Sibling rivalry isn’t a new idea. It has existed for as long as families have existed. Brothers and sisters compete for attention, argue, compare themselves to one another, and sometimes carry those wounds far into adulthood. Most parents eventually come to accept that some level of rivalry between siblings is simply part of growing up.…

The Lesson My Husband Taught Me About Letting Go of Adult Children Growing up in a large Catholic family, there was an ever-present value instilled in us from the time we were small: Family is everything. Not because my parents were manipulative, abusive, narcissistic, or anything that could twist that idea into something unhealthy. It…

I’ve had some readers ask me to clarify this from my article “When Love Is a Tug of War: The Step-Parent Reality.” In the article it states: “Loyalty doesn’t always attach to the person who is safest. Sometimes it attaches to the person who is most unpredictable. Children will defend the parent whose love feels…

Blending families means blending traditions — and that can be both heartwarming and challenging. When my husband and I combined our families, I thought our long-standing traditions would bring everyone closer. Instead, I learned that true connection comes from creating new memories together. For any blended or step-family, the most meaningful traditions aren’t the ones…

Becoming a step-parent is one of those roles no one can fully prepare you for. You don’t get a handbook, and everyone around you seems to have an opinion. The trouble is, those opinions often contradict each other. If you lean in and take an active role, people whisper that you’re trying to replace the…