Christmas is a fun and magical time for many families, and it’s also a stressful time and trigger for others, step-parents included!

In some households, “leftovers” is a dirty word, but not mine. In fact, my people prefer some of my dishes on the second or even third day. That’s because I’ve mastered the art of second-day suppers.

National Stepfamily Day is celebrated each year on September 16. If you are in a blended family, Happy National Stepfamily Day to you and yours!

I am an imperfect stepmom! I think all stepmoms are imperfect, just as are parents, but there seems to be more of an eye on stepparents because someone else’s children are our responsibility at times.

Nearly six years in, yes, I would marry my husband again. We’ve had the important conversations several times and continue to have those talks because they are ever-evolving.

I knew that marrying someone with children and becoming a step-mom would add an interesting twist to the holidays.

As I work to stop chasing perfection, my reactions and mindset are positive and growing. The clean home, the organization, or the kids consistently having brushed teeth and picked up toys won’t matter anymore if these people are not in my life.

When asked to write a post about National Stepfamily Day (which is Sept. 16, by the way), I thought it would be another easy installment. After all, step-parenting is something near and dear to my heart.