Celebrate your stepmother

Mother’s Day can either trigger happiness or sadness for any stepmother.

One of the reasons Mother’s Day can evoke so much emotion is because many stepmothers feel as though they have all of the pain, frustrations, financial strain and difficulty of being a parent, but none of the rewards or joy.

Dads who are divorced and are dating or re-married should take note, especially if their children behave less than enthusiastically toward their new partners.

What stepmoms crave most nearly every day of the year can’t be bought, but you can give it to her and it won’t cost a cent.

Most stepmothers devote time, attention, emotional energy and (often) finances to raising children who may never recognise their efforts, much less appreciate them in the same way they do their biological parents.

A few words aimed at letting your partner know how much you appreciate her efforts can go a long way toward renewing her energy and uplifting her spirits.

A stepmother’s job is complicated, which is why one of the best gifts you can give a stepmom is validation.

In many ways, women who live with or marry men who have children, join a family already in progress. Traditions, routines and shared experiences were established long before she entered the picture. Because of this, stepmoms are prone to feeling like the odd one out.

But helping the stepmom in your life feel like an insider is a gift that costs nothing at all.