Positively Bonnie

The New Brady Bunch Reboot With Vince Vaughn

Tuesday, July 31, 2012
This morning I saw a great reminder by Rebecca Snell (@stepfamilytips on Twitter).  "Always laugh when you can. It is cheap medicine." (attributed to Lord Byron) For those of us in blended families, we can all use some more laughs. I am looking forward to seeing the new version of The Brady Bunch from executive producer Vince Vaughn and CBS. According to The Hollywood Reporter in "CBS Developing 'Brady Bunch' Reboot with Vince Vaughn," the upcoming reboot of The Brady Bunch will have some new blended family angles.

The film is supposed to feature Bobby as someone who is remarried, and will include his new bride's exes and "feature their kids from previous marriages, along with the couple's shared child." I fully expect this film to be totally unrealistic, but I'm hoping it makes us all laugh, and maybe even at ourselves a little bit as we can sometimes do when we look back on some of our stepfamily circumstances.

I wish I had a film of myself from many of my days in a newly blended family; I'm sure I would crack myself up.  Trying desperately to please everyone and having pleased very few can be very laugh-worthy, at least in hindsight.  And, so can sitting in a closet on the floor crying over something that seemed so significant then, but I can't even remember why now.

I do remember getting so excited to see Stepbrothers starring Will Ferrell and Jon C. Reilly in 2008 that my stepfamily and I brought my mother! Big mistake. Roger Ebert gave Stepbrothers 1.5 out of 4 stars. Here's to hoping that Vince Vaughn, Wild West Picture Show Productions and CBS won't let us down. 


Get Inspired by Mrs. Delaware, a Stepmom on August 6

Thursday, July 26, 2012
Are you a stepmother who is trying to juggle many balls in the air at once? Can you benefit from a shot of inspiration? If so, don't miss my radio show interview on August 6 with the amazing Mrs. Delaware United States, Dr. Francine Edwards. She is a mom and stepmom to four children, an Associate Professor at Delaware State University, the newly crowned Mrs. Delaware, a novelist, and that's just a small piece of what she has accomplished. Her platform as Mrs. Delaware is all about supporting blended families...

Francine participated in the Mrs. United States Pageant on July 12, and in the national forum of the pageant, her platform spotlighted issues of blended families and stepparenting.  Unfortunately, she did not win the Mrs. United States title, but she is a winner in our view, and you can bet she won't be slowing down any time soon.  
You can read more about Francine Edwards in the RemarriageWorks article, "Mrs. Delaware Brings National Exposure to Blended Families." Join me on August 6, 8-9 p.m. EST for a motivating and lively discussion with Mrs. Delaware on the RemarriageWorks BlogTalkRadio show featured by Stepmoms Toolbox.


Why Cheer for the New Mrs. Delaware United States?

Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Let's hear some cheers for the newly crowned Mrs. Delaware United States! Francine Edwards, who was announced as the winner this month, happens to have a platform that certainly caught my attention. There are several interesting reasons why I am cheering. Not only is she an assistant professor at Delaware State University, but she also won at the age of 43 when many of her competitors were "mostly in their late 20s to early 30s,..." according to MiddletownTranscript.com. Drumroll, please... 
The biggest reason why I am rooting for Edwards is that her platform is "Blended and Blessed: Step Parent and Step Family Support," according to the MiddletownTranscript.com, "Townsend woman crowned winner of 2012 Mrs. Delaware United States." (photo of Francine Edwards by John Dodd)
This is one stepmom that I really hope to interview on my RemarriageWorks show on The Stepmom's Toolbox Network. And, according to the article, her strategy for the fitness part of the competition involved P90X with her husband. She had me on the first round of applause; P90X with her husband is just icing on the cake. Congratulations Mrs. Delaware! And, good luck at the annual Mrs. United States Pageant in August.  I'll be cheering for you as you help bring awareness to the needs of stepfamilies and blended families.  

