UPDATE: We’ve created an eBook and a cute little video to accompany this topic. Some members have reported that their men appreciate when the For Your Man content is packaged more concisely. xoxo Naja Dear Dads, Please know that we admire, love, and adore you which is why we agreed to commit to you for […]
I’m a Life Coach in real life and I want to share a true story with you. Last year, I had a Client that was beautiful, talented, driven, but just a bit unsure about the trajectory of her life and her relationship. She initially came to me because she was having a hard time dealing […]
https://youtu.be/93MmhUSU5KI In this month’s expert workshop, Naja sat down with psychologist @Dr. Jennelle to discuss a topic very familiar to women in our community. At some point in our relationships, stepmoms think about calling it quits because this role can be too much. When surveyed, over 64% of VIPStepmoms replied that if they could have […]
My Stepdaughter got $450 for birthday and Christmas from her dad and I, and other members of my family (grandparents etc). Her dad has told her it has to stay at our house for two reasons. One being we don’t trust her mom not to take it from her, and also we would like to be with […]
This week I am chatting with the founder of Erasing Family, Ginger Gentile. According to www.Erasingfamily.org, in the US alone, over 22 MILLION PARENTS are being erased from their children’s lives after divorce and separation. Ginger offers tips on how to cope as an erased family member and how to handle your child when they […]
Listen on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Play In this episode of I Know I’m Crazy with Naja Hall, I chat with Jennifer Arnise. Our conversation was uncomfortably too real at times because we are discussing a tough topic, Toxic Mothers! Jen gives personal and professional insights on how to deal with a toxic mom. […]
Listen on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Play In this episode of I Know I’m Crazy with Naja Hall, I chat with Addiction Treatment Specialist, Chris Wilkins. I was instantly drawn to his work because many of us are consumed by conflict and he is the perfect person to teach us about letting go […]
Originally published by Richard Paul Evans My oldest daughter, Jenna, recently said to me, “My greatest fear as a child was that you and mom would get divorced. Then, when I was twelve, I decided that you fought so much that maybe it would be better if you did.” Then she added with a smile. […]
by Stephanie Waldon Dear Alienated Parent, For most parents, the holidays are a time of joyful celebrations filled with family outings, special meals, and enjoying the simple pleasures that come with togetherness. For others…not so much. There is a unique kind of mourning alienated parents must endure: mourning the loss of children who are still […]
Marriage is serious business. But with the divorce rate at 50%, it’s smart to do your research before leaping into a situation that was doomed from the start. We all ask surface questions, but here are a few that go deeper. There are a few helpful links below: ➡️10 Questions to Ask: www.blendedandblack.com/10-questions-love/ ➡️For more […]
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, […]
The Blended & Black Facebook live Series kicked off last night. Our inaugural interview was with Simone Spence, The Deadbeat Hunter. Simone has been an active member of the group and she’s made her feelings about parents that skip out on Child Support known. She does not like them very much! This video is packed […]
The ex Wife of Steve Harvey, Mary Harvey is at it again. We all remember her from her publicity rounds back in 2005 after their messy divorce. She went on a smear campaign against her Ex Husband. She claims Steve cheated on her with his current Wife, Marjorie and that she is the reason for […]
This question raises several issues. The most important one may be the definition of mental illness. It is very normal for divorce to elicit strong feelings, often negative ones—and for these feelings to change from sadness to anger, guilt, or shame. It is often typical for divorcing partners to label each other as “bi-polar” as […]
Alma’s speech became stilted, and her eyes brimmed with tears as she shared the moment she knew her marriage was over. It was not a matter of infidelity, immorality, or a lack of love that ended her marriage of three years. In fact, she and her husband deeply loved each other—but his manic episodes had […]
Are you dealing with disrespectful stepkids? Why would they be disrespectful? Like it or not, phrases like, “You’re not my Mom!” may be thrown around in times of disobedience and defiance. As a pruned at this very moment to defy my Husband and I every chance they get. They are being severely alienated and have […]
Are you dealing with disrespectful stepkids? Why would they be disrespectful? Like it or not, phrases like, “You’re not my Mom!” may be thrown around in times of disobedience and defiance. As a pruned at this very moment to defy my Husband and I every chance they get. They are being severely alienated and have […]
Married Filing Separately If you are married, you and your spouse can choose whether to file separate tax returns or whether to file a joint tax return together. Filing jointly usually gets you a bigger refund or a lower tax bill, and most married couples file joint returns, but there are some cases where it […]
https://youtu.be/MBPR4ybsFms When I came across this clip, I immediately thought of every woman I know! I thought about the countless times I’ve had to either seek counsel or give counsel because some boy caused pain. I wrote this article with our girlfriends and sisters in mind! We have all had those moments when we’ve wanted […]
