The Blending Place Lindsey Swank

Have you ever wondered what it is like for the biological mom to have to share her child(ren) with you? In Part 2 of my interview with Toni Allman, we dive into this. It's a different perspective that we stepmoms need. It is a sensitive and tender topic and I am so grateful for Toni's honesty and insightfulness.

2:05 Acts of Kindness

4:28 Acts of Anger

8:44 Transition Day Difficulties

12:13 Pain We Inflict

15:21 Working Together

19:48 A Christlike Example

21:41 Empathy

23:30 To My Children

26:03 To The Stepmom

Toni Allman had one son with her first husband before they divorced. Later, she remarried and has since had three more children with her current spouse. In Part 1 of our interview Toni shares her experience of navigating divorce within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Join us for Part 2 as we talk about what it feels like to be the biological mom that has to share her child with a stepmom.

:51 Loss of control

3:08 Anger

3:54 Counseling & Returning to School

7:19 Feeling Embarrassed & Playing the Victim

8:54 Accepting Help

10:43 Dating Again

13:02 Facing Bitterness

Dr. Kasia Flanagan is the owner of the company Everyday Legacies - an organization created from her passion for capturing and preserving life stories. It can be complicated weaving in new stories with old ones. She shares her experience of doing just that as a stepmom of two girls.

1:14 Dating During COVID

3:04 A New Stepmom

5:08 Different Rules at Different Homes

8:15 Disciplining 

10:04 Communication With Spouse

15:13 Transition Days

21:03 The Power of Stories

29:21 Healing Through Jesus

32:03 To My Stepdaughters

Links

Kasia's Company: Everyday Legacies @everydaylegacies

"Jet Lag Day" Reel by Kristina Kuzmic 

Ronda's first husband passed away after having six children together. When she remarried, she became a stepmom to seven more. In this episode we talk about what life was like blending a family with 13 kids. She shares how prayer, hearing His voice and acting on those promptings changed everything for them.

Show Notes

4:18 Different Love

6:07 Keeping the Door Open

8:44 A Desperate Prayer & Unwanted Answers

15:38 He Really Means It

16:31 Dealing With a Difficult Biological Mom

20:31 The Family Counsel

22:41 To the Children

Jo Anne and Wayne Kalama have been blending their family for 28 years. Jo Anne didn't ever have any biological children of her own though she had always dreamed of having 12 kids. She was an estate lawyer and Wayne worked for Disney. Now as empty nesters, they share about the impact that praying for Wayne's former spouse had on their marriage and family.



Show Notes

3:41 - Afraid of Failing Again

6:39, 21:11 - Praying for the Previous Spouse

10:07 - Mothering, Smothering & Choosing Your Battles

12:35 - Gifts & Talents

15:04 - Extended Family Support

18:55 - One Definition of a Blended Family

23:56 - Look Ahead & Trusting

25:28 - About Temple Sealings

27:28 - Don't Demand Love

28:02 - To the Children & Grandchildren

29:22 - Better With Current Spouse

Welcome! This is the place for all stepmoms looking for more peace, purpose and power.

Here at the Blending Place Podcast we learn from each other - experienced and new stepmoms, from professionals and others who will offer different perspectives, ideas, tools, humor, and hope - through the lens of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.

We are all at different points in our stepmotherhood journey. Our custody situations and stories are unique, even with all our similarities.

There's still so much I don't know, but there are some truths I know with absolute certainty among them as this: Our role as stepmothers is noble. Divine. God given.

It is my hope that these minutes spent together each week will help to fill you with greater peace purpose and power in your divine role of a stepmother.