Carly, your words touched me so much. ❤️ I know how powerful it can be when something finally gives language to what’s been sitting inside unnamed for so long. I’m so grateful this piece met you in that place, and that you were so brave in naming it here. You are not alone in these feelings, even if they’ve gone unspoken until now. Sending you so much love as you hold them with gentleness.
Lisa, yes—that remembered “less-ness” is what lingers and stings the most. 💔 It burrows in so deep, shaping how we see ourselves long after the words were spoken. Writing about it has been my way of pulling those old messages into the light so they don’t keep running the show in silence. Thank you for naming it so clearly—I feel the truth of what you said. Sending love as we unlearn it, piece by piece. 💛
Elizabeth, I’m so glad these words helped you feel seen—that’s everything I hope for when I share. To know it resonated with you makes me feel less alone, too. Thank you for telling me—it really means so much. ❤️
I just want to say how much I love your writing style. You always make me feel like I’m right there with you. I’m so excited for your Fall series! We’re still in full-blown summer mode where I live, but your words always deliver me to a cozy little nook, and I always look forward to reading them with my morning coffee when I can!
I really related to this one. I’m part of a blended family—my husband has a son from his first marriage, and together we have our daughter. Being a stepmom can be such a confusing role, and co-parenting comes with its own set of challenges. I’ll admit, I sometimes long for a “normal nuclear family.” I wasn’t able to have more children after my daughter, and I always imagined I would. Seeing “traditional” families can stir up feelings of unworthiness for me, like I somehow didn’t deserve that. Then comes the guilt, because there’s so much love in our home despite the struggles. And I know even those big, beautiful families have struggles of their own too, even if that's not what we see.
Thank you for writing in a way that makes space for these complicated feelings. It helps me remember that love—not perfection—is what makes a family whole. And that what we have or what we struggle with, does not define us.
Stephanie, your words touched me so deeply—thank you for sharing so vulnerably. ❤️ I can only imagine how layered and tender the experience of being a stepmom and navigating a blended family must be. What you shared about longing for the “nuclear family” you imagined, and the guilt that follows, feels so human. I’ve been there too, caught between grief for what I thought life would look like and gratitude for the love that is right in front of me.
I love how you said it: that love—not perfection—is what makes a family whole. That truth feels like a balm. Thank you for reminding me of it today. I’m so grateful you’re here, reading along, bringing your voice and your heart to this space. Your support (and excitement for the fall series!) means more than I can say. Sending love to you and your beautiful family, exactly as you are. 💕
Your words and experiences always tear right into me, Alice. I feel like my comparison has always been grief over what I lack. When I look at the situation, later, I realize it isn't actually about wanting what others have. I rarely do. It's too easy to focus on what's missing and yet the walls that have holes in them, are my walls. The lawn with big brown patches, is my lawn. So, I suppose we (all) need to remember how hard we worked to have what we do have. Those are huge accomplishments. And if the walls are full of love and acceptance, nothing else really matters anyway. Thank you Alice. 🤍
Lisa, your words always resonate with me too! ❤️ What you said about comparison—how it can feel like grief over what’s missing, and yet when we pause, we realize what’s ours holds its own kind of beauty. The image of your walls and lawn, imperfect but yours, hit me right in the heart.
You’re so right—it’s so easy to get lost in what isn’t, but remembering what we’ve built and fought for, and the love that fills those spaces, is everything. Thank you for the reminder. Your reflections always add so much depth here, and I’m so grateful for the way you share them. Thank you, Lisa. ❤️
I cried reading this. Thank you for expressing something I've not even had language for before this moment x
Carly, your words touched me so much. ❤️ I know how powerful it can be when something finally gives language to what’s been sitting inside unnamed for so long. I’m so grateful this piece met you in that place, and that you were so brave in naming it here. You are not alone in these feelings, even if they’ve gone unspoken until now. Sending you so much love as you hold them with gentleness.
Beautiful, Alice.
Thank you, Kelly ❤️
You've managed to capture the feelings perfectly. It's all of this remembered "less-ness" that hurts.
Lisa, yes—that remembered “less-ness” is what lingers and stings the most. 💔 It burrows in so deep, shaping how we see ourselves long after the words were spoken. Writing about it has been my way of pulling those old messages into the light so they don’t keep running the show in silence. Thank you for naming it so clearly—I feel the truth of what you said. Sending love as we unlearn it, piece by piece. 💛
Thank you so much for this. It made me feel seen.
Elizabeth, I’m so glad these words helped you feel seen—that’s everything I hope for when I share. To know it resonated with you makes me feel less alone, too. Thank you for telling me—it really means so much. ❤️
I just want to say how much I love your writing style. You always make me feel like I’m right there with you. I’m so excited for your Fall series! We’re still in full-blown summer mode where I live, but your words always deliver me to a cozy little nook, and I always look forward to reading them with my morning coffee when I can!
I really related to this one. I’m part of a blended family—my husband has a son from his first marriage, and together we have our daughter. Being a stepmom can be such a confusing role, and co-parenting comes with its own set of challenges. I’ll admit, I sometimes long for a “normal nuclear family.” I wasn’t able to have more children after my daughter, and I always imagined I would. Seeing “traditional” families can stir up feelings of unworthiness for me, like I somehow didn’t deserve that. Then comes the guilt, because there’s so much love in our home despite the struggles. And I know even those big, beautiful families have struggles of their own too, even if that's not what we see.
Thank you for writing in a way that makes space for these complicated feelings. It helps me remember that love—not perfection—is what makes a family whole. And that what we have or what we struggle with, does not define us.
Stephanie, your words touched me so deeply—thank you for sharing so vulnerably. ❤️ I can only imagine how layered and tender the experience of being a stepmom and navigating a blended family must be. What you shared about longing for the “nuclear family” you imagined, and the guilt that follows, feels so human. I’ve been there too, caught between grief for what I thought life would look like and gratitude for the love that is right in front of me.
I love how you said it: that love—not perfection—is what makes a family whole. That truth feels like a balm. Thank you for reminding me of it today. I’m so grateful you’re here, reading along, bringing your voice and your heart to this space. Your support (and excitement for the fall series!) means more than I can say. Sending love to you and your beautiful family, exactly as you are. 💕
Your words and experiences always tear right into me, Alice. I feel like my comparison has always been grief over what I lack. When I look at the situation, later, I realize it isn't actually about wanting what others have. I rarely do. It's too easy to focus on what's missing and yet the walls that have holes in them, are my walls. The lawn with big brown patches, is my lawn. So, I suppose we (all) need to remember how hard we worked to have what we do have. Those are huge accomplishments. And if the walls are full of love and acceptance, nothing else really matters anyway. Thank you Alice. 🤍
Lisa, your words always resonate with me too! ❤️ What you said about comparison—how it can feel like grief over what’s missing, and yet when we pause, we realize what’s ours holds its own kind of beauty. The image of your walls and lawn, imperfect but yours, hit me right in the heart.
You’re so right—it’s so easy to get lost in what isn’t, but remembering what we’ve built and fought for, and the love that fills those spaces, is everything. Thank you for the reminder. Your reflections always add so much depth here, and I’m so grateful for the way you share them. Thank you, Lisa. ❤️