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 […]
When I coach women that have experienced infidelity, there are many variables to each individual circumstance; however, there is a glaring commonality among every woman. After they have gone through the process of grieving their mate’s indiscretion, some begin their personal journey towards forgiving their mate. They vow to put the past in the past […]
Dear Ask Dad, I don’t know what to do. My MIL is still stuck on my husband’s BM (they were never married). When I’m around she acts like I’m not even there, I ask her to lunch and coffee and she is always too busy, but has time for the other woman. I get her […]
Father’s are supposed to protect their little ones from all the scary, physical and emotional dangers of the world. So what’s a mom to do when the man she created a new life with turns out to be the first person who breaks her child’s heart? With so many shining examples of great fathers everywhere […]
I said I would never divorce. I am the child of divorced parents, and I had no intentions of putting my children through that experience. “Life,” however, had other plans and I find myself in the midst of separation. This set of circumstances forces me to examine my past experience in hopes to prepare both […]
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 […]
Dear Ask Dad, As a man I have never written in to one of these columns, but I don’t know what to do. My daughter is 15 years old and she is a fantastic young lady. She is an honor student, captain of her basketball team and she volunteers as well. My issue is with […]
A childless stepmom may feel Isolated. Humiliated. Underestimated. These are probably the most common sentiments of stepmothers who do not have biological children. She feels isolated because stepmothering can be an overwhelmingly lonely gig. This woman may feel like a stranger in her own home because she is the last person to join a ready-made […]
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 […]
For the 1st episode of B&B TV, I’ve partnered with CelebrityXO to bring you a Pop Culture edition of Blended and Black TV! I’m so excited about this collaboration because I get to mesh my favorite topic, Blended Families with one of my other favorite things to chat about: TEA! This week we’re discussing Megan Markle’s […]
Most mothers reflect fondly upon the day their children were born as one that tested her strength, her faith, her pain tolerance and her undying love for a child she’d never met. The birth bond is so strong that every mother could probably recount everything leading up to the moment her child was born. When […]
Last night’s facebook live Group Therapy episode was actually pretty good for our 1st run. There were a few glitches and tech difficulties, but the content is SO strong, I decided to share. FFWD about 1:30 and enjoy 45 minutes of Group Therapy. We will be doing another session next month. Stay tuned for updates. […]
Blended and Black founder, Naja Hall spoke with AskSharifah on Sharifah Hardie’s long-running LA talk radio show. The ladies had a full 1 hour session on-air and it was full of so many sistafriend moments. They spoke about Naja’s experiences as a Family Life Coach and some best practices in dealing with high-conflict personalities, mental illness, […]
When we are falling in love, we tend to overlook some key factors that will ultimately determine the success or failure of our relationship. In the beginning of a relationship, we are often blinded by lust, fantasy and hope. The definition stage of a relationship usually lasts from 6 months to a year. During this […]
By Blended and Black member Stephanie Martinez From the time I was a little girl until I was in my early twenties, I felt forgotten. I felt unimportant. I felt like I didn’t matter. I am a product of two divorces, abuse, and abandonment. Co-parenting was not a thing in our life. Everything was a […]
In our community, I notice that a lot of us are overly emotional but we lack the depth to properly express our feelings. People are increasingly seeming more angry and confused. There are so many walking around with undiagnosed mental illnesses and the majority of our issues began taking root during our childhoods. Our […]
Like most women that are falling in love, I was hopeful and anxious when my Future Husband and I began dating. He is an astonishing man! He’s tall, dark and very handsome. He is kind and gentle. He has rock hard abs! He is also a Father. The latter was a tough fact for me […]
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 […]
Sis, May I have a word with you for a second? There are far too many good men who are fighting to be involved in the life of a child they created only to be constantly turned away by a bio-mom. There is also a statistic of women who are fighting to have their child’s […]
What if I told you that all Babymamas are not evil ? While she may be perceived as bitter, angry or spiteful, she really doesn’t mean to be. Now hear me out! I grew up with a Southern Granny and she had a favorite saying, “pay that no mind”? My Grandmother was trying to communicate […]
I recently read an article written by a woman that admittedly has Daddy issues. She was very open about her struggles with maintaining healthy relationships because of her deeply embedded fear of abandonment. Her lack of trust for her father had resonated throughout many of her interpersonal relationships. Like many people raised by a Single […]
Story Time: I just don’t like my Dad’s new Wife Listen to the latest Podcast NOW on Youtube! Backstory Blended and Black member, Shell’s parents divorced when she was 12. She went from feeling like the apple of her father’s eye to being stunned when he married her Stepmom 2 years after her parent’s divorce. […]