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PODCAST

Tiny Pep Talks for Stepparents

Blended Family Frappé

A short weekly podcast for struggling stepparents who need a quick pick-me-up. With love, from Blended Family Frappé. xo blendedfamilyfrappe.substack.com

kids & family parenting

All Episodes

1:16

💁🏻‍♀️ You don’t need the ex’s permission.

Tiny Pep Talks for Stepparents ·

2025/06/22

Today, just a quick reminder: you don’t need the ex’s permission to play a role in your stepkids’ lives. Nor do you need the ex’s approval before you meet your stepkids. Did your partner’s ex want to meet you before you were “allowed” to meet your future stepkids? Please join us in Substack and share in the comments, I’d love to hear that story. 😱 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit

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1:31

💌 A love letter to the dads & stepdads

Tiny Pep Talks for Stepparents ·

2025/06/15

From dads who aren’t allowed to see their kids to stepdads whose role goes completely unrecognized, Father’s Day emotions in stepfamilies can run the full spectrum.Read the full transcript on Substack >>--➡️ STRUGGLING? START HERE!🧡 JOIN OUR SUPPORT COMMUNITY This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit blendedfamilyfrappe.substack.com/subscribe

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4:09

🛑 When you feel like calling it quits in your blended...

Tiny Pep Talks for Stepparents ·

2025/06/08

If I could only pick one message that I want each and every stepparent to know, it's this: yeah this shit is hard, but you are not alone. So many other stepparents have been where you are and made it through. There is hope. This does get better.I'd be lying if I said that message applies to every stepparenting situation, though.Read the full transcript on Substack >>--➡️ STRUGGLING? START HERE!🧡 JOIN OUR SUPPORT COMMUNITY This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other

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3:40

🫥 Can stepparents step back without disappearing?

Tiny Pep Talks for Stepparents ·

2025/06/01

Let’s dispel some common myths about disengaging from our stepkids. Starting with #1: disengaging is not a bad thing.Read the full transcript on Substack >>--➡️ STRUGGLING? START HERE! 🧡 JOIN OUR SUPPORT COMMUNITY This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit blendedfamilyfrappe.substack.com/subscribe

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4:48

💩 Co-parenting with a narcissist

Tiny Pep Talks for Stepparents ·

2025/05/25

Stepfamilies in high conflict situations need different strategies and resources than other blended families. So many of the typical co-parenting advice out there does not apply when the ex is a nightmare narcissist. And stepparents in high conflict need extra support, too — which is why we’re here. Because holy cow this is NOT what you signed up for!!Read the full transcript on Substack >>MORE HELP FOR HIGH CONFLICT:📝 4 things typical co-parenting advice gets wrong about high conflict🎧 019 | High

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4:11

💐 To the stepmoms who never stop trying

Tiny Pep Talks for Stepparents ·

2025/05/18

Today is Stepmother's Day, a very real holiday that doesn’t seem to quite show up on anyone’s radar. Stores don’t carry "Happy Stepmother's Day!" cards. You’re not gonna see an ad like “Get Stepmom something as special as she is!” Technically the holiday exists… yet we're not actually acknowledged.Sounds about right. 🤦🏻‍♀️Read the full transcript on Substack >> This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit

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2:53

🌷 Happy Mother's Day to the stepmoms!

Tiny Pep Talks for Stepparents ·

2025/05/11

As sucky as it is on a daily basis for our efforts to go unrecognized as stepmoms, there's really no day that hits home more than Mother's Day, and no day when it feels like more of a slap across the face to end up forgotten and overlooked.Thanks for all you do for your partners and your stepkids, today and every day.READ THE FULL TRANSCRIPT ON SUBSTACK >> This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit

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6:34

6 stepparenting lessons I learned from Star Wars

Tiny Pep Talks for Stepparents ·

2025/05/04

Okay yes stepfamily life is very complex and we all need lots of support, blah blah blah. But you know what else we need? To lighten the heck up sometimes! So today here’s a bunch of stepparenting tips candy-coated in delicious Star Wars lore. Which is more metaphorical to steplife than one might think.Read the full transcript on Substack >> This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit

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1:57

Love yourself first!

Tiny Pep Talks for Stepparents ·

2024/09/30

💬 Send us a text! (Yes really!)There’s a great quote from Lucille Ball that goes “Love yourself first, and everything else falls into line.” That for sure has been my personal experience with stepparenting. (And really, with life in general.)As stepparents, we talk a LOT about loving our stepkids, about loving our partners and our blended families. But what we don’t talk about — and should! — is what we're doing to make sure we're loving ourselves.⠀Before we can help others, first we need to

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1:25

The stigma against stepparents.

Tiny Pep Talks for Stepparents ·

2024/09/29

💬 Send us a text! (Yes really!)Society really doesn’t like stepparents, so coming into this role can feel intimidating. Or like we have something to prove, like we are NOT like those bad stepparents. We’re the GOOD stepparents. But do not let society or the ex or even your partner try to marginalize you or the stepparenting role.Our role as stepparents is critical. We contribute to our families-by-choice in positive and vital ways. And unfortunately, it falls on us to educate all the hat...

