101. What Stepkids Think About Their Stepparents - And Why It Matters
Release Date: 05/04/2025
122: Mother’s Day for Stepmoms: How to Handle the Hurt, Expectations & Plan Your Day
The Stepmom Diaries Podcast
If Mother’s Day feels more painful than joyful as a stepmom… you’re not alone. While everyone else is celebrating, many stepmoms are left feeling unseen, unacknowledged, or unsure where they fit. In this episode, Cameron Normand breaks down why Mother’s Day for stepmoms can feel so heavy—and reminds you that it’s not because you’re doing anything wrong. More importantly, you’ll walk away with a simple, empowering plan to help you navigate the day with more clarity, confidence, and peace. In This Episode, We Talk About: Why Mother’s Day hits differently in blended families ...
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121: The Stepmom Identity Crisis No One Talks About: How to Be a Stepmom Without Losing Yourself with Christina Nelson
The Stepmom Diaries Podcast
Have you ever felt like you’ve lost yourself somewhere along the way in stepmotherhood—and no matter how hard you try, you can’t quite find your way back? If you’ve been holding it all together on the outside but feeling overwhelmed, resentful, or invisible on the inside… this episode will hit deep. In this episode, we’re joined by Christina Nelson, host of the Radical Stepmoms Podcast and a leading voice in honest, unfiltered conversations about stepmom life. Together, we dive into the stepmom identity crisis so many women experience, and what it really takes to be a stepmom...
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120: Stepmom Boundaries with Teenagers: How to Connect Without Pushing Them Away with Mindy Kyle
The Stepmom Diaries Podcast
Have you ever felt like no matter what you do, your stepteen keeps pulling away—and you’re left wondering if you’re somehow making it worse? If you’ve been overthinking every interaction or trying harder and harder to connect, this episode will hit home. In this episode, we’re joined by Mindy Kyle, Certified Parenting with Purpose and Certified Stepfamily Family coach with over 16 years of experience helping stepmoms navigate boundaries, burnout, and complex family dynamics. She breaks down what’s really happening during the teen years- and why the way you show up matters more than...
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119: What Most Parents Miss About Estate Planning in Blended Families (Especially Stepchildren) with Tara Yukawa, CEA
The Stepmom Diaries Podcast
Most stepmoms have a will. Almost none of them have a plan. And in a blended family, that gap can cost your stepkids their inheritance- or even cost you your home. Tara Yukawa- certified executor advisor, author, and stepdaughter- joins Cameron for a conversation that’s equal parts wake-up call and practical roadmap. After navigating loss in her own blended family, Tara now helps others avoid the chaos, confusion, and conflict that happens when planning falls short. In this episode, she breaks down what actually happens when there’s no plan- and how to make sure every child is protected....
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118: ADHD in Blended Families: Helping Kids Through Transitions with Jennie Anderson
The Stepmom Diaries Podcast
Transition days can be tough in any blended family, but when ADHD is part of the picture, they can feel even more overwhelming. In this episode, joins the conversation to explain why kids with ADHD often struggle with moving between households and how stepmoms can help create more stability. You’ll learn how emotional dysregulation, rejection sensitivity, and loyalty binds show up for these kids, and what you can do to support them without making things worse. If transitions in your stepfamily often feel tense or unpredictable, this episode will give you practical ways to help kids feel...
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117: Navigating Education in Blended Families: What Stepmoms Should Know with Houlie Duque
The Stepmom Diaries Podcast
When kids live in two households, education decisions can get complicated fast! In this episode, , former teacher and founder of , shares a fresh perspective on how families can rethink learning when co-parenting is part of the picture. As both a biomom and stepmom raising kids in a blended family, Houlie brings real-life insight into how parents can create flexible education plans that support children across two homes. From navigating co-parenting dynamics to designing learning around a child’s strengths, this conversation explores what it really looks like to prioritize a...
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116: The Loyalty Bind in Blended Families: Why Kids Feel Torn Between Mom and Stepmom with Barb Goldberg
The Stepmom Diaries Podcast
What if your stepchild isn’t rejecting you… but protecting someone else? In this episode, I’m sitting down with the incredible to talk about one of the most misunderstood (and painful) dynamics in blended families: the loyalty bind. If you’ve ever felt hurt, dismissed, or completely invisible as a stepmom, this conversation is for you. Because when kids feel torn between mom and stepmom, it can show up as distance, attitude, silence, or even outright rejection - and it’s easy to take that personally. But often? It’s not about you. In This Episode, We Talk About: What the loyalty...
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115: AI Is Already in Your Blended Family (You Just Don’t Know How Yet) with Sarah Dooley
The Stepmom Diaries Podcast
AI isn’t “coming.” It’s already here - in your kids’ phones, in their homework, in their group chats, and maybe even in your marriage. And most stepmoms have no idea how deeply it’s shaping their blended family dynamics. If you’ve brushed off AI as a tech trend or something you’ll figure out later, this episode may completely shift your perspective. Because the reality is: kids are already using it, adults are turning to it for emotional support, and families are navigating new territory without even realizing it. In this powerful conversation, I sit down with , to unpack what...
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Beyond the Podcast: We're on YouTube @StepfamilySolutions
The Stepmom Diaries Podcast
Head over to for full video episodes, expert interviews, and bonus content you won't find anywhere else — subscribe so you never miss a thing.
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New to The Stepmom Diaries? Let me tell you all about it!
The Stepmom Diaries Podcast
info_outlineEver Wondered What Your Stepchildren Think About You?
Kids can be tricky for stepparents to navigate. Their behavior isn't rational, they don't know how to express their emotions, and sometimes they can take out their frustration on the person who can be the easiest target: stepmom.
But there's more to the story, and that's what we're talking about in this episode. We've got one of the top stepfamily researchers with us, and he's recently released a new look at the stepfamily dynamic - from the kids' perspectives.
He's got some really interesting, insightful, and surprising, findings that stepmoms should definitely pay attention to.
About Dr. Todd Jensen:
Todd Jensen, PhD, MSW is an Assistant Professor of Human Development and Family Science and Director of the Thriving Through Family Transitions Research Lab in the School of Education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Much of his research focuses on identifying factors that promote high-quality stepparent-child relationships, particularly those involving adolescent children.
Dr. Jensen’s professional activities are connected to more than 34 million dollars in funding, including support from the National Institutes of Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services, The Duke Endowment, the William T. Grant Foundation, The Annie E. Casey Foundation, and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. Dr. Jensen is a Faculty Fellow of the Carolina Population Center, a Fellow of the Society for Social Work and Research, Deputy Editor for the Journal of Family Theory & Review, and co-founder and co-chair of the Diverse Family Structures Focus Group of the National Council on Family Relations. As an educator, Dr. Jensen specializes in teaching courses on family theory and practice, human development, program evaluation, and advanced quantitative methodology.
You can find Todd Jensen:
On Instagram HERE
On his website, toddjensen.com, where you can also find links to many of his journal articles
Have You Ever Thought About Coaching?
On Wednesday, May 7th, I'm hosting a masterclass: The 5-Step Framework To Becoming A Stepfamily Coach (even if you've never coached before.
This FREE class is for you if you’ve ever thought about turning your stepfamily experience into a meaningful career or side hustle - but you’re unsure where to start, how to get clients, or if you’re even “qualified.” Here's what you'll learn:
✅ How I turned my own stepfamily challenges into a career that fuels me daily
✅ What you really need (hint: not a counseling degree or a “perfect family”)
✅ The biggest myths that hold amazing women back from making a real impact
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And the best part about leaving a review? If you send me a screenshot of your review, I’ll send YOU my 20-minute Stepmom Self-Care Blueprint. For FREE. It’s normally $49 and it’s a great tool to quickly set up a self-care plan you’ll actually use. Just head HERE to send me your screenshot and grab your blueprint!