by Laura Petherbridge Angela knew she need to forgive Leslie but she didn't know how. After all, Leslie had betrayed their friendship by sharing conversations that were meant to stay private. It wasn’t the first time she caught Leslie gossiping. But Angela knew that if she...
“Laura, my life is so busy and hectic. I feel stressful all the time,” the woman stated. “Between the demands at my job, transporting the kids, laundry or cleaning the house, and volunteering at church I’m about to lose my mind. I’d love to discover a way...
A few years ago my husband and I attended his son’s 40th birthday party. It’s hard to believe he was only eleven when Steve and I married. Now he is grown, with a wife and daughter of his own. His celebration prompted me to reminisce about the...
“I can’t get my stepkids to eat healthy foods,” a stepmom shared. “When they are at their mom’s house they eat fast food and stuff filled with chemicals. We eat a lot of vegetables and everything organic.” She continued. “This is becoming a huge issue. The...
“Laura, I was so excited to attend the stepmom retreat and meet other stepmoms. That was until I got to the registration desk,” three- year-stepmom, Joselyn professed. “When the woman at the retreat center looked me in the eye and asked which women’s event I was...
“I wish I had learned this stepfamily stuff before I got remarried,” the stepmom shared. “I assumed it wouldn’t be much different than a first marriage. I assumed I would just love on my husband’s kids the same way I do my own family. I...
https://laurapetherbridge.com/why-cant-i-say-no-part-1/ If you are still questioning whether you are a people pleaser, here are a few questions that might help. Do you: Avoid conflict at all costs? Feel guilty saying no? Have a sense dread, fear, or anger if not in control of a situation? Hear yourself saying, “It’s not...
Several years into my second marriage I discovered that some of my marital problems had nothing to do with my husband, Steve, or his kids. I dragged colossal emotional baggage into the marriage that I didn’t even know existed. In His perfect timing God gently...
For the first time in 6 weeks I was grateful to have a broken ankle. It gave my husband and I the perfect excuse to bow out of the, “Learn-to-trust- your–spouse-by –bungee- jumping,” exercise offered at the marriage event we were attending. We took a nap. The food was fabulous...
“Mom said if you would pay your child support we would have enough money to pay our bills and go on vacation,” 12 year old, Kaitlin expressed. “Grrrrr,” groaned stepfamilies everywhere. My own parents divorced when I was eight. As the oldest, I was placed smack dab...