Introducing The Real Stepmoms of Travis County…
Last night I met up with a group of Austin stepladies at Cipollina Bistro in West Austin. We sipped wine, passed plates of Italian munchies and swapped stories.
The conversation was enlightening, validating, sometimes shocking and often hilarious. I’m already looking forward to the next one. In fact, there’s been a strong vote for convening on the terrace at The Crossings Wellness Spa. I could easily be talked into that.
For those of you who planned on coming and weren’t able to make it, here’s a chance to meet who you missed (and please forgive the amateur photography. It doesn’t do these beautiful ladies justice).
The engaging woman in red is Susan. She’s been a stepmom for the past six years. She has a 14-year-old stepson, a 19-year-old stepdaughter and no biological kids of her own. She recently paid her stepson to cut his hair.
This is Emily. She married in March and has two stepdaughter (14 and 7) and a 12-year-old stepson. They live primarily with their mother and visit Emily and her new husband every other weekend. Emily, a foodie, battles often with her stepson whose diet consists of chicken nuggets and peanut butter.
This is Jen. A transplant from D.C., she recently married and became a stepmom to her husband’s two girls (8 and 5). She is expecting her first child later this year.
This is Melissa. She’s a recent UT graduate and engaged to a divorced man with a five-year-old son. Her twenty-something girlfriends think she’s crazy.
This is Renee. She’s been a stepmom for 13 years. She has two stepdaughters (21 and 17) and a biological son (14) from her first marriage. She assured us that stepparenting doesn’t get easier with time.
She’s hard to see, but the woman laughing at the far end of the table is Christine. She’s been married less than five years and has a nine year-old stepson. She feels a little bit guilty admitting that she and her stepson get along famously.
And this is me. Stepmom to The Tall One and The Young One. Married for three years with no biological kids of my own (yet).
Our next mixer will be sometime in late September, so check back soon and often for the details. Hope to see you there!
BTW, if you’ve started a group of your own in another city, I’d love to hear about it. How many ladies are in your group? How did you get it started? Where do you meet? What do you talk about? I frequently get emails from readers interested in starting their own local stepmom group, so I’m sure they’d love to hear how YOU did it!
Cheers,
Tags: Austin, stepmom_mixer, support_group, travis_county
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Looks like so much fun!!! Would love to make it sometime if I can ever get to Austin! Thanks for posting about it! :)
Izzy, that looks amazing. I’ve only been able to track down one other steppie in my entire (albeit small) state. I really hope you and Erin do post about how to organize a stepmom mixer…I would LOVE to host one here, but I’m at a loss. Ironic, considering I plan events professionally!
I love my stepmom!
How fun! Someday I’ll get up the guts to try to track down other stepmoms around here; there’s gotta be some somewhere around here! I always like to hear about groups of stepmoms getting together; stepmoms are TOUGH women, so get a bunch together and it’s like a powerhouse kind of thing. Perfect!
It was fun! I’m no expert in event planning, but I will soon share how I’ve thrown my group together with tips on how to start your own. I’d love to double our size each month and eventually reserve the whole restaurant. Imagine the noise level then!
IR
Hi Izzy!! I wish I had stumbled upon you weeks ago! I moved to Austin 2 months ago with my husband of 2 1/2 years and my 9 year-old stepdaughter & I have yet to meet any step-moms, making me feel like the odd ball!! It looks like y’all had alot to share and alot of fun :) I hope to make it to the next one :) keep us posted!
I kind of want to move to Austin just to be a part of this group!! How refreshing and healing! I’m new to stepmothering and it’s a challenge (understatement).
This sounds so wonderful! I would love to get a group together in D.C., so I am looking forward to hearing how others have done it.
Within our stepchicks group us gals in Southern California are starting to talk about starting a group and getting together. Our numbers are small so it we may be covering a pretty big area. Looking forward to your tips on getting this thing started!
It is wonderful. You should all move to Austin and join the group!
IR
[...] OC Evil Step: Within our stepchicks group us gals in Southern California are starting… [...]
Great tips Izzy, thank you! I am looking forward to setting up a mini-retreat for SoCal stepmoms. Our monthly meetings are pretty straightforward, but I am looking to set up a mini-retreat early December or mid-January, depending on my work schedule. For sure I would love to mix with other stepmoms and have a few drinks! :) Thanks again!
I’ve just stumbled across your site and am happy to see this discussion! Where are all the stepmoms in Seattle? I want to organize a mixer too! I’m am so OVER feeling isolated and want to do something about it!