Free Stepfamily Support Group

How can a remarriage survive undermining exes and hostile stepchildren?

In good company. I run a free support group for parents in step families:

Who the group is for

My stepfamily support groups are for stepmoms, stepdads, and biological parents too. It's best if your partner attends or calls in with you, but if only one of you can make it, that's just fine. If you're single and considering remarrying, this group is also for you and your spouse-to-be.

The stepfamily support group lets you

• Be heard

  Tell your story. Your feelings, needs, and thoughts will be heard by the group members and received nonjudgmentally.

• Get inspired

  Hearing other people's stories about their path to becoming a cohesive family is inspiring. It will give you an idea of what worked and what didn't work so you can better decide what to do next and feel hopeful about that decision's outcome.

• Get and feel in control

  Isolation makes you lonely, listless, agitated, and more prone to feeling victimized. Connecting with others will make you feel supported, like you're part of a community, and empowered. This helps you heal from the pain of your step-children's rejection and the damage inflicted by your spouse's ex.

  Find the strength to take responsibility and explore the inner solutions that you didn't realize you had. And, well, if you didn't find any inner solutions, at least you'll have some other peoples' solutions for "inspiration."

• Connect with people just like you

  Get to know like-minded people. Feel accepted, share experiences, swap war stories, and support other people who share your pain because they've been there too.

• Make a difference

  By listening to and supporting someone else, you make a difference in their life. Think of all of the ways the group benefits you, and know that you in turn benefit the rest of its members the same way. It's reciprocal and it feels great.

Stepfamily support group topics

• Co-parenting with exes
• Merging finances
• Divided loyalties
• Your, my, and our children
• Unrealistic expectations
• Extended families
• Hope and tools for solutions

Pass it on

The more people know about the groups and attend, the better the experience is for everyone. If you know anyone who would benefit from attending, don't be shy about letting them know! You can easily let them know via Facebook, Twitter, email and more: