As with fairy tales, the stepmother is generally deemed as evil; Lady Tremaine in ‘Cinderella,’ The Queen in ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,’ Mother Gothel in ‘Repunzel,’ and last, but certainly not least, Maleficent. These scorned women often live in the shadows of a beautiful princess who sings with a voice so beautiful, forest […]
I couldn’t wait until the premiere date next week to share something on the *first season of I Know I’m Crazy! The IKIC podcast line up is AMAZING!!! This is not an official podcast for IKIC but it gives you an up close and personal view of me! If you scroll down, there’s also video […]
Short answer: No. Do not let your boyfriend claim your child that is not his for the Earned Income Tax Credit. Long answer: Noooooooooooooo! Sorry about the bad joke. But really, no he can’t and here’s why: First, and most importantly, it’s against the law. Seriously – claiming a child that you don’t have a […]
Namaste simply means “The divine in me bows to the divine in you.” “Namaste creates a loop of bliss to pass positive energy unto the one receiving the gesture.” Heart centers and chakras are said to connect during the divine saying. “When your mind is fully withdrawn in super-consciousness, it becomes centered in the bliss […]
The most unfortunate time in a relationship is when you realize it has reached its climax. The best times have passed and it’s all downhill from here. Many of us will fight tooth and nail to salvage love, but sadly when our efforts are in vain we must begin the process of learning to live […]
I’m a stepmom. I’ve written about it before but I consider being a stepmom one of the luckiest things that has ever happened to me. Some of you other stepmoms out there aren’t so lucky, and for whatever reasons you have bio-moms who you just can’t get along with, and who just can’t get along […]
After reading the list, don’t get discouraged when you notice that some of your own behaviors have been alienating your ex-spouse. This is normal in even the best of parents. Instead, let the list help sensitize you to how you are behaving and what you are saying to your children. Here are common mistakes: To […]
Submitted by a member of the Blended and Black community Have you ever found yourself saying, “I don’t know what I’d do if I lost a limb!”? Usually thoughts like this pass when we see a debilitated person. Some attempt to empathize, we may thank our Creator for sparing us the horrid experience, some of […]
Dear Ask Dad, I don’t know what to do. My MIL is still stuck on my husband’s BM (they were never married). When I’m around she acts like I’m not even there, I ask her to lunch and coffee and she is always too busy, but has time for the other woman. I get her […]
Dear Ask Dad, As a man I have never written in to one of these columns, but I don’t know what to do. My daughter is 15 years old and she is a fantastic young lady. She is an honor student, captain of her basketball team and she volunteers as well. My issue is with […]
A childless stepmom may feel Isolated. Humiliated. Underestimated. These are probably the most common sentiments of stepmothers who do not have biological children. She feels isolated because stepmothering can be an overwhelmingly lonely gig. This woman may feel like a stranger in her own home because she is the last person to join a ready-made […]
Stepmothers and their stepdaughters can be faced with unique challenges. There is an interesting dynamic that happens when a woman is tasked with “mothering” a child that she did not bear. In the case of the stepmother, this new ‘mother-daughter’ dynamic can exist because of divorce. In some instances, a biological mother is disinterested or unable […]
THE GOOD WIFE Who’s helping You, when his Ex is a Borderline? Whether it’s your husband or lover who has gotten involved with a borderline disordered female, you’re in for some harrowing times. This issue becomes a monumentally stressful exercise for both of you–but sadly, you’ll generally end up feeling the brunt of it, not […]
Are you a biological parent that is about to become a stepparent? Perhaps you are a step parent that is about to become a new biological parent. Be forewarned, you and your family are about to undergo some serious changes. You can expect some discomfort and frustration, however it’s not all bad. In fact, the […]
Being in a blended family presents a totally different set of challenges than a traditional family. Aside from logistics and finances, there are usually emotional issues to overcome. Blended families are formed because a previous family unit has broken apart. Divorce and separation represents the death of an original family and it must be grieved. […]
Blended and Black founder, Naja Hall spoke with AskSharifah on Sharifah Hardie’s long-running LA talk radio show. The ladies had a full 1 hour session on-air and it was full of so many sistafriend moments. They spoke about Naja’s experiences as a Family Life Coach and some best practices in dealing with high-conflict personalities, mental illness, […]
By Blended and Black member Stephanie Martinez From the time I was a little girl until I was in my early twenties, I felt forgotten. I felt unimportant. I felt like I didn’t matter. I am a product of two divorces, abuse, and abandonment. Co-parenting was not a thing in our life. Everything was a […]
BEST APPS FOR CO-PARENTING When it comes to divorce, technology often gets a bad rap. Many people cite phone addictions and their partners social media usage as contributing factors to their relationship breakdown. Yet not all technology is bad. These co-parenting apps show just how beneficial tech can be. Divorce is hard enough – let your phone […]