"I married my husband eight years ago, and I haven’t seen my own family at Christmastime since then,” stepmom Kristi shared. “He and his ex-wife share 50/50 custody over the holidays, which means we can’t ever leave home. I miss watching my niece open her gifts,...
Nothing in my life has taught me more about becoming Christlike, than being a stepmom. After more than thirty-two years in this role I have often felt: Betrayed…as Jesus was. Rejected…as Jesus was. Abandoned…as Jesus was. Ridiculed…as Jesus was. Forgotten…as Jesus was. Unappreciated…as Jesus was. ...
This week New Your Times best-selling Christian author, Lysa Terkeurst , announced that she is divorcing. I read many Facebook posts responding to her announcement stating, "I wish I could hug you. I wish there was something I could do." There is. Let Lysa's tragic situation nudge...
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...