Step Mamas 🇺🇸

I am struggling in my blended family and currently in couples counseling. It feels like I’m a bit misunderstood by the woman who counsels us. She seems to be hardest on me and empathize with my partner. Not sure if it’s because he brings 3 children or what but I’m over this. All I want is to figure out my financial independence again so I have security. We can’t afford a house and we live at my mother’s. My partner says he wants marriage but he doesn’t think we can afford to be married. I feel like we have two kids together and then with his older three it sets an example of our commitment to one another if we were married. He has said he prioritizes the kids and I know in theory children should come first but in our family I always feel last. Not sure if getting married would change any of this but I believe marriage is an integral component or foundation to a family and we don’t have that. It was important to him with his ex wife he had kids with but with me and our two babies it feels like an impossible option until we can afford it.

I want to be with my partner but sometimes I wonder if we should separate. It would be incredibly hard for me seeing my business took a great hit once I started having kids and now I’m trying to get back on my feet. I love him but this tough season where we are a family of 7 living in my mom splitting two bedrooms feels like a sacrifice I’m struggling with. All for love… I want my kids raised in the home with their father. I also don’t want to suffer with the weight of this blended family on my shoulders either.

Hi fellow stepmoms . I wanted to see if anyone has any recommendations on online therapy for blended families or even just for me as a step mom . I find myself feeling very alone in that it’s hard for me to relate to others since I don’t have any other step mom friends . Blended family life has been eating at me and I could use some guidance on how to navigate .

I basically bought a home and now husband and I are planning to buy a home in a different state that is more expensive . I’ll likely have to pay the difference in costs etc . The topic of wills came up and I don’t feel that his oldest daughter and our daughter should get 50/50 . Main reason is because sds mom is basically more “well off”. If her mom wasn’t I wouldn’t be opposed to splitting evenly . I understand that this is a hard topic and I’m sure my husband isn’t gonna be happy with my stance but that’s how I feel considering I worked hard to get my own home and now If we move I’ll still be paying more so therefore our daughter should be the primary person to benefit . I don’t consider that to be unfair since sd has other resources even though I’m not excluding her from assets . Has anyone else dealt with something like this ?

We’re constantly arguing about him wanting to take vacations with his daughter . Here’s the problem she doesn’t come over unless we take her shopping or take her on a trip . I understand he wants to spend time with her but I personally think it’s enabling . She’ll seldomly return calls/texts . She’s 13. We haven’t seen her since Father’s Day . She said she’ll come over in Nov after her bday so we can throw her a bday party . Then she said she’ll come after Xmas . Basically to get her presents then leave . Now my husband is saying we should take her to Hawaii over summer break so that she’ll be with us for at least a week . I wish we had a better relationship with sd . I swear I’m not trying to make this about me I just don’t think it’s fair to enable . The way things have been going the past few years my husband just lets it all slides and continues to let sd choose when she wants to come over and then he also expects me to pay half of everything . I can’t help but feel disconnected when it all feels so transactional

Hi everyone , does anyone talk to bm at all ? Is it mainly husband that communicates ? Do you dodge her at all costs to avoid drama ? Or does anyone have any positive or at least civil relationships with bm