Customer Reviews

Stepchildren Speak: 10 Grown-Up Stepchildren Teach Us How to Build Healthy Stepfamilies

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How brilliant and selfless of Susan Philips to let the stepchildren give advice and insight into stepparenting, rather than put it in her own words. The experiences that these ten stepchildren share are diverse, but the commonality of feelings are strikingly similiar. For anyone who is in the midst of stepparenting, or about to embark on this journey, I would strongly recommend that they read this heartfelt book.

Stepchildren Speak competently answers a grave need of our families today. Straight "from the horse's mouth," so to speak, this book provides an intimate, caring view into those who have walked this path -- and survived. A "must read" for anyone contemplating marriage to one with children.

Marcille M. Nay

Grandmother to 39

While this book is well conceived, researched, written, and is an interesting concept, I found it tiresome to hear again the grievances from the stepchildren's side. Being a stepchild and a stepmother, I can appreciate the difficulties from both sides, however it always seems to end up being about the stepchildren, their plight, their sensitive feelings, and what we can all do to cushion their fragility. Little thought or consideration being given for the 'dreaded' stepmother/father. It would have been a nice adjunct to have an equal number of stepparents interviewed to give their view, advice, and insights.

What a powerful and much-needed resource for stepfamilies! So many stepfamily issues can be prevented or solved if the adults involved will do their best to "Step Into the Children's Shoes." Many thanks to Susan Philips for her work in bringing this important book to life. As much as I try to step into all my children's shoes and remain sensitive to their feelings on this complicated stepfamily journey, her book opened my eyes further and gave me new insights. What a gift that through Stepchildren Speak we can learn from the voices of grown-up stepchildren who have shared their stories, their struggles, their triumphs and their advice, so that we might all be better parents and stepparents NOW.