by Gayla Grace | Jan 27, 2015 | Blog, conflict, hope
Today I’m including a devotion I wrote recently that will be included in a new stepmom devotional book Laura Petherbridge, Heather Hetchler and myself are working on. Enjoy! ———————————–...
by Gayla Grace | Aug 8, 2014 | Blog, conflict, feelings, Stepfamily Vacations, Uncategorized
I recently returned from a week long vacation with my extended family to the mountains. It was a wonderful time of relaxing and enjoying the beauty of God’s creation surrounding us. But it wasn’t a conflict-free, trouble-free vacation. They never are, are...
by Gayla Grace | May 20, 2014 | acceptance, Blog, conflict, take care of yourself
I’m including a guest post today from Shawn Hartwell, founder and CEO of StepSpeak in Quebec, Canada. My girlfriend and I often struggled and fought in a toxic relationship. I wanted us to be together but didn’t realize I was making the same mistake over...
by Gayla Grace | Mar 18, 2014 | Blog, conflict, feelings, self control, stepfamily relationships
We all have them – maybe it’s your stepdaughter. Or your husband’s ex. Or perhaps it’s your mother-in-law. If you’re honest, there’s probably at least one person in your stepfamily who’s difficult to be around and creates...
by Gayla Grace | Dec 2, 2013 | Blog, conflict, stepfamily holiday tips
Holidays are stressful! Are you feeling it yet? Add the complexities of a stepfamily and it can quickly get out of control. How we manage conflict dictates how healthy our relationships are and oftentimes, whether we head to divorce court or not. However, when done...
by Gayla Grace | Oct 23, 2013 | Blog, conflict, stepfamily relationships, successful stepparenting
One of the biggest struggles in stepfamilies is learning how to parent together and working through the conflict that naturally surrounds parenting. Your parenting style plays a huge role in how much and how often you have conflict in regards to the kids so I’m...
by Gayla Grace | Aug 12, 2013 | Blog, conflict
The back and forth routine that accompanies life in a stepfamily often brings exhaustion. During the school year, it can create confusion, anxiety, and turmoil for our kids. Our children need a stable home environment, free of tension and chaos to succeed in...
by Gayla Grace | Jun 4, 2013 | Blog, conflict, counseling, stepfamily marriage, stepfamily relationships
I’ve noticed a common theme among step couples I’m working with lately: marital issues compound stepfamily problems. In other words, if you’re struggling with basic marriage challenges, it will spill over into your stepfamily. Here’s an...
by Gayla Grace | Apr 11, 2013 | Blog, conflict, Faith, feelings, love
I’ll never forget the day my stepson shot back at me, “You’re not my mom, Gayla. My mom would support my decision.” I disagreed on an important decision he was making and voiced my opinion. I chose not to respond to his hurtful words and for a...
by Gayla | Mar 7, 2013 | attitude, Blog, conflict, expectations, patience, Stepfamily Vacations
Throwing family members together for an extended period of time can wreak havoc on even the most stable family. For a fragile stepfamily, it can be a recipe for disaster. So if you’re headed out for an adventure with your stepfamily, take along a few tools to...
by Gayla | Feb 19, 2013 | attitude, Blog, boundaries, co-parenting, conflict, loyalty conflict, successful stepparenting
I’m addressing a question today I received from a reader. How do you cope as a stepmom when you’re dealing with a biological mom who is belittling to you and doesn’t want you in her children’s lives? The stepmom role becomes harder when the bio...
by Gayla | Jan 30, 2013 | attitude, Balance, Blog, conflict, Grace, stepfamily relationships, Uncategorized
It’s easy to think we must be perfect in our stepfamily interactions and make huge steps every day to strengthen our relationships. But that isn’t true. Small steps on a regular basis can result in huge dividends with your stepfamily. Here are ten easy...