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1:39

Pick your battles.

Tiny Pep Talks for Stepparents ·

2024/09/28

💬 Send us a text! (Yes really!)My stepkid had a real thing for ketchup when she was younger, borderline addiction. I’m talking, putting-ketchup-on-lasagna level of ketchup. She also had problems with acid stomach and wasn’t supposed to be eating too much tomato-based things.Dan sometimes remembered to limit her ketchup intake, but mostly not. The inconsistency drove me crazy, so I took on ketchup rule enforcement myself. Because that’s what a responsible stepparent would do right?Omg you

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1:18

Stepparents have needs too.

Tiny Pep Talks for Stepparents ·

2024/09/27

💬 Send us a text! (Yes really!)Becoming a stepparent does not negate the needs and feelings we have as individuals. And yet, so many of our partners seem to think we shouldn’t have those needs or feelings… or at least that we should be perfectly content putting ourselves and our relationship needs dead last, apparently forever.This is not sustainable.Relationships need time and attention, and so do we as individuals. Yes, the kids are important — but so are you, and so is your romantic

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1:17

What’s “normal” in a stepfamily?

Tiny Pep Talks for Stepparents ·

2024/09/26

💬 Send us a text! (Yes really!)Since most of us have never been stepparents before, learning to recognize what's typical for life in a stepfamily vs. what's a red flag is a bit of a learning curve.For example, it’s normal for your stepkids to act out because they're kids and life in two homes is tough and they don’t like a stepparent’s rules. It’s even normal for your stepkids to not want you around whatsoever. But it’s a red flag if your stepkid is acting out because your partner’s ex is

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2:02

Blending your family takes time.

Tiny Pep Talks for Stepparents ·

2024/09/25

💬 Send us a text! (Yes really!)If you think your blended family will never feel like a "real" family, first of all you’re not alone. But secondly, don’t give up!It’s officially autumn here in the northern hemisphere right now, the air is getting colder and the world is getting quieter as the birds head south and critters start hibernating.Fall is not a time for planting new things, with one exception: bulbs, like tulips and irises. And it’s such a metaphor for blending a family, because

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1:05

Bonding with alienated stepkids.

Tiny Pep Talks for Stepparents ·

2024/09/24

💬 Send us a text! (Yes really!)Parental alienation affects your stepkid’s ability to form loving bonds… including bonding with their stepparent.Alienated kids can develop a specific set of characteristics that also make them hard to warm up to... like acting cold, rejecting you & your partner, lying between houses, and many more than I could share in a short daily podcast.So if you're beating yourself up for struggling to love your alienated stepkid the way you think you should — please

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1:03

Stepparenting burnout.

Tiny Pep Talks for Stepparents ·

2024/09/23

💬 Send us a text! (Yes really!)Stepparents, if you're feeling stressed out and frazzled, please know that you're allowed to TAKE. A STEP. BACK. Burning yourself out only makes it that much harder to stay grounded and sane. Two things you kinda sorta really need if you wanna to keep your head above water while you're blending your family!We live in a culture that glorifies pushing ahead at all costs, ignoring our own needs in an effort to “succeed,” and pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps.

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1:38

Finding stepparenting support.

Tiny Pep Talks for Stepparents ·

2024/09/22

💬 Send us a text! (Yes really!)For inexplicable reasons, many of the people around stepparents seem to think that we shouldn’t feel stressed or overwhelmed by this role just because we chose this — because we knew our partners had kids.When a person feels stressed about starting a new job, no one says "Well, you applied for this position. YOU knew what you were getting into." We give them sympathy, encourage them along the way, and support them as they face those learning curves.What if we

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2:13

Can’t win over your stepkid?

Tiny Pep Talks for Stepparents ·

2024/09/21

💬 Send us a text! (Yes really!)Again and again and again I'd try to win my stepkid over. I followed all the usual stepparenting advice: show an interest in their interests, take it slow, try not to take their rejection personally.And nada. Zilch. Nothing.I started getting desperate. I thought I could get her to like me if I acted differently. So I acted differently. Which didn't work. So then I acted a different differently. Still nothing.I started dreading visitation weeks because I knew

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1:27

Stepkids need parenting.

Tiny Pep Talks for Stepparents ·

2024/09/20

💬 Send us a text! (Yes really!)It shouldn’t be a newsflash to say kids of divorce still need parenting… AND YET, that is the topic of today’s pep talk.A child's parents not being together anymore does not negate the reality that kids need structure. They need a regular routine. They need guidance from the adults around them. All of this helps kids feel safe and secure.However, many single parents feel guilty about giving their kids rules, or correcting poor behavior. They think they’re doing

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1:16

You don’t have to prove yourself.

Tiny Pep Talks for Stepparents ·

2024/09/19

💬 Send us a text! (Yes really!)It's human nature to want to defend yourself against false accusations, fight for equality and justice, and right the wrongs you see. It's also human nature to think to yourself "If I can just show them that I'm not the bad guy" and believe that'll somehow fix everything.But you don’t have to prove yourself to the ex (or anyone else, for that matter) for your role to be valid and your contributions as a stepparent to matter.The ex’s emotional reaction to your

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