Building Boundaries

Building Boundaries Building Boundaries Building Boundaries

Building Boundaries

Building Boundaries Building Boundaries Building Boundaries

Real stories, practical strategies, and support for step-parents navigating high-conflict custody.

Blended, Not Broken.

Blended, Not Broken.Blended, Not Broken.Blended, Not Broken.

Real stories, practical strategies, and support for step-parents navigating high-conflict custody.

Blended, Not Broken.

Blended, Not Broken.Blended, Not Broken.Blended, Not Broken.

About Our Family Journey

Scooter scootin

Welcome to our Blended Life

In 2020, I met the love of my life—and with him came a sweet little girl who would one day become my bonus daughter. I didn’t know exactly where life would take us, but I was excited to find out. Fast forward to today: we’ve built a beautiful, chaotic, love-filled life that now includes a baby boy, two cats, a lot of laughter, and more life lessons than I ever imagined.

I work from home while juggling the roles of new mom and bonus mom, trying—like so many of you—to keep all the pieces together. But I’d be lying if I said it’s been an easy ride. Our journey has been marked by joy, growth, and also deep challenges—especially navigating a high-conflict co-parenting situation that has tested us emotionally, financially, and spiritually. Once supported by those who understood the pain we faced, we’ve recently found ourselves cast as the “bad guys” in a story we never wrote.

One morning, overwhelmed and searching for coparenting guidance , I realized: maybe I won’t find the story that soothes me. Maybe I am meant to write it. And so this blog was born. A place where the messy meets the meaningful. A space to share, reflect, and hopefully shine a little light into someone else’s dark.

Welcome to our story—raw, real, and written with love.

Through the Lens

Aquarium
Shoreline
Siblings
Golfcart
Adventure at Peanut Island
Tummy time
Horseback riding
Bicycling buddy
Best big sister
Musically talented

My Blog

Frequently Asked Questions

I’m not a licensed therapist or counselor—yet! I’m currently a certified Speech-Language Pathologist Assistant (SLPA), and I work closely with children and families in that role. My passion for helping people navigate challenging seasons in life has inspired me to take the next step: I’m planning to apply to grad school to pursue a Master’s in Mental Health Counseling. So while I’m not a mental health professional right now, I’m on the path—and in the meantime, I share my personal experiences and insights in hopes of supporting others who may be going through something similar.

For me, the hardest part of being a stepparent is loving a child like your own while constantly being reminded—by others or by circumstances—that you’re not their 'real' parent. It’s navigating a role that comes with responsibility, deep emotional investment, and sometimes very little recognition or control. Add in a high-conflict co-parenting dynamic, and it becomes emotionally draining—fighting to be seen, to protect, to support, all while maintaining peace for the child caught in the middle. 

It’s one of the most emotionally exhausting parts of our blended family journey. The court system can feel cold and confusing, especially when you're up against someone who thrives on creating conflict. I’ve learned that the best way to survive it is by staying grounded in truth, documenting everything, and leaning hard on my support system—including my husband, close friends, and therapy.

I try to focus on what I can control: keeping our home a peaceful, loving space for the kids, protecting my mental health, and responding with facts, not emotion. Some days are harder than others, but I remind myself that we're doing this for the well-being of the children—not to “win,” but to protect them and give them the stability they deserve.

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