The Single Girl's Guide to Marrying a Man, His Kids, and His Ex-Wife

A funny, honest, and empathetic resource for the novice stepmother on maintaining sanity, solving hair-raising identity issues, regaining a sense of humor