The Stepmom Side Podcast

What should a stepmom do when the rules are completely different at each house?
Different bedtimes, screen limits, homework expectations, chores, and consequences can make school routines especially difficult in blended families. Children may resist the rules, struggle on transition days, or repeatedly remind the stepmom that things are different at their mom’s house.
In this episode of The Stepmom Side Podcast, Alicia explains how blended families can create consistent school routines within their own homes—even when consistency between homes is impossible.
Drawing from her experience with different expectations around devices, sleep, homework, chores, and discipline, Alicia discusses how she became the strict one, overfunctioned, experienced conflict with her partner, and began feeling resentful.
In this episode, Alicia covers:
Why different household rules do not automatically mean one home is wrong
How to determine whether a difference is harmful or simply frustrating
Why children compare rules between households
Responding when a stepchild says, “But Mom lets me”
Using “At our house…” without criticizing the other home
Preventing the stepmom from becoming the strict one...and more!
The two homes do not need identical rules. What matters is creating clear expectations in your own household and ensuring the stepmom is not left to enforce everything alone.
Download the free House Expectations resource:
https://aliciakrasko.com/expectations
Join The Stepmom Side Community:
https://aliciakrasko.com/community
Explore one-on-one coaching with Alicia:
https://aliciakrasko.com/coaching
Support the show
Want a specific topic covered? Let me know here.
After you listen to this, tag me on Instagram @aliciakrasko and let me know what you think!
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Want to learn more about The Stepmom Side community? Here's where you get all the info. Looking forward to connecting with you on the inside.
All things Alicia visit www.aliciakrasko.com
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School events can trigger outsider syndrome for stepmoms. Especially when their partner’s ex and extended family will be there. Where should everyone sit? Should divorced parents and stepparents attend events together? What happens when a partner acts differently around their ex? And does a stepmom need to attend parent-teacher conferences to prove she cares?
In this episode of The Stepmom Side Podcast, Alicia shares her experience of feeling ignored, displaced, and unsure where she belonged during school events. She also explains why she sometimes chose not to attend parent-teacher conferences when her role felt unclear.
Alicia helps stepmoms prepare for school concerts, sporting events, open houses, conferences, and other activities without forcing an uncomfortable version of “happy co-parenting.”
In this episode, Alicia discusses:
Why school events can intensify outsider syndrome for stepmoms
Deciding whether divorced parents and stepparents should sit together
Why separate seating may sometimes be the healthiest option
Planning for each school event individually
What to do when a partner’s ex ignores or excludes the stepmom
How to respond when a partner acts differently around their ex...and more.
There is no universal rule that says every blended family must sit together or attend every event as one group. The healthiest arrangement is the one that reduces tension, supports the child, and allows each adult to behave respectfully.
If school events leave you feeling like an outsider, you do not have to work through those feelings alone.
Join The Stepmom Side Community:
https://aliciakrasko.com/community
Explore one-on-one coaching with Alicia:
https://aliciakrasko.com/coaching
Support the show
Want a specific topic covered? Let me know here.
After you listen to this, tag me on Instagram @aliciakrasko and let me know what you think!
Get all the FREE RESOURCES here.
Want to learn more about The Stepmom Side community? Here's where you get all the info. Looking forward to connecting with you on the inside.
All things Alicia visit www.aliciakrasko.com
Get on the list,  get behind the scene info on Stepmom life, and tips delivered to your inbox.

Back-to-school planning can get complicated quickly in a blended family. Who buys the school supplies and clothes? Who completes registration forms, manages transportation, receives school updates, and pays for extracurricular activities? And how involved should a stepmom be when she is affected by these decisions but may not have decision-making authority?
In this episode, Alicia shares how back-to-school responsibilities changed when her stepson moved into her home full time—and why responsibility, access, and authority need to be discussed individually. She explains how stepmoms and their partners can divide the workload, prepare for different routines between homes, and prevent one person from silently becoming responsible for everything.
Alicia discusses:
Deciding who purchases school supplies, clothes, shoes, and equipment
Reviewing the parenting agreement before requesting reimbursement
Dividing registration, forms, transportation, and school communication
Choosing whether a stepmom wants to be an emergency contact or approved for pickup....and more!
There is no universal formula for dividing back-to-school responsibilities in a blended family. Some stepmoms want to be highly involved, while others prefer school logistics to remain primarily with the parents. What matters is that the arrangement is discussed, agreed upon, and supported.
Download the free House Expectations resource to begin a clearer conversation with your partner:
https://aliciakrasko.com/expectations
Join The Stepmom Side Community for practical support from women who understand blended-family roles, boundaries, and expectations:
https://aliciakrasko.com/community
Support the show
Want a specific topic covered? Let me know here.
After you listen to this, tag me on Instagram @aliciakrasko and let me know what you think!
Get all the FREE RESOURCES here.
Want to learn more about The Stepmom Side community? Here's where you get all the info. Looking forward to connecting with you on the inside.
All things Alicia visit www.aliciakrasko.com
Get on the list,  get behind the scene info on Stepmom life, and tips delivered to your inbox.

What if you don’t like your stepkids? It’s the question that stepmoms whisper to themselves and rarely admit out loud. In this episode, Alicia unpacks why these feelings show up, why they don’t make you a “bad stepmom,” and how to move through them without shame.
You’ll learn:
Why it’s normal to not always like your stepkids
How societal expectations set stepmoms up for guilt
Simple shifts to ease the tension when relationships feel strained
How to release the pressure to force a bond
This is your permission slip: you don’t have to like your stepkids 24/7 to be a good stepmom.
Support the show
Want a specific topic covered? Let me know here.
After you listen to this, tag me on Instagram @aliciakrasko and let me know what you think!
Get all the FREE RESOURCES here.
Want to learn more about The Stepmom Side community? Here's where you get all the info. Looking forward to connecting with you on the inside.
All things Alicia visit www.aliciakrasko.com
Get on the list,  get behind the scene info on Stepmom life, and tips delivered to your inbox.

In this episode of The Stepmom Side Podcast, Alicia Krasko sits down with certified stepfamily coach Darlene Sparks for an honest conversation about the realities of stepmom life—because “just love them like your own” is not exactly a complete instruction manual.
Darlene shares her experience navigating identity loss, rejection, complicated family relationships, and feeling like an outsider in her own home. Together, Alicia and Darlene discuss how stepmoms can protect their peace without disconnecting from their stepchildren.
In this episode:
Why many stepmoms feel unprepared for blended family life
Stepmom guilt, stereotypes, and unrealistic expectations
How self-protection can unintentionally create more distance
Setting boundaries in high-conflict situations
Responding instead of reacting during family conflict
Letting go of what a stepmom cannot control
Supporting stepchildren while protecting emotional well-being
This conversation reminds stepmoms that they can remain loving and involved without sacrificing themselves to keep everyone else comfortable.
Connect with Darlene:
Instagram
TikTok
Facebook
Find more support:
Join The Stepmom Side Community
Explore private coaching with Alicia
Support the show
Want a specific topic covered? Let me know here.
After you listen to this, tag me on Instagram @aliciakrasko and let me know what you think!
Get all the FREE RESOURCES here.
Want to learn more about The Stepmom Side community? Here's where you get all the info. Looking forward to connecting with you on the inside.
All things Alicia visit www.aliciakrasko.com
Get on the list,  get behind the scene info on Stepmom life, and tips delivered to your inbox.