Customer Reviews

Stepmothers and Stepdaughters: Relationships of Chance, Friendships for a Lifetime

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This book was excellent. I have been a custodial stepmother for 13 years and have read a LOT of books about stepfamilies. This is the first one to shine a positive light on steps. Usually books about stepfamilies are designed to overcome the horrors of it all. This book reflected upon the wonderful experiences of stepmothers and stepdaughters. The ups and downs, and the wonderful relationships that develop. I first read it, gave one to MY stepdaughter and also one to my stepmother! I am both a stepmother and stepdaughter and found this book to be an awesome read!

I have one of those wonderful relationships with my two stepdaughters and I thought I was the only one. For years, I've only heard the horror stories from all of my friends about their stepchildren.

It's refreshing to know that stepmothers have warm and loving relationships with their steps. It's also refreshing to know that other stepmothers have managed to create a healthy, functioning relationship that started off less than perfect.

You read this book and see that it is possible to start with a less than perfect family dynamic and turn it into a viable, loving relationship.

Long live stepmothers and stepdaughters. Ms. Annarino is right, the myth of the Wicked Step is just that, a myth. The wicked step is dead!

this book is excellent. i am a wife of a widower and i have 2 step-daughters who are teenagers. it can be quite a challenge. this book is the only one i've found about dealing with a relationship with step-daughters specifically. i love it. it encourages me when i get discouraged and caught up in the daily grind and stresses of it all. sometimes i wonder what i've gotten myself into....and this book reminds me there is HOPE!! it will for you, too!!

This was absolutely the worst book I have read about step-parenting. I have been a step-parent for 30 years. The rosy, lovey descriptions in this book are in no way accurate in my own circumstances and many others I know that are step-parents. It does not truly address the step-mother that is raising her step-daughter right along side her own daughter of same age. Fathers do get custody. Bio-mothers do abandon their children. Step-mothers do have to discipline their step-children. There are many absolutely horrendous times with screaming fits and defiance. There seems to come a time when the step-child marries and has her own family that things improve and the step-mother is appreciated. But don't let your guard down, abandonment and divorce issues never go away completely. They still have issues as adults and who do you think they blame ~ dad and step-mother. I would not recommend this book.

What a delightful little book! I am stepmom to a 6 year old girl, whom I adore. She and I are very close, and although things aren't perfect we have a very strong relationship. I hope that will always be the case.

There are many things that can go wrong in stepfamilies, but this book is a lovely little reminder of how right things can sometimes go too. It is an affirmation that though we may experience hurt and challenges, it is possible to overcome and produce positive relationships.

The book is broken into the following sections:

Discover--Learning as We Go
Deepening--Facing the Challenges of Life Together
Daring--Creating New Ways of Being Family
Delight--Gathering the Gifts of Life Together
Sharing our Own Wisdom--Advice to Steps and Soon-to-Be Steps

I enjoyed reading the stories of other stepmoms and stepdaughters scattered throughout, and I thought each chapter had some very useful "nuggets". I definitely recommend this book!

I bought this book as a gift for my friends who are steps or have steps. I think it's wonderful there is a book that highlights the positive and gives hope to so many woman perservering in this often difficult relationship. It sheds a welcomed light.

It was interesting and anecdotal. A very helpful guide and joyful celebration of possibility.

This book gave me great perspective to all of the different "step" situations out there. After reading this book I have come to the conclusion that I am going to make a great step mother and the relationship between my future step daughter and myself is wonderful and we are heading down an amazing path together.

This book gave me great insight into how much of a difference a step mother can make, not only in our step children's lives but also in our husbands, our husband's ex wife's, and our own children's lives.

I would recommend this book for a quick memior read or to someone who is entering into a step situation, whether it be a step mother or step daughter!

This is a great and easy to read book. I am not a natural reader or would I even say I enjoy it very much... but I do have to say this book makes me want to smile and cry. I am so excited about the bond I have formed with my two stepdaughters and although one is greater than the other because she lives full time with us...I hope that they both grow up knowing that I have only wanted the best, most stable, secure and loving relationship and Family environments for both of them. The book makes me sad because it references relationships where the step mother and mother are doing things together with their "duaghter" and I really don't think the two mothers will ever be mature enough for that type of relationship...and I know that would mean the world to their daughters. But the inspiration and the thought that this one day would be possible gives me hope in a situation that sometimes hope takes a back seat in. I love "my girls" and I hope that I can measure up to half of what the stepmothers in this book have been able to do and give their daughters not only physically but most importantly mentally and spiritually!

This book was okay, but a little confusing. The book caught my attention in the beginning by the author's explanation of her own relationship with her stepmother. The author used a number of stepmothers and stepdaughters for examples; however, she did not organize her story subjects as well as she could have. There were so many stories and names given, that eventually I couldn't distinguish who was who and who did what in their personal sagas. I gave the author the benefit of the doubt and finished the book, but I did not learn much from it. I would like to remind you that the author's motivation to write the book was partially based on the fact that her own stepmother is an author and encouraged her to write it. My recommendation to the author is: don't quit your day job.