Kids can be tricky for stepparents to navigate. Their behavior isn't rational, they don't know how to express their emotions, and sometimes they can take out their frustration on the person who can be the easiest target: stepmom.

But there's more to the story, and that's what we're talking about in this episode. We've got one of the top stepfamily researchers with us, and he's recently released a new look at the stepfamily dynamic - from the kids' perspectives.

He's got some really interesting, insightful, and surprising, findings that stepmoms should definitely pay attention to.

Todd Jensen, PhD, MSW is an Assistant Professor of Human Development and Family Science and Director of the Thriving Through Family Transitions Research Lab in the School of Education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Much of his research focuses on identifying factors that promote high-quality stepparent-child relationships, particularly those involving adolescent children.

Dr. Jensen’s professional activities are connected to more than 34 million dollars in funding, including support from the National Institutes of Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services, The Duke Endowment, the William T. Grant Foundation, The Annie E. Casey Foundation, and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. Dr. Jensen is a Faculty Fellow of the Carolina Population Center, a Fellow of the Society for Social Work and Research, Deputy Editor for the Journal of Family Theory & Review, and co-founder and co-chair of the Diverse Family Structures Focus Group of the National Council on Family Relations. As an educator, Dr. Jensen specializes in teaching courses on family theory and practice, human development, program evaluation, and advanced quantitative methodology.

On Instagram HERE

On his website, toddjensen.com, where you can also find links to many of his journal articles

On Wednesday, May 7th, I'm hosting a masterclass: The 5-Step Framework To Becoming A Stepfamily Coach (even if you've never coached before.

This FREE class is for you if you’ve ever thought about turning your stepfamily experience into a meaningful career or side hustle - but you’re unsure where to start, how to get clients, or if you’re even “qualified.” Here's what you'll learn:

✅ How I turned my own stepfamily challenges into a career that fuels me daily
✅ What you really need (hint: not a counseling degree or a “perfect family”)
✅ The biggest myths that hold amazing women back from making a real impact

If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show. It will help me reach more stepmoms just like you so they can get MORE out of stepmom life! It’s super easy – all you have to do is click HERE and scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “write a review.” Then just let me know what you like best!

And the best part about leaving a review? If you send me a screenshot of your review, I’ll send YOU my 20-minute Stepmom Self-Care Blueprint. For FREE. It’s normally $49 and it’s a great tool to quickly set up a self-care plan you’ll actually use. Just head HERE to send me your screenshot and grab your blueprint!

Today's episode is all about celebrating our big milestone - we have hit one hundred episodes!

It's been a wild ride for these first hundred episodes and I am so honored that you've joined me to explore so many different topics that impact stepmoms. There's still so much to talk about, so I hope you'll come along for the next hundred episodes!

Today we're going through some of the biggest lessons I've learned in these first hundred episodes. The lessons aren't all related to stepmom life - but they are all helpful for taking a look at your mindset, your stepmom experience, and how even one small step can make big changes in your life when you need it.

Next Wednesday, February 26th, I'm hosting an amazing 1 hour Masterclass: From Exhausted To Empowered: The 60-Minute Reset Every Stepmom Needs (and deserves!).

In the class, you're going to learn the three big obstacles that hold back almost every stepmom - things that you can address with a few simple mindset shifts.

Take just 60 minutes for yourself and come learn how to finally live into your blended family life without sacrificing your happiness.

Episode 32, Talking All Things Stepmom with Dr. Patricia Papernow

Episode 59, Letting It Be Easy (Even With Stepmom Life), with Susie Moore

Episode 56, How To Love Stepmom Life While Building A Business Empire, with Amy Porterfield

Episode 87, When Blended DOES Mean Happily Ever After, with Catt Sadler and Sarah Boyd

Episode 27, A Conversation with Megan Hunter, CEO of the High Conflict Institute

Episode 85: Learning How To Stepmom One Lesson At A Time, with Jamie Yuccas

Episode 96, A Better Marriage Starts with a Better You, with Casey and Meygan Caston

Episode 91, What Happens When You Retake Control of Your Stepmom Story, with Naja Hall

Episode 93, What Does Work In Stepfamilies, According To Research

Episode 94: Smooth Talking, Improving Communication One Step At A Time

Honorable Mention, Episode 99, Family Law Essentials for Stepmoms

Got a question for me or something you're struggling with in your stepfamily life? Submit a question to be answered on a future podcast episode HERE

If you're looking for some help with stepfamily communication, make sure you grab Smooth Talking: 10 Essential Stepmom Scripts - it will give you the exact words to use when you're trying to talk about some of the tricky stepfamily topics that come up on the regular.

If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show. It will help me reach more stepmoms just like you so they can get MORE out of stepmom life! It’s super easy – all you have to do is click HERE and scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “write a review.” Then just let me know what you like best!

And the best part about leaving a review? If you send me a screenshot of your review, I’ll send YOU my 20-minute Stepmom Self-Care Blueprint. For FREE. It’s normally $49 and it’s a great tool to quickly set up a self-care plan you’ll actually use. Just head HERE to send me your screenshot and grab your blueprint!

In today's episode, we’re getting into all the legal things around stepfamily life with an award-winning family law expert who has represented many high-profile clients in their divorces, including Ashley Darby of the Real Housewives of Potomac.

This week, I'm talking to a rockstar and award-winning attorney in the family law area. She is Managing Partner at the Geller Group and specializes in family law, divorce, custody disputes, collaborative divorce, and litigation.

Maria has been continually recognized as Virginia Business’ Legal Elite and selected as a Super Lawyers Rising Star for Virginia and the District of Columbia. She’s a frequent speaker and is a member of the Collaborative Professionals of Northern Virginia (CPNV), the D.C. Academy of Collaborative Professionals (DCACP), and the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals.

Maria graduated cum laude from the Honors Program at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and cum laude from the American University Washington College of Law in Washington, D.C. She is active in the DC community and served two years as General Counsel for Crispus Attucks Development Corporation. Our worlds have overlapped along the way, too. Maria was General Counsel for the Taste of the South Charity, which I was involved with for years, and she’s a member of the Junior League of Washington, where I served as President.

Along with Maria’s zeal for the practice of law, she is an avid runner and yoga practitioner, and loves cooking and spending time with her husband and three sons.

Thegellerlawgroup.com

On Instagram

Got a question for me or something you're struggling with in your stepfamily life? Submit a question to be answered on a future podcast episode HERE

If you're looking for some help with stepfamily communication, make sure you grab Smooth Talking: 10 Essential Stepmom Scripts - it will give you the exact words to use when you're trying to talk about some of the tricky stepfamily topics that come up on the regular.

If so, please consider rating and reviewing the show. It will help me reach more stepmoms just like you so they can get MORE out of stepmom life! It’s super easy – all you have to do is click HERE and scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “write a review.” Then just let me know what you like best!

And the best part about leaving a review? If you send me a screenshot of your review, I’ll send YOU my 20-minute Stepmom Self-Care Blueprint. For FREE. It’s normally $49 and it’s a great tool to quickly set up a self-care plan you’ll actually use. Just head HERE to send me your screenshot and grab your blueprint!