03.28.07

Stepfamilies Pop Up in the Media

Posted in News at 10:24 am by Dawn Miller

Stepfamilies are turning up more often in the media, and here’s a few examples:

• “Ground Rules Make For Happy Play Dates,” Contra Costa Times, March 28, 2007 - get tips on planning good play dates. One of the interviews is with Michele Knehtel, mom of 3, and stepmom to 2 - what a handful - you bet she’s an expert on play dates! 
• “Alpha Moms Leap to Top of Trendsetters,” USA Today, March 26, 2007 - Alpha moms are now a highly coveted marketing group I think a lot of stepmoms can relate to the “Alpha Mom” persona - which is a hip mom who loves her kids and is involved in their lives, but has her own identity too. Lots of stepmoms are involved in the lives of their stepkids, but want to retain their own sense of who they are. The article includes a mention of Holly Peak, an Olympic bronze medalist and stepmom to two teens.
• “Carmichael Residents Win YouTube Award,” Sacramento Bee, March 26, 2007 - Teens Anthony Padilla and Ian Hecox won an award for their original video on YouTube and appeared on the Today show, but according to Padilla’s stepmom, they’re still the same kids and she’s super-proud of their accomplishment!
• “Injured Soldier’s Stepmom Begs Congress to Stop War,” Des Moines Register, March 20, 2007 - Stepmom Brenda Harvey talked about her stepson solider’s injuries from a bombing during a rally in Iowa. She also called on Congress to stop the war in Iraq.  
• “Trying Marriage Again,” Cincinnati-Enquirer, March 19, 2007 - To demonstrate the pressures placed on marriage in a stepfamily to one of her workshops, Elizabeth Einstein literally ties a couple together on stage, and then loads them down with baggage representing the guilt, fears and other pressures common to a new marriage in a stepfamily. Throw in a few more audience members and blindfolds to represent denial (the surge of young love blinds us all!) and then ask the couple to reach out to each other and be close. Virtually impossible! The article goes on to offer ten tips for stepfamily success and talks to real stepfamilies. Bravo!
• “Make Jason Feel Like He’s Part of the Family,” Annie’s Mailbox (syndicated advice column), March 16, 2007 - A new stepparent writes in about her own frustrations around the impending visit of her stepson. And gets very little good advice, other than to contact the National Stepfamily Resource Center (a good idea, but it would be nice to see the “experts” say a little more).
• “A Family Feud That is Familiar,” New York Times, March 10, 2007 - this article (you have to pay, unfortunately, to actually read the whole thing now) explores the highly publicized rift between presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani and his children. His 21-year-old son, Andrew, stated that he would not campaign for his father and that he has a problem with his stepmother. Giuliani asked for the media to give his family some privacy and space to deal with these issues, but that hasn’t stopped speculation about how this could hurt his political career.

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