Have you shared your stepmum story with us yet?

What a welcoming you all have given us! We would like to say a huge thank you for the overwhelming response we have had to the launch of stepmotherlove. We really hope it’s helping you all feel more supported and connected.

We have received humbling amounts of visitors to the site and a number of people writing in telling us about their stories and sharing their feedback.

After reading through them we would like to share a few of our favourite parts (no names and published with permission of course – we value your anonymity!).

“Great idea starting this page. There are a few in the UK and US but not many down under.”

“I agree with everything you say about being positive as the energy that negativity takes up is incredibly draining/tiring.”

“[I hold] positions where problem solving is a daily prerequisite for being successful in the workplace. AND YET... I feel like I have no problem solving skills left in my role as a Stepmum.”

“At the [start], we looked for advice without trying to over complicate the situation. We have a very happy and contented blended famil,y however there are often doubts for all the parents from time to time.”

It is so lovely to see readers connecting with what we are doing, and we hope to bring you more in the coming months.

If you haven’t written to us, please do, we love hearing from you!

When saying love is controversial.

stepmotherlove.com was born from my own need for positive stories about stepmothers. Being a stepmother or being part of a stepfamily is not for the faint hearted, that’s a well- established fact. But to try, to struggle, to be challenged every day by this tough job, now that’s an act of love.

The most common advice on love in the context of step-families is; don’t strive for it, just be happy with respectful and effective relationships. I want to take that conversation further and say I agree that we should not define success by trying to achieve saying “I love you”. These three little words for a step-parent may never be attained, received or uttered however the effort they put into making that relationship the best it can be, is an act of love. It’s love for their partner, their stepchildren and their new family.

Stepmotherlove.com is not about having rose coloured glasses or a Pollyanna view of step-parenting, it’s about acknowledging how hard it can be and celebrating those who persist and work hard. I don’t pretend to have all the answers but I am offering a place to feel good about the efforts we make and be congratulated without all the caveats, conditions and statistics.

Congratulations to all the stepmothers who are working so hard to make their family work, I hope you find some inspiration at stepmotherlove.com to keep you energised to keep on trying!