They say attitude is everything.....

While that is SO very true, I find that having a good attitude requires a lot of effort. Especially when you are feeling discouraged.  I found that being a stepmom really requires that I constantly work on my attitude. There are times when I have questioned what I am doing here, and how I will ever be able to continue doing this. There are feelings of resentment and frustration. From my experience I found that while I was dating my husband, my stepson was not around very much and when he was I really didn't care. I figured that is how it would be once we got married.  I falsely assumed that my stepson's mother would rally and actually be his mother i.e. she would keep him with her and new husband....not so.  My stepson spends the marjority of the time in our home.And while I am happy that he can be with us. There are times when I feel very resentful that he is here. My husband and I are newlyweds(coming up on our 1yr anniversary!) and I feel entitled be able to have alone time with my husband.  So this were attitude comes into play. I heard a quote last fall that really impacted the way I feel about things.

     "If you wish to change the way you feel, You MUST change the way you think."

This is vitally important. No matter what is going on inside your head. You must remember that you do have the power and the control to change how you feel. Here are a few suggestions that I have found to be helpful.


1. Acknowledge your feelings. The feelings you have towards your stepchild and or husband  (whether negative or positive) are not wrong. But do not dwell  on them. If you are dealing with a negative feeling,acknowledge it and then it go.

2. Journal your thoughts and feelings. This is a good way to acknowledge your feelings.Just be sure to not allow your journaling sessions to become a "gripe-fest". Always write down something that is positive.

3. Get enough rest. Being well-rested will help you not feel overwhelmed.

4. Exercise. This is a great way to relax and it releases so many good for you endorphins!

5. Think of what you can do for your husband to make his day a little better and brighter.


So there you go! 5 ways you can work on your attitude and work towards being a little happier each day. And remember Your attitude has a huge effect on your family and your home so be sure it is a good one!