Show Notes
Why do some stepmoms retreat to their bedrooms when the rest of the family is together—and how can they stop disappearing without forcing a connection that does not feel safe or genuine? Alicia explores what happens after a stepmom recognizes that she has been withdrawing in her own home. Leaving the bedroom and simply “joining the family” may sound like an easy solution, but physical presence does not automatically create emotional safety, inclusion, or belonging. A stepmom can sit in ...
More from The Stepmom Side Podcast
Why do some stepmoms withdraw to their bedrooms when their stepchildren are home—even when they genuinely want to feel connected to the family? In this episode of The Stepmom Side Podcast, Alicia explores why retreating may be less about rejecting the family and more about protecting yourself from exclusion, overstimulation, preventable chaos, broken agreements or the fear of being misunderstood. Alicia explains the difference between healthy alone time and protective withdrawal. She also exa...
How is being a stepmom to a widower different from joining a blended family after divorce? And how can a new partner honor the children’s mother while still asking for a place in the family? In this episode of The Stepmom Side Podcast, Alicia explores a listener’s experience of dating a widowed father, feeling excluded from a close family dynamic, and burning out while trying to keep everyone happy. The listener and her partner have reconciled after a brief separation and are working with a c...
Sometimes the argument about the dishes is about the dishes. Sometimes it’s about having to ask fourteen times and wondering whether your partner actually hears you. In this episode of The Stepmom Side Podcast, Alicia sits down with Kameran Alareqi, a Gottman certified marriage coach, to explore communication problems in marriage, emotional disconnection, and what it takes to feel close again—especially when blended family dynamics add another layer of stress. Kameran explains how childhood p...
What does it mean to disengage as a stepmom—and can she step back without becoming cold, distant, or uncaring? In this episode of The Stepmom Side Podcast, Alicia explains how helping in a blended family can slowly turn into overfunctioning. A stepmom notices what needs to happen, prevents problems, keeps everyone organized, and takes on more because she is capable. Eventually, she becomes exhausted and resentful while everyone else becomes very comfortable with the arrangement. Funny how tha...
Why does a stepchild seem withdrawn, irritable, hyper, or resistant to house rules after returning from their other parent’s home? In this episode of The Stepmom Side Podcast, Alicia explores why transitions between two homes can be difficult for kids—and why a rough return does not automatically mean the child dislikes their stepmom or that something happened at the other house. Alicia explains how a child can be glad to see one parent and still miss the parent they just left. She also addre...