Join the USA Blended Family Association and You May Win "Journal for Stepmoms"

Friday, February 10, 2012
We're now in an age where the so-called "normal" family is no longer a Mom, Dad, and 2.5 kids. The reality is that there are many stepfamilies across our nation, over 1000 stepfamilies form daily. As many of you know, blended families are a unique system, with their own distinctive challenges and obstacles. And, while each stepfamily is unique in its own way, many of us share a common story. It's important that our community come together as we can learn from and find support in one another. 
I am very excited to be recently named to the Board of Advisors to the nonprofit organization, the United States of America Blended Family Association (USABFA). I am honored to be a part of their wonderful online community geared towards blended families and stepfamily living. USABFA provides a platform to share stories and advice, connect with others, build knowledge, and strengthen communities. You may have a neighbor down the street or across your town that has a family just like yours, looking for the same support for which you're looking.
Or, maybe there's a family in another state experiencing the same difficulties as you. USABFA offers you the chance to connect with not only your local stepfamily community, but many blended families across the nation.
Anyone can join. As a member of USABFA, you have the ability to build a personal profile, upload photos, contribute to message boards, publish articles, and start local chapters. The normal membership rate is $1 per month, but if you join now, you can get a lifetime membership for $9! Plus, they're giving away a FREE copy of my book, Journal for Stepmoms to every 10th person that enrolls. For more information, check out the USABFA home page.
I urge everyone to join this marvelous organization and to spread the word about it. Together we can strengthen our stepfamily community.


Remember National Stepfamily Day is September 16th!

Tuesday, September 13, 2011
This past weekend was pretty tough for many people as our country remembered the events of 9/11 and honored so many heroes and heroines. May we never forget. It was an even tougher day for me personally because my father died suddenly at the age of 54 on the same date 16 years ago. I am certain there were many moist eyes, including mine. When I woke up Monday morning and saw the sun shining for the first time in several days, I tried to think about some good things coming up this week. National Stepfamily Day, celebrated on September 16th is one of those things.

National Stepfamily Day and the National Stepfamily Day Foundation were founded by Christy Borgeld, who has worked tirelessly for 15 years to raise awareness about stepfamily issues, and develop programs, research, and support to American stepfamilies. If you ever get the opportunity to connect with Christy, just do it!

This astounding woman, who received an Outstanding Service Award from the Women's Information Network this year has a contagious passion to help step and blended families. Don't miss her video featuring 101 things to do with your family on National Stepfamily Day.

Lately, there has been some debate about whether stepfamilies need or should have a special day, such as National Stepfamily Day dedicated to them. I agree that a stepfamily is a family. And, while as much I may want or have wanted my stepfamily to not be different from a family that was formed by a first marriage with everyone biologically connected, in some ways it just simply is. It is a family no less, as we know that families come in many varieties these days.

My feelings about whether my stepfamily is different from any other family have shifted over the years. At first, I was hell-bent that my new stepfamily wasn't going to be treated as different. We were all going to learn to love each other and get along no matter what. Now I realize that hell, sometimes there are parts of my biological family, 40+ years old in which I grew up that still don't always get along, and I frankly wonder at times where some of the love is.

Here's the bottom line as I see it today. The majority of stepfamilies that I have come across face unique challenges and circumstances. They are families. And, one of the reasons I support National Stepfamily Day is that I know first-hand how difficult it can be to have a successful remarriage and stepfamily. Building a successful, lasting stepfamily requires hard work, dedication, self-growth, time, dedication, patience, love, and more. I'm celebrating what we have built thus far. I hope you do, too.


Recent Posts

  • Congratulations to Dr. William Petit on His Remarriage!
  • The New Brady Bunch Reboot With Vince Vaughn
  • Get Inspired by Mrs. Delaware, a Stepmom on August 6
  • Check Out the NARME Conference in Baltimore
  • 3 Top Questions Remarried Couples Should Ask When They Disagree
  • Top Secrets of Stepfathers
  • Why Cheer for the New Mrs. Delaware United States?
  • Mother's Day 2012: My Favorite Picture
  • Top Three Tips for Planning Your Second Wedding from StaceyLu
  • My Show Tonight: Eat, Drink & Remarry with StaceyLu

Tags

IDEALS of Kentucky USABFA second weddings alimony Father's Day separation stepfamily problems in your remarriage ex Stepmom's Toolbox stepfamily coach family law judge stepfamily counselor remarry co-parenting carla david design marrying remarried with kids blended families separated second wedding blended family Mrs. Delaware remarried stepfamily with a special needs child marry stepkids stepson stepsons remarriage journey marriage education weddings and children fatherhood para-kin.com custody lawyer custody battle blended Yaffa Balsam stepfamily counseling blending families the garter brides late wife's family Northern Virginia Mediation Service previous marriages wedding invitation second marriage stepfamily meeting stepbrother stepchild Kim Olver mediators christy borgeld encore brides divorce mediation family law court mediation children stepmom stepfathers co-parenting plan stepfamily life family law attorney remarries familymoon wedding invite wording blending judge's verdict second honeymoon remarriage stepparent stepmoms stepfamily challenges step-grandma relationships stepson's divorcing wedding invitations encore bridal dress NARME United States Blended Family Association stepparenting spouse widowhood exes United States of America Blended Family Association Justice Harvey Brownstone stepmom's step family divorced family bonus mom encore wedding Stepmoms Toolbox custody after divorce Chuck Semich stepfamily terms marriage Garter Brides stepdad freedmont mortgage financial problems encore bridal specialist remarriages stepfamilies with special needs kids stepfamily experience remarrying bride wedding invite remarriage works families stepfamily names family matters shared joint custody national stepfamily summit DIY wedding invitations divorce stepfamily advice stepfamily support group merging two families Journal for Stepmoms stepmotherhood stepfamily relationships stepchildren remarrying post divorce widowed therapist National Stepfamily Day step parent stepfather family therapist child support Mother's Day blending your credit histories stepmothers brady bunch stepparents professional mediation second time around second marriages relationship questions remarrying brides journaling stepfamily issues second wedding invitations second wedding planning RemarriageWorks stepmoms-to-be carl delmont stepdads step-grandparents wedding invitation wording love for grown-ups stepfamilies stepdaughter father rights joint custody stepmother national stepfamily day foundation family court
  • after divorce (1)
  • alimony (1)
  • blended (1)
  • blended families (5)
  • blended family (12)
  • blending families (5)
  • blending your credit histories (1)
  • bonus mom (1)
  • brady bunch (2)
  • carl delmont (1)
  • carla david design (2)
  • child support (2)
  • children (1)
  • christy borgeld (2)
  • Chuck Semich (1)
  • co-parenting (2)
  • co-parenting plan (1)
  • custody (1)
  • custody battle (1)
  • custody lawyer (1)
  • divorce (10)
  • divorce mediation (1)
  • divorced (4)
  • divorcing (2)
  • DIY wedding invitations (1)
  • encore bridal dress (1)
  • encore bridal specialist (1)
  • encore brides (5)
  • encore wedding (6)
  • ex (2)
  • exes (2)
  • families (1)
  • family (1)
  • family court (1)
  • family law attorney (3)
  • family law court (1)
  • family law judge (1)
  • family matters (1)
  • family therapist (1)
  • familymoon (1)
  • father rights (1)
  • fatherhood (1)
  • Father's Day (2)
  • financial problems (1)
  • freedmont mortgage (1)
  • Garter Brides (1)
  • IDEALS of Kentucky (2)
  • joint custody (6)
  • Journal for Stepmoms (4)
  • journaling (2)
  • judge's verdict (1)
  • Justice Harvey Brownstone (1)
  • Kim Olver (1)
  • late wife's family (1)
  • love for grown-ups (1)
  • marriage (4)
  • marriage education (1)
  • marry (1)
  • marrying (1)
  • mediation (3)
  • mediators (1)
  • merging two families (1)
  • Mother's Day (1)
  • Mrs. Delaware (1)
  • NARME (1)
  • National Stepfamily Day (4)
  • national stepfamily day foundation (1)
  • national stepfamily summit (2)
  • Northern Virginia Mediation Service (2)
  • para-kin.com (1)
  • post divorce (1)
  • previous marriages (1)
  • problems in your remarriage (1)
  • professional mediation (1)
  • relationship questions (1)
  • relationships (1)
  • remarriage (26)
  • remarriage journey (4)
  • remarriage works (1)
  • remarriages (4)
  • RemarriageWorks (15)
  • remarried (27)
  • remarried with kids (1)
  • remarries (1)
  • remarry (7)
  • remarrying (8)
  • remarrying bride (2)
  • remarrying brides (4)
  • second honeymoon (1)
  • second marriage (3)
  • second marriages (2)
  • second time around (1)
  • second wedding (12)
  • second wedding invitations (4)
  • second wedding planning (2)
  • second weddings (4)
  • separated (1)
  • separation (1)
  • shared joint custody (1)
  • spouse (1)
  • step family (1)
  • step parent (1)
  • stepbrother (1)
  • stepchild (4)
  • stepchildren (7)
  • stepdad (3)
  • stepdads (3)
  • stepdaughter (1)
  • stepfamilies (19)
  • stepfamilies with special needs kids (1)
  • stepfamily (36)
  • stepfamily advice (1)
  • stepfamily challenges (2)
  • stepfamily coach (1)
  • stepfamily counseling (1)
  • stepfamily counselor (2)
  • stepfamily experience (1)
  • stepfamily issues (1)
  • stepfamily life (4)
  • stepfamily meeting (1)
  • stepfamily names (1)
  • stepfamily relationships (3)
  • stepfamily support group (1)
  • stepfamily terms (1)
  • stepfamily with a special needs child (1)
  • stepfather (1)
  • stepfathers (5)
  • step-grandma (1)
  • step-grandparents (2)
  • stepkids (1)
  • stepmom (13)
  • stepmoms (9)
  • stepmom's (2)
  • Stepmoms Toolbox (1)
  • Stepmom's Toolbox (6)
  • stepmoms-to-be (1)
  • stepmother (4)
  • stepmotherhood (1)
  • stepmothers (7)
  • stepparent (4)
  • stepparenting (6)
  • stepparents (3)
  • stepson (1)
  • stepsons (1)
  • stepson's (1)
  • the garter brides (1)
  • therapist (1)
  • United States Blended Family Association (1)
  • United States of America Blended Family Association (1)
  • USABFA (1)
  • wedding invitation (1)
  • wedding invitation wording (1)
  • wedding invitations (1)
  • wedding invite (1)
  • wedding invite wording blending (1)
  • weddings and children (1)
  • widowed (2)
  • widowhood (4)
  • Yaffa Balsam (1)

Archive

  • August 2012 (1)
  • July 2012 (3)
  • June 2012 (2)
  • May 2012 (4)
  • March 2012 (2)
  • February 2012 (4)
  • January 2012 (3)
  • December 2011 (1)
  • November 2011 (1)
  • October 2011 (2)
  • September 2011 (4)

Tell Us More About Your Second Wedding!

1. How much did you spend on your second wedding?

$0 - 1,000
$1,001 - 5,000
$5,001 - 10,000
$10,001 - 20,000
$20,001 or more

 

Here's What You're Saying

“I find your site extremely helpful and resourceful in dealing with the many and daily issues of parenting, co-parenting and life issues that come along.” –J.P.

“I love the information you all provide. The magazine was so helpful in trying to navigate the remarriage with kids territory. Thank you for all of your information and inspiration you provide.” –K.W.

“Have I mentioned HOW MUCH I love your site?!?!? It's really cool. . . . I'm getting married to a man that has two kiddos, and it's quite a lifestyle change for me!” –M.M.

Win a Copy of
Eat, Drink and Remarry

This is not your mother’s second wedding! Getting married again? Wondering why the planning is harder than you thought it was going to be? Enter to win a copy of Eat, Drink and Remarry by Stacey Tucker!


Tweets from RemarriageWorks!