insecurity.
Challenging dynamics, such as co-parenting with an ex-partner, can also be triggering.
Different parenting styles and unresolved emotional issues from previous relationships can further complicate stepfamily dynamics.
Brittney shares her personal experience of finding healing opportunities in her remarriage.
The conversation focuses on the importance of mindfulness and self-awareness when dealing with triggers.
Brittney shares physical sensations she experiences when triggered, like a constricted chest and fast heartbeat.
She emphasizes the need to pause and reflect on her internal state rather than solely focusing on external factors.
Communication with one's partner is crucial, expressing feelings and explaining what is needed in order to work through triggers.
Listen to the full interview with Brittney by registering for the Ultimate Stepfamily Summit, Sept 13 -15 at www.TheStepfamilySummit.com
Sep 8, 2023
1 min
Claudette begins by sharing how her son didn’t see himself as a family and how this got her to think of different approaches to defining stepfamilies.
She emphasizes the importance of explaining complex concepts in a language that children can understand. The discussion shifts to the challenges of applying a growth mindset in stepfamilies and breaking stereotypes about broken families.
Claudette highlights the importance of seeing stepfamilies as a different kind of family and creating a supportive environment for all members.
They delve into the two types of mindsets, fixed and growth, and how cultivating a growth mindset can promote healthier interactions and problem-solving in stepfamilies.
They discuss the concept of a stepfamily micro-community, viewing the stepfamily as a cohesive group within a larger community and the importance of including all parents.
Join us Sept 13-15. It's Free to attend. www.TheStepfamilySummit.com
Sep 8, 2023
2 min
Ginger Gentile, shares her personal journey of overcoming parental alienation and using her experiences to advocate for change.
Motivated to create awareness and provoke discussion, Ginger made a powerful film called "Erasing Dad," which premiered in Argentina in 2014. The film sparked conversations around parental alienation, leading to the passing of joint custody legislation in Argentina.
After returning to the United States, Ginger recognized the importance of social media in spreading awareness and decided to make a follow-up film titled "Erasing Family." This film explores how parental alienation affects children and follows young children as they reunite their families after experiencing this type of alienation.
Ginger shares her insight and offers hope to parents and stepparents dealing with difficult family dynamics.
She emphasizes the importance of having a plan and a strategy for reunification, rather than simply hoping for things to get better or relying solely on the court system.
Ginger highlights the significance of developing new skills, adopting a positive mindset, and focusing on one's own happiness and well-being while waiting for their children to come back.
She provides a roadmap to reversing parental alienation, offering simple steps to end alienation and rebuild relationships with children.
To listen to Ginger's full interview, go to www.TheStepfamilySummit.com
Sep 7, 2023
2 min
Heidi Farrell emphasizes the importance of prioritizing relationships over small issues, recounting her own journey of letting go of a long-standing driving issue with her stepson and focusing on building a strong connection instead.
Heidi also highlights the importance of having a big-picture mindset, forgiveness, and grace towards oneself and others. She asserts the need for setting boundaries in the home and encourages reflection on personal growth. The episode explores the challenges that stepmoms face, including negative thoughts, fixating on problems, and feeling desperate or bitter.
Heidi invites listeners to shift their mindset to the big picture, restore hope, and find joy.
Heidi also touches on the role of parents and adults as good role models, emphasizing the need for trust and allowing children to make mistakes for their own learning and growth.
Heidi discusses the struggle of wanting to protect and support her family, yet realizing the importance of letting them fail and taking responsibility.
Watch Heidi’s full interview on Sept 13-15 at www.TheStepfamilySummit.com
Sep 7, 2023
2 min
Jason Kreidman of Dad University discusses the power of empathy in parenting.
Addressing a common concern among dads, Jason explores the role of fathers as disciplinarians and provides suggestions on fulfilling this role without relying solely on the mom or stepmom.
He shares personal experiences as a recovering yeller and complainer, emphasizing the importance of open communication and setting clear expectations and responsibilities within relationships and households.
Jason also discusses the power of positive affirmations, expressing gratitude, and offering constructive feedback instead of criticism.
He believes that men, in particular, want to please their partners and suggests that positive affirmations can contribute to their partner's happiness.
He also highlights the significance of empathy towards stepmothers, stepfathers, and other parents.
Jason believes that learning empathy not only benefits parenting but also enhances personal and professional relationships.
Watch the full interview starting Sept. 13-15 on www.TheStepfamilySummit.com
Sep 7, 2023
1 min
Jayna Haney discusses the importance of taking responsibility and owning our own power, rather than placing blame on others. We'll explore the concept that our thoughts create our reality.
Drawing from her experience and expertise, Jayna guides us through the traits of high conflict people and the impact they can have on stepfamily and co-parenting dynamics.
We'll learn how these individuals struggle with all or nothing thinking, unmanaged emotions, extreme behaviors, and their aversion to taking responsibility.
During our interview, Jayna provides practical strategies to combat high conflict by promoting flexibility, managing emotions, practicing moderation, and fostering personal accountability.
We'll examine why taking charge and making changes is crucial for our mental and emotional well-being, and how shifting our mindset can empower us to break free from the blame cycle.
Sign up for our 3 day, 21 speaker, free event for stepfamilies to help them create stronger and healthier stepfamilies, one STEP at a time.
Don’t miss Jayna’s full interview at www.TheStepfamilySummit.com.
Remember, it’s free to attend.
Sep 7, 2023
2 min
Krista Giovara opens up about making mistakes, learning from them, and how her journey as a stepparent has been a valuable lesson.
Krista delves into the challenges she faced in her blended family, including different expectations, rules, and morals between her and her partner. They sought therapy to address these issues and found new ways to connect, such as engaging in "mocktail hours" to focus on positive things and giving each other long hugs.
Krista also discusses the unique bonding experience her children had when their respective parents and stepparents became friends and started spending time together with all seven kids. This allowed the children to get to know each other better and strengthened their relationships. However, Krista admits that while this was a blessing for the kids, it was sometimes difficult for her and her spouse to be left out.
Krista also shares her struggles with letting go of rigid schedules and control, acknowledging that she wishes she had backed off certain things earlier.
Listen to Krista's full interview at www.TheStepfamilySummit.com
Sep 7, 2023
2 min
Laura Petherbridge, also known as the "smart stepmom," discusses the challenges of being a stepmom.
Laura talks about how stepmothers struggle to balance different roles in different stages of the journey and often fear angering their partners or appearing unloving to their stepchildren.
She emphasizes the need to set healthy boundaries and communicate effectively with the biological parents, and dispels the negative stereotype of the stepmom portrayed on social media.
Laura encourages stepmoms to find supportive communities and control their thoughts and mindset and suggests focusing on fulfilling a unique purpose for the stepchildren rather than trying to replace their biological parent.
Don’t miss Laura’s full interview at www.TheStepfamilySummit.com. Remember, it’s free to attend.
Sep 7, 2023
1 min
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