Guest submission When I began my journey as a stepmother, I was 26, about 7 months pregnant with twins, completing a Master’s Program, and at a job I hated. I was often back and forth to Child Support Court with my first biological son’s father. In that space, I was not emotionally ready to begin […]
Hannah and Fard have ended their time as life partners and they’ve penned an excerpt that has the internet abuzz. In this day in age, especially considering the work I do, seeing new divorcees breaking bread is RARE. Here are 5 lessons learned in hindsight from Hannah and Fard. We wish their family love and […]
Hannah and Fard have ended their time as life partners and they’ve penned an excerpt that has the internet abuzz. In this day in age, especially considering the work I do, seeing new divorcees breaking bread is RARE. Here are 5 lessons learned in hindsight from Hannah and Fard. We wish their family love and […]
How do we forgive the unforgivable? How do we renew a relationship that has been broken beyond repair? You may have heard that forgiveness is not for the offender, but for the offended, and to some degree this is true. It is certainly good for both, but we need to understand that accountability and acceptance […]
We all saw it coming #Fam! There has finally been a judgment in the Matt Barnes and Gloria Govan saga. The divorcees have had a very messy public battle as they’ve unraveled their marriage in majorly terrible ways. Since their split, the former lovebirds have physically and emotionally tussled over everything from custody to embezzlement allegations. Today, […]
I get A LOT of inspiration from the Blended & Black Facebook group. Yesterday someone posted this picture on the group’s wall. We see the child surrounded and supported by ALL of her parents. These folk seem to have gotten it right. I know there are many people that have a strong desire for this […]
HEAR ME OUT BEFORE I GET AN #EyeRoll! Today, let’s TRY a little tenderness! If you’re in a high conflict co-parenting situation, the last thing you may want to do is send niceties to the ONE person who’s mission is to make your life a living hell. I want to nudge you to try something […]
By Naja Hall I normally rest up on Saturday mornings, but this tea is far too juicy not to share! I came across this post in my Facebook news feed and I am not sure what’s more interesting, the scorned wife’s note or the comments section! I was thoroughly entertained by both, and from the […]
Back in the good old days when all we had were pagers — scratch that, let’s go even further. Back in the good old days when all we had were answering machines and a mailbox, breaking up was much easier to do. All you had to do was stop sending mail and calling each other. […]
In a blog post that soon went viral, Candice Curry, 39, wrote ‘you were supposed to be hideous, remember? But you weren’t, you were stunningly beautiful’ Happy family: Candice Curry, left, and her daughter Stiles with stepmum Ashley Parish Many mothers dread the idea of another woman raising their child, but one has decided to […]
Submitted by a member of the Blended and Black community Have you ever found yourself saying, “I don’t know what I’d do if I lost a limb!”? Usually thoughts like this pass when we see a debilitated person. Some attempt to empathize, we may thank our Creator for sparing us the horrid experience, some of […]
You may think, at first pass, that co-parenting with your child’s stepmother is unreasonable. If you think about it, we get to know our children’s teachers, doctors, daycare providers, their friend’s and their parents, and anyone else involved with our children. Why wouldn’t you want to get to know the other mother in your child’s […]
I recently sat down with Mashonda, author of Blend. The ex-wife of music producer Swizz Beats discusses healing from her messy divorce, forgiving Alicia Keys and putting her son first. In her new book, Blend, she offers tips for mothers that need healing from breakup and divorce. She also details her unique childhood experience in […]
Blended and Black’s, Naja Hall sat down with Skyra Thomas, founder of Flip the Zip, a community that connects people looking to relocate. The ladies discussed moving with kids, a touchy topic that many step families will face at some point. Skyra has a positive long distance co-parenting relationship with her son’s father and she […]
Separation from your lifetime partner can be a heart wrenching affair. It is a death that we do not always prepare for and often don’t expect. Most of us see hard times and arguments and are aware of the work it takes to hold a marriage together, but what do you do when it falls […]
Either the kids are going or coming for the summer and shifting households can be a stressful and exciting time for everyone. If the kids are leaving, some custodial parents may suffer separation anxiety, while others may take advantage of a kid-free zone! If the kids are going to be with their noncustodial parent, then […]
Are you a biological parent that is about to become a stepparent? Perhaps you are a step parent that is about to become a new biological parent. Be forewarned, you and your family are about to undergo some serious changes. You can expect some discomfort and frustration, however it’s not all bad. In fact, the […]
A warning for Stepmoms (and biomoms). Yes Stepmoms, you read that right. The BioMonster (high conflict bio mom) you’re dealing with was created with your help – the Stepmom who chose a life most would run away from. For those of you who haven’t heard of the term “BioMonster,” I’ll define it like this: a […]
I recently had a chance to sit down with Will Carr, a Single Dad and entrepreneur. In our #QuickChat, we spoke about his motivation behind running his own business and how his lifestyle centers around Blakely, his 2- year old daughter. In our candid talk, we discuss the daunting court process and co-parenting. While it […]
HUNTSVILLE, Texas — As her mother listened on the telephone, 9-year-old Faith Battaglia pleaded with her father. “No, Daddy, please don’t, don’t do it!” the child begged. Mary Jane Pearle yelled into the phone for Faith and her 6-year-old sister, Liberty, to run. Then Pearle heard gunshots. On Thursday, her ex-husband, John David Battaglia, is […]
Child discipline is a big topic in the Blended and Black facebook group. Last week, the following video was shared in the group and an intense discussion ensued. While some are adamantly against spankings, some parents do acknowledge the positive effects corporal punishment can have on a child. While we often debate, it’s rare that a […]
BEST APPS FOR CO-PARENTING When it comes to divorce, technology often gets a bad rap. Many people cite phone addictions and their partners social media usage as contributing factors to their relationship breakdown. Yet not all technology is bad. These co-parenting apps show just how beneficial tech can be. Divorce is hard enough – let your phone […]
Life is so short. In the blink of an eye, our time here could end. Spending your days raising hell, filled with rage and carrying hatred shortens your good days. Only a COWARD holds on to hatred. You see, love can hurt, it can make you vulnerable. It can expose you for who you are […]