Ugly cries + curly fries 🍟
My first conversation with a group of real-live stepmoms.
I'll never forget my first conversation with a group of real stepmoms.
Early enough in my stepmom journey to see nothing but open road ahead — (but far enough into it to realize I had no clue what I was doing) — I hunted for help online and stumbled upon a local group of stepmoms.
I was (cautiously) optimistic.
So, I joined their next meetup (at a 50s-themed diner, the kind with mini jukeboxes at the tables and milkshakes served up with that frosty metal tumbler of bonus shake…), not sure what to expect.
I lingered in my car, compulsively reapplying lip balm and eyeing my dash clock until precisely 4 minutes past the start time.
Then, I walked in, scanned the room for the conspicuous cluster of tables being pushed together by a small crowd of women.
And somewhere between "hello" and "please pass the ketchup", I realized I'd found my people.
One woman updated the group on a family meeting she'd been dreading. (It was tense, but not as bad as she'd feared.)
Another shared pics of her stepson's new baby and recounted the surreal experience of watching that surly middle schooler she helped raise become a father before her eyes. (StepGRANDparenthood!!, I marveled. Hadn't even considered it!)
I listened as, one by one, they chimed in with hilarious stories, wry observations, moments of humble vulnerability that moved us all to tears.
And when one seasoned stepmom asked if we had plans to move in together and I answered honestly ("I'm not... sure yet. It's still early. Actually, I'm not sure about any of this.") — she winked at me and said:
"That's perfectly alright. You can still sit with us."
Listen, I don't have to tell you how lonely stepmom life can be.
Maybe you've felt pressure to figure things out on your own (because, I dunno, EVERYONE AND THEIR AUNT JANET tells us this is supposed to come "naturally" ). Or perhaps you've tried to put yourself out there... only to be left wishing for a friend who *actually* gets it. (Been there. 🙋♀️)
No matter where you are in your own stepmom story, you deserve a judgment-free place to find genuine connection + meaningful, personalized guidance.
This life's a whole lot easier to navigate when you're not doing it on your own.
Let's talk about what makes The Stepmom Sessions special:
This ain't my first rodeo. With 20 years' experience as a mental health professional, I've created and lead groups (in-person and online) of all sorts. I know what distinguishes a true support group from just a grouping of people.
And in this membership, I've cherry-picked the best of every type of support I've ever offered:
accessibility: no reservations, no attendance, no special requirements. For $97, you have unlimited access to any/all of the 33+ sessions offered that month. Drop in at your pleasure.
flexibility: use this however you wish. (Going through a tough season and need all the support you can get? Squeeze every last drop from every last session until the storm has passed. Want a soft place to land once a month for extra encouragement + accountability? Consider that monthly payment your ticket to 90 minutes of safe, focused stepmom connection.) Join anytime, cancel anytime.
simplicity: this is about as minimalist as a membership can get — and that's by design. There's no "content" to consume, no backlog of posts to sift through. The magic happens LIVE in our group sessions. (Not counting what you put into practice between calls, that is. ✨)
security: to help create a secure environment, we'll balance privacy (e.g., we each agree to protect all info shared, you're welcome to use first name only (or a pseudonym)) + transparency (we keep cameras on so we can communicate face-to-face as we're listening and sharing). No more speaking into the void — we stepmoms get enough of that already.
credibility: as a clinical psychologist by training, I bring my expertise in group facilitation to every session. And unless I'm sharing an opinion from my own stepmom experience (which I'll always clearly disclaim), every piece of guidance I offer you will be 100% evidence-based.
And because I've been a stepmom for 12 years, I also know what it feels like to seek support at different stages of the stepmom journey.
From those first, frantic Google searches to each major milestone along the way (and everything in between), I get what's on the line for you and how much energy (+ straight-up bravery) it takes to ask for help.
Empathy is woven into every last pixel of The Stepmom Sessions.
So, whether you're a wide-eyed stepmother-in-training or a "childfree" bonus mom in a world built for parents or a grieving stepmom who feels invisible (even among other stepmoms) —
or, like me all those years ago at the diner, you're thinking "f@#k if I know!" because you're actually not even sure about ANY of this...
You. Can. Sit. With. Us.
New here? Hi, I'm Michaela Bucchianeri, PhD — psychologist + stepmom of 12 years
…and I can’t wait to help you live a stepmom life you love.
Becoming a stepmom rocked my world in just about every way. And while this role brings so much potential for joy and fulfillment… the path to getting there isn't always intuitive.
Now? I'm on a mission to help you create a stepmom identity that's all your own– so you can worry less, shift your energy to whatever lights you up, and start having (way) more fun.
A few places to start:
💌 Subscribe to The Stepmom Sleepover. Join our week(end)ly, virtual slumber party where you’ll find candid stories, game-changing stepmom skills, and a roundup of goodies— from relevant research to book recs to stepfamily-approved recipes + more! Stepmom life’s a whole lot easier when you’re not doing it alone!
📺 Check out our YouTube channel. With fresh content (+ live Stepmom Chats) daily, this is where you’ll find all the trending topics, real-time conversations, and video library of resources for stepmoms, all in one place! New videos every week.
💬 Come say Hello! Slide into my DMs and let’s chat about stepmom life!
To get in touch with me directly, send me a DM or email hello@theanxiousstepmom.com.
I’m so glad you’re here!