The Smart Stepmom: Practical Steps to Help You Thrive

by Ron L. Deal, Laura Petherbridge

Overview

The stepmother's role often is ambiguous and underappreciated, and frequently it carries unrealistic expectations. The book answers women's concerns and questions, including: How can I be a caretaker and a key emotional connector in the family if the children don't accept my influence? How shoud I cope with children who are confused about their family and torn between loyalty to their biological mother and me? When should I step back in conflicts and when should I insist that my husband stand up for me? In addition it addresses the spiritual and emotional climate of the home, providing perspective and guidelines to help stepmothers and their families thrive.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781441210999
Publisher:	Baker Publishing Group
Publication date:	10/01/2009
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	NOOK Book
Pages:	272
Sales rank:	665,930
File size:	610 KB

About the Author

Ron L. Deal is the founder of Successful Stepfamilies, which empowers stepfamilies toward healthy living and equips churches to minister to their unique needs. Ron is a licensed marriage and family therapist and licensed professional counselor who frequently appears in national media, including Focus on the Family, HomeWord, Reality Talks, and FamilyLife Today. He speaks at conferences including the National Stepfamily Conference and the American Association of Christian Counselors World Conference. Ron and his wife, Nan, and their sons live in Amarillo, Texas.

Laura Petherbridge is an international speaker and author of When "I Do" Becomes "I Don't": Practical Steps for Healing During Separation and Divorce. She has been featured on FamilyLife Today, HomeWord, and the Crown Financial Ministries' radio broadcast. Laura is featured on the DivorceCare video series, used by over 12,000 churches worldwide and has taught on divorce recovery at Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando. Laura and her husband, Steve, reside in Lady Lake, Florida.
Ron L. Deal is a marriage and family author, speaker, and therapist (www.rondeal.org). He is Founder and President of Smart Stepfamilies (www.smartstepfamilies.com) and Director of Blended Family Ministries for FamilyLife (www.familylifeblended.com). Ron is author of The Smart Stepfamily, The Smart Stepdad, and Dating and the Single Parent, and coauthor with Laura Petherbridge of The Smart Stepmom and with David H. Olson of The Smart Stepfamily Marriage. Ron is a licensed marriage and family therapist and licensed professional counselor who frequently appears in the national media including FamilyLife Today, Focus on the Family, HomeWord, and The 700 Club. He's also been interviewed by Ladies Home Journal, New York Daily News, WGN-TV and ABCnews.com.

He is a popular conference speaker and his video series The Smart Stepfamily DVD is used in communities, churches, and homes throughout the world. Ron is a member of the Stepfamily Expert Council for the National Stepfamily Resource Center and is a featured expert on the video curriculum Single and Parenting. Ron and his wife, Nan, and their sons live in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Laura Petherbridge (www.TheSmartStepmom.com) is an international speaker, the author of When "I Do" Becomes "I Don't": Practical Steps for Healing During Separation and Divorce, and the coauthor of The Smart Stepmom. She has been interviewed on many media outlets including FamilyLife Today, Family Talk with James Dobson, Moody's Midday Connection, HomeWord, and the Crown Financial Ministries' radio broadcast. Laura is featured on the DivorceCare video series, used by over 12,000 churches worldwide. She has taught on divorce recovery at Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando as well as the Billy Graham Training Center. Laura and her husband, Steve, reside in Apollo Beach, Florida. Learn more at www.SisterhoodofStepmoms.com.

Table of Contents

Section 1 The Smart Stepmom: Who Is She?

Introduction 13

Chapter 1 Can You Hear Me Now? 19

Chapter 2 Can I Run Away From Home? 33

Chapter 3 The Wicked Stepmother: Did Disney Have Me in Mind? 51

Chapter 4 Understanding His Kids (Part 1): Loss, Grief, and Troubling Emotions 65

Chapter 5 Understanding His Kids (Part 2): Loyalty 83

Chapter 6 Partnering: Stepparenting Beside the Engaged or Disengaged Father 102

Section 2 Getting Smart: The Stepparenting Team

Chapter 7 Dad Smart (Part 1): She Can't Do It Without You 125

Chapter 8 Dad Smart (Part 2): Pitfalls and Good Intentions 140

Chapter 9 Meet Your Ex-Wife-in-Law: Friend or Foe? 155

Chapter 30 Understanding Your Kids: What Do They Need? 176

Chapter 11 Kodak Moments: Vacations, Holidays, Mother's Day, and Special Occasions 194

Chapter 12 Adult Stepchildren 216

Chapter 13 Baby Steps: Should We Have an "Ours" Baby? 241

Chapter 14 Smart Love 256