Celebrating Mother's Day in Step Families

Mother's Day is a special time set aside to recognize and honor mothers everywhere. Its not just a day for biological mothers, since some of us are adopted or were raised by another family member, some people have fathers who have remarried and brought another woman into the life of there children, and called her there stepmother. Mother's Day is a time to show our moms how much we love them. Unfortunately, for biological mothers who have children they have to share with the wicked stepmother, Mother's Day becomes a dreaded holiday. What are they to do when there forced to share a day meant for them with a stepmother?

I'm sure being a divorced woman, sharing your kids with 'the other woman' cant be easy, but I also know that being a step mother cant be easy either. Regardless, that leaves our poor little kids stuck right smack in the middle of this ensuing battle. So how do we go about sharing Mother's Day when your child has two moms, especially if one of those just happens to be a step mom? Mother's Day was originally intended as a day of peace, which is not something we see often between moms and step moms. But with a little effort, it can become a day for us to teach our children about love, forgiveness and compromise, Just by setting an example for them to follow. I know sharing the day when your child has two mothers doesn't come naturally, or even easily. However, you must make a conscious effort to show your children that its ok to love there stepmother, don't make them feel guilty for caring about her, or for wanting to include her in whatever Mother's Day plans they insist on making. If they have a father who is remarried, and they spend anytime at all with him, of course there going to spend time with there stepmother also. If she's good to them and cares for them, she will most probably become a meaningful part of there lives. Unfortunately, that means you will be forced to listen to endless stories about what a great time they had with her, after there weekend visits, and the older they get, the more time they spend with her, the more they'll love her. She's there for them a lot, she cooks for them, takes care of them when there sick and tucks them into bed at night. Accept the fact that they will eventually come to love and respect her, It doesn't mean that she's taken your place, as if anyone ever could, it just means that your children have someone in there lives who loves them just about as much as you do, and will care for them at any cost. You, in fact, should be grateful for this because we never what's going to happen in life. So that leaves the question how do step families deal with Mother's Day?

A wonderful idea for sharing Mother's Day when your child has two moms, is to get both families together for an afternoon. Of course this is only a good idea if everyone can get along, this teaches your children a valuable lesson in love and forgiveness, it also allows the children to spend time with both moms, and to see how well you two interact together. This is necessary to help them avoid feeling guilty for wanting to include there stepmother in on Mother's Day, or about caring for her, and considering her a part of there family. Some step families deal with Mother's Day, by allowing the kids to spend part of the day at the stepparents home, and the other part at there home. Or, and this again, is only if both families get along well, and I do mean very well,plan a trip together, maybe a camping trip or a trip to the beach. This is an amazing opportunity to be together and show your children that they can be comfortable including there step mom in the families plans. Mother's Day in blended families can be fun and exciting for everyone, if you are willing to put some effort into it. I know its not that easy, divorce and remarriage are never easy. but with kindness, forgiveness and patience, you can make Mother's Day in blended families fun and stress free for yourself, And more importantly, your kids!