Comments on: Step

By: Erika Rae

Erika Rae — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 01:59:33 +0000

Dear Christine -
I’m so glad – and envious and a bit resentful, too, if I’m honest – when I hear about “step-families” that find their ways to healthy-ness & love & growth. It is one of the great sadnesses of my life that my marriage didn’t succeed in part because of the challenges of being a step-family. I tried so hard — I tried to be my best Buddha-Self — I tried to be fair to myself and I also tried to be what my husband needed and what my young stepdaughter needed, too. I tried to “move towards Light” but ultimately my husband wasn’t satisfied with my efforts (how much of it was my “fault”? – I don’t know) — and those years became some of the worst of my life. Thanks for “listening” – I don’t know many other step-moms I can talk with about my experiences – so I guess I spilled it a bit here.

Best blessings to you & your family!
And P.S. – I have a terrific boyfriend now.
Peace, Erika

By: jennifer w. mccullough

jennifer w. mccullough — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 22:38:35 +0000

Thank you for sharing something you keep close – for sharing the truth about how you feel. I may or may not have said this before, but your blog (i.e., you) always seem to have something that meets me where I am and brings me what I need. I am grateful for this and for you. xo Jennifer

By: grace

grace — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:36:39 +0000

Bravo x0

By: Amanda

Amanda — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:37:10 +0000

“Family” is always an interesting word, and as much as you worry that this family will fall apart, I imagine that is the reason “step” families get a bad reputation, because everyone is feeling that way and putting shields up to protect themselves from being hurt. But truthfully, “step” is just short for “next step,” as in “this is the next step in my life.”. What becomes of it has nothing to do with titles but instead how people choose to channel their energy. Obviously you have chosen well and the result is nothing short of beautiful. Hopefully others will be inspired to choose as you have and make their “nest step” family every bit as incredible.

By: V-Grrrl @ Compost Studios

V-Grrrl @ Compost Studios — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:05:51 +0000

I’m not a stepmom, I’m just a mom of two teens but life sometimes pulls me into relationships that feel like family but have no label. I have a niece who is 10 years younger than I am. She is more like a sister. I was maid of honor at her wedding, we were pregnant at the same time, have kids the same age, and connect in a profound way that has everything and nothing to do with DNA. When I was only 15, my first boyfriend’s mother treated me as part of the family, even after her son and I went our separate ways. Decades later, I still have connections to this family.

I am not estranged from my sisters but we rarely see each other and don’t keep in regular contact. I have friends who are like aunts to my children, and my children have bonded with the children of some of my childhood friends. My kids refer to them as their “cousins.”

All that to say that the labels we have for “family” often don’t fit the reality, and sometimes the family we find and the family we make is even more lovely than the blood ties we share with others.