Many times distance between the custodial parent and the non-custodial parent causes the non-custodial parent to be less involved in their child’s life than they anticipated after the divorce, or birth of their child. When the biological family does not work out as a family unit, there are often hard feelings between the two parents, and it is not uncommon for one parent to move away from the other, in an attempt to make a fresh start, or in some cases to purposely put distance between the non-custodial parent and the child.

Once there is considerable... more

Being a stepparent is a hard and emotional job. Being an adoptive stepparent does not make things much easier; it simply adds new elements of hard, as well as new elements of emotions for all that are involved. When we are constantly bombarded with stress, and a high level of emotions, it can become hard to stay even, to not overreact, and to see progress in ourselves and our adopted stepchildren. We can become so involved in the stress of life, that we fail to see all the good that has happened in-between the stress.

Keeping a journal... more

This is something that I stress over every holiday season since my little one has been born. Before he was in the picture, it was just my stepson, who then became my adopted stepson, and it was easier to spoil just one little boy during the holidays. But since my little one has been born, I find myself stressing over if the kids have an equal amount of gifts both in number of presents to open, as well as in dollar amount spent on each.

The little one, being only four, is still easily amused by the cheapest thrills. Dollar Store toys still... more

Another thing to keep in mind about online support groups is that no one is a professional. The members are simply people whom have shared similar experiences, sharing advice with each other. Just because someone gives advice, does not mean that you have to abide by it, take it to heart, or do anything with it other than read what they have taken the time to write. If the advice offered is not something that you agree with, simply because you are a member of the group does not mean that you have to take it, and you are free to disagree, and to turn the... more

Online support groups can be an absolutely wonderful tool when it comes to dealing with stepparent issues, stepparent adoption issues, as well as day-to-day struggles. When searching for an online support group it is important to ask yourself what you want out of the support group, and what setting you would be most comfortable in. Many enjoy the fact that the groups use screen names instead of real names, as well as acronyms, and initials so that people still retain a fair amount of amenity, while still being able to get a lot of information out at the... more

Whatever situation it is that you are in, or that you are having trouble managing, chances are that somewhere out there in cyber space, there is a support group for it! One of the wonderful things about the Internet is its ability to bring people of all walks of life, from all over the world to one specific place in order to meet, make friends, and deal with everyday problems of life, weather they are big or small.

When I first met my now husband, I was thrilled that he had a son, as I had always wanted children, and simply saw the fact that he already... more

The holidays are always the most expensive time of the year. With gifts to give, decorations to buy, and holiday lights sucking up the electric bill, it seems as though we always end up spending more than we thought we would, as well as more than we really should have. Add on the expenses of lawyer fees, public notice ads, private investigators, and all of the other hidden costs of stepparent adoptions, and you may find your budget getting not only stretched, but squeezed to the absolute limits. Below are some tips for saving money for the holiday season,... more

I received a link to this survey from smartmarriages.com and thought that I would check it out. It is fifteen pages long, but only takes about a half an hour to get through. What is nice is that after you complete each page, a warm friendly voice praises and encourages you to keep working through the survey. It helps to make the entire process seem less tedious, as well as to... more

The holiday season can be emotionally hard on adopted stepchildren, especially if they were adopted at an older age and had some contact with their now absent birth parent. With the stress and focus of the holiday season on family togetherness, it can be a tough pill for the children to swallow when thinking about the parent whom chose not to be involved in his or her life. Many times the end of the year brings out strong feelings for adopted children, feelings such as abandonment, loneliness, and sometimes bitterness.

Many adopted... more

Some may be stunned at the title, caught up in confusion wondering how on Earth adoption could lesson the quality of a relationship, instead of strengthening it. Well my friends, I am about to tell you how.

Often times when a stepparent comes into a relationship where their beloved partner already has children, there is a tremendous amount of pressure for the new spouse and child to get along as though they have known each other their entire lives. But the truth is that they have not known one and other their entire lives, and cannot simply... more