The Courage to be a Stepmom

What's the first word that pops into your head when you hear the word "stepmother"? Wicked? Thanks to Cinderella and other popular myths and fairytales, most of us have received powerful, overt, and subliminal messages that all stepmothers are cold, uncaring, evil women. Despite these antiquated images, stepmoms are regular women who love their husbands, are committed to their marriages, and take the role of caring for their stepchildren very seriously. Acting as chauffeurs, maids, confidantes and punching bags, many stepmothers endlessly try to please everyone in their families-and in the process may exact a heavy toll on themselves. No matter how secure and psychologically sophisticated a woman may be, often the combination of negative stereotypes, unresolved grief, societal pressures, and unrealistic expectations, places her smack in the middle of an "emotional minefield." In The Courage to be a Stepmom: Finding Your Place Without Losing Yourself, Sue Patton Thoele, a psychotherapist since 1974 and stepmother of twenty-five years, takes an honest, updated look at this huge and growing population of women. Offering practical skills and hands-on advice, she explores the complex emotional labyrinth of stepmothering and prepares stepmoms for the roller-coaster of emotions that often accompanies the role. The Courage to be a Stepmom is a powerful book that will help thousands of women get a handle on their new families, and their lives. And, while perfect, "instant" families are as fictitious as evil stepmothers, the experiences and advice of Ms. Thoele and the dozens of stepmoms she interviewed help pave the way to harmonious, blended families, and just maybe, a "happily-ever-after" ending.  The Courage To Be A Stepmom: Sue Patton Thoele: Amazon.com: Kindle Store 