“Laura, my 13-year-old stepson just told my husband that he doesn’t want to come to our house anymore,” the stepmom shared. “My spouse is devastated because he won’t see his…
Laura Petherbridge
Laura Petherbridge is an international speaker and author of, When ‘I Do’ Becomes ‘I Don’t’, The Smart Stepmom, 101 Tips for The Smart Stepmom, Quiet Moments for the Stepmom Soul. She has appeared at/on the Billy Graham Center, Family Talk (Dobson), Focus on the Family, Today’s Christian Woman, FamilyLife, Lifeway, and Moody Broadcasting. Laura has been a featured expert on the DivorceCare DVD series implemented in over 60,000 churches worldwide. In addition to the US, she has spoken in South Africa, Australia, and Canada. Laura and Steve live in Atlanta, Ga, and have been married for 35 years. She has two stepsons, daughters-in-law, and grandkids. She may be reached at www.TheSmartStepmom.com
When Mother’s Day Hurts
“Oh, no — May is here,” the woman muttered as she stared at her calendar. “That means Mother’s Day is coming.” She sighed. “It’s the worst day of the year…
Why Am I So Lonely?
“Laura, I don’t understand why I feel so lonely?” the pretty woman shared with me. “There isn’t anything catastrophic going on,” she continued. “And yet I feel a gloomy…
Stepmoms and The Former Spouse
When you choose to date or marry a person with kids, it’s crucial to recognize that you also inherit a third party in the relationship—the former spouse. I once spoke…
Four Stepfamily Myths
“No one in my family understands what it’s like to be a stepmom,” Michelle stated. “And why would they?” she continued. “Before I married a man with children, I had…
The Smart Stepmom—Who is She?
“I wish I had learned this stepfamily stuff before I got remarried,” Jessica, a one-year stepmom shared. “I assumed we would bond and blend easily. I want to love my…
Dear God, Please Superglue My Mouth Shut
A few years ago, my husband and I attended a lovely marriage retreat in the Georgia mountains. Even after thirty-two years of marriage Steve and I like to get away…
Stepmoms, Do It For Jesus
“Laura, I just got a call from my 22-year-old stepdaughter, Cassie,” my coaching client, Dena, stated. “I haven’t heard from her in four years. She and her dad talk occasionally,…
Sense and Sensibility Between Mom and Stepmom
Recently, I read a comment from a stepmom seeking insight on a situation regarding her stepson’s mother. Based on what she shared, in my humble opinion, both women were making…
Stepmom Living: The Things I Have Learned
I had two stepmoms in my lifetime. One when I was fourteen, and the second when I was thirty. That means I should have known what it was like to…