Stepmothers get a really bad rap.
And Disney does no favors to us stepmoms!
Emotions are hard to navigate on their own. But when you introduce the dynamics of the role you play in someone else’s life, you’re sailing through uncharted seas with numerous variables.
This week I am sharing with you an extraordinary conversation that I had with a remarkable woman who supports high-achieving women in their roles as step-mothers.
Liz Kelly is a stepmom of nearly ten years to two teenage (bonus) boys and mom to two toddler boys.
She and her husband are raising these four incredible souls on our homestead near Princeton, New Jersey.
Five years ago, she became steeped learning how the brain processes emotion. Now as a neuro-emotional coach, she works with high-achieving women – especially stepmoms – providing emotional safety and the tools and language to understand how their emotions work. Through this work, women are changing how they show up for themselves and their families.
Liz comes from a 20-year career in writing and public relations to make her the perfect person to do this work in the world..
When you have found success in various areas of your life, it is hard to admit to struggling in such a vital and central area of your life.
Liz shares with us the reasons that she started working with stepmoms and how her research in neuro-emotions and self-regulation have become a refreshing, if not REVOLUTIONARY, way of looking at step-parenting.
This conversation is eye-opening if you play a central role in the raising of ANY children.
Liz helps us design the life that we want as a stepmom by:
Explaining the role negative stereotypes play.
The common challenges that stepmoms face
Understanding the true foundational needs of each family member
Knowing the 3 Brain states
Interpreting the brain states to appropriately respond to a situation or circumstance and provide the support needed
Changing the energy dynamics of our bonus children's experience of the home
The role self-regulation plays in the ability to be the person you desire to be in your role as a step-mom
Throughout this conversation we discuss the ways that we can create emotionally-nourishing and supportive environments to help our kids, our spouse, and ourselves thrive in the blended-family dynamic.
I have to admit that I held a great deal of angst going into this conversation. In truth, it is not something that I feel like I have done well to date.
But in this beautiful and heart-felt conversation, Liz opened my eyes to a different way to approach so many of the challenges that I have encountered.
And, mostly, that I am not alone in my struggles.
For the complete shownotes: episode webpage
Instagram @lizpkelly
