5 hard truths about becoming a stepmom

Being a stepmom is not always a rosy affair as step-families come with their own unique challenges. Of course, if you’re a stepmom, you already know that. If you’re new to this whole stepmom situation, here is what to expect and how to make things easier:

1.You may not love your step-kids initially

You may feel pressured to be all warm and loving to your step-kids at first. Unfortunately, there may be a bit of a distance between you and them. Allow yourself to slowly discover their real selves and fall in love with them; let the love grow organically.

2. Your step-kids may not be exactly thrilled about your marriage

Even though you may be excited about your marriage, your stepkids may not feel the same at first. Do not take it personally as they are probably taking time to adjust to the changes in the family dynamics. It is wise to give them time to adjust and hopefully with time, they will learn to open up to you as their stepmom.

3. Go easy on  yourself

There will be setbacks and tough times and mothers tend to be so hard on themselves especially stepmoms. Apologise when you should and even set ground rules if need be. Do your best and continue learning as you go along, eventually things will fall into place.

4. You will sometimes feel as if you are competing with your partner’s ex

You will often find yourself feeling the pressure of trying to outdo your partner’s ex or at times, you may feel as if you are not doing good enough. It is wise to acknowledge that you will always do things differently from your partner’s ex. Try your best not to criticize how they do things as they were also used to a certain routine.

5. You will have plenty of weak moments

There are times you will feel unappreciated especially before your stepchildren get accustomed to you. Nevertheless, you have to press on and never quit. You should know that you are not a bad person for  having weak moments. It is also good to talk it out with your partner especially when you are feeling overwhelmed.

Take-home

Becoming a stepmom is one of the hardest roles any woman will undertake. That said, your first priority is yourself (self-care is super important) and your marriage. When you and your new husband are on good terms, everyone benefits and your marriage thrives.

Feature photo: unsplash