Archive for the ‘Stepmom Mixers’ Category

Meet the Kirkland, Washington Stepmoms!

Sunday, December 6th, 2009

angie_mixer

This group is giving me great cause to get out of the house for “me” time, grow a much needed network… and learn how to strengthen my amazing family.

Meet the Kirkland, Washington Stepmoms! These women are members of “Stepping Forward,” a Washington based MEETUP.COM group and part of our growing offline step-community. Read the inspirational testimonials below to understand why a stepmom support group can be such a positive outlet and resource:

“This is a good moment to be a stepmom. Women are reaching out to other women in our area to get together and discuss the complexities of stepfamily life, and the experience of the collective ‘exhale’ is nothing short of enlightening and encouraging. The majority of women in our fledgling group have been step parenting for under 5-10 years, and recognizing that our challenges are similar is a great relief. One woman said at our most recent meeting, “I would have driven much farther than I did this time to meet you all” and we acknowledged that the value of getting together cannot be underestimated. Each dynamic woman tells her story honestly, and is received with compassion; we also laugh a great deal, and set a tone of encouragement for all who come. It is our hope that this group will grow, and that other women who, like many of us, have felt isolated in their role as stepmother, will seek out Stepping Forward. We also hope that women who are veteran stepmoms will consider joining us to come give us their stories from the road, their wisdom and their wit. Finally, an enthusiastic thank you to all women engaged in forming groups and bringing awareness to their homes and communities about the realities of stepfamily life, we are all the stronger for your activity.”

-Jennifer Allen, stepmom and member of Stepping Forward

“After spending years without anyone to talk to, I finally found a stepparent group on Meetup that had just begun and knew instantly it was exactly what I needed. I was invigorated while driving there, excited for the opportunity to finally share some of the feelings I had been burying for all these years! I was amazed to realize how much I had in common with each of the amazing women that were there. While all of our stories are quite different, I could easily relate to aspect of each of them. I honestly believe I may have found friends for life. Thank you, Angie, for stepping up and helping us Step Forward!”

-Kate Holms, stepmom and member of Stepping Forward

About the Kirkland Stepping Forward Meet up group:

The purpose of this group will be to help one another find new strategies to create workable, peaceful and loving homes. Additionally, it is to provide support for each and every person who attends so that they can feel understood and empowered to reach their personal and family goals. If you are a step parent please join!

Contact: Angie at http://www.meetup.com/Kirkland-Step-Parenting/

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Austin Stepmoms Holiday Meet Up

Thursday, December 3rd, 2009

HolidayParty
THE REAL STEPMOMS OF TRAVIS COUNTY HOLIDAY PARTY

When: TONIGHT! Thursday, December 3

Where: Vino Vino, 4119 Guadalupe St, Austin, TX 78751

When: 7pm

Contact:Izzy Rose at izzyrose@stepmothersmilk.com or got to meetup.com for more details

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Stepmom Support Groups

Monday, November 9th, 2009

holding-hands

Looking for a Stepmom Support Group?

Check out the upcoming stepmom mixers and meet ups in Florida, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Washington and Virginia! Get all the details HERE!

If you’re interested in attending one of these meet ups, please contact the event organizer first. Thanks!

Izzy_Rose

Image courtesy of ameenanotamina.wordpress.com/

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Meet the NC Triangle Stepmoms

Thursday, October 29th, 2009

Bahama BreezeStepmother’s Milk Readers,

I wanted to share with you a note I received from Elizabeth Hall, founder of the North Carolina Triangle Stepmoms. I found her on meetup.com when I started The Real Stepmoms of Travis County. (We’re having a mixer tonight @ 7p at Vino Vino by the way.) I asked her to send me a picture of her group and tell me how the NC Triangle Steps came to be. It turns out, her story is very similar to mine, and maybe yours, too?

From Elizabeth…

I, too, have enjoyed seeing “my” little group really grow and reach out to others. I searched and searched for a support group, thinking “surely, I’m not the only one who’s thought of this or is struggling this way.” But my attempts turned up empty-handed. It was finally suggested to me that I start my OWN group. I scoffed at the idea a little, but once the ball got rolling, boy did it get rolling! We’re a little over a year and 20 stepmoms strong now and I have humbly accepted the praise and appreciation from our members.

As for our meetings, I try very hard to take suggestions. I often will use Doodle.com to put up surveys for members to vote on times and locations. Sometimes, however, I just have to take the bull by the horns in order to make events happen, particularly when we have a lot of new members because they are often unsure of what to suggest. Because we span about a 2 hour distance from one end of the spectrum to the other, we generally try to meet somewhere in the middle, which often equates to the Southpoint area or a restaurant in Raleigh.

The NC Triangle Stepmoms meet next on Saturday, November 14th.

Have you recently attended a Stepmom Mixer in your city or town? Send me a picture of your group and I’ll send you a signed copy of The Package Deal as a thank you for encouraging other women to follow your lead. Tell us how your group got started. Where do you meet? How often? What have you learned from each other?

Not sure how to get a group together? You can start by reading How to Host a Stepmom Mixer.

Good luck and keep us posted!

Izzy_Rose

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Los Angeles Stepmom Meetup

Sunday, October 18th, 2009

hannahjulieLadies, I LOVE watching our stepmom community grow. Not only are we reaching out to each other online like never before, but we’re starting to take our relationships offline, forming enduring friendships and stronger support systems.

Recently, a group of ten Austin stepmoms gathered at Vino Vino in Hyde Park. When our server asked us what the celebratory occasion was, I said, “We’re all stepmoms.” She looked at me for a second, like… And what else? When I didn’t say anything more, she said, “Oh, like a Girls’ night out for stepmoms. Cool.”

When we step out of the shadows and make ourselves visible, we force the culture to see us for who we really are (we don’t all ride broomsticks) and the significant role we play. I truly believe that the more we speak up and share our stories, the sooner we can look forward to a mainstream discussion on the truth about stepmotherhood.

Meet fellow stepchicks Hannah and Julie, who met this past weekend at Edendale Grill in Silverlake. 

Hannah, in her own words:

“It was so nice to be able to say certain things to her and know she wasn’t going to judge me or wonder how I could possibly feel this way….I think stepmoms have feelings we don’t think we should have…Hopefully next time more stepmoms will join us.  It would have been fun to have a big(ger) group, but it was nice to just get to know Julie too.”

Have you recently attended a Stepmom Mixer in your city or town? Send me a picture of your group and I’ll send you a signed copy of The Package Deal as a thank you for encouraging other women to follow your lead. Tell us how your group got started. Where do you meet? How often? What have you learned from each other?

Not sure how to get a group together? You can start by reading How to Host a Stepmom Mixer.

Good luck and keep us posted!

Izzy_Rose

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