Wednesday Martin

Jacque Fletcher, author of the important and supremely helpful book Becoming a Stepmom and www.becomingastepmom.com, invited me to discuss “Stepmartyr Syndrome” with her several weeks ago for her terrific weekly podcast series. Here’s the show. Have a listen and then tell me about it: Have you ever done so much for your husband’s kids or your husband and his kids that you started to resent it? What were you doing? How did you change it. Are YOU a stepmartyr?

Did you ever confide in your best girlfriend about some aspect of stepfamily life that was driving you insane–rejecting, rude stepkids come to mind–only to find her looking at you like you were the Wicked Queen from Disney’s Snow White? It really, really hurts when a trusted confidante doesn’t get where you’re coming from–or, even worse, judges you. Jacque Fletcher has taken on the task of writing up just how to be a good and supportive friend to a woman with stepkids. Pass it along to anyone you think needs to know! Also check out the podcast in which Jacque and I dish about what a good girlfriend shouldn’t say to her stepmom pal: “Don’t take it personally!”

How to be a Stepmom’s Friend by Jacque Fletcher:
http://becomingastepmom.wordpress.com/2010/01/05/how-to-be-a-stepmoms-friend/

Stepmom Circles Podcast: Jacque and Wednesday discuss how it makes a stepmom feel to be told “Don’t take it personally” by people who have no clue–and how to overcome the frustration of being misunderstood:
http://www.cyberears.com/index.php/Browse/playaudio/8065

The December Issue of Stepmom magazine is here (www.stepmommag.com)! Lots of great reading as you gear up for your winter holiday nervous breakdown–Mary Kelly provides a priceless window onto an ex-wife’s (temporary) divorce regret; the sassy and hilarious Belle Mere remembers her first Christmas with sprogs; Erin Erickson on being a heavy-lifting “single” stepmom whose husband is out of town more often than not; Peggy Nolan on a stepfamily wedding; therapists/authors/experts Jacque Fletcher, Susan Swanson and Susan Wisdom all share their wisdom on topics from holiday survival to Mad Men; party girl Izzy Rose gives tips on how to do it right; I write about avoiding holiday stepmartyr syndrome; and Joel Schwartzberg tells divorced and remarried dads what they owe their partners–that would be US! There’s more where that came from. Believe it. Buy it. Read it.

One of my favorite writer/researchers on stepmothering, Jacque Fletcher, is the special guest on radio show Single Again? Now What. At 6 pm tonight. Check it out at www.SingleAgainNowWhatRadio.com

AND coincidentally, my article “He Has Kids–Now What?” ran today. Read it and let me know what YOU would tell a friend who’s dating a man with kids:

http://momstart.com/2009/10/guest-post-by-wednesday-martin-ph-d-he-has-kids-now-what/

Jacque Fletcher, author of the readable, quotable, and supremely helpful A Career Girl’s Guide to Becoming a Stepmom, has recently started a podcast series on her fabulous website, www.becomingastepmom.com. I was honored to be her first guest. As a couple of women with stepchildren who had written books about the experience and about stepmother reality, we had a lot to talk about. Have a listen sometime when you have an hour to kill…
http://becomingastepmom.wordpress.com/radio-show/

You might know about Jacque Fletcher’s terrific book, A Career Girl’s Guide to Becoming a Stepmom, and her smart and popular blog, becomingastepmom. Jacque has been featuring Stepmonster of late–I’m so excited to have her support here, and grateful that she’s helping spread the message about the emotional reality of women with stepchildren. Check out her reviews and mentions of Stepmonster, and access to a podcast she and I recently recorded at:

http://becomingastepmom.wordpress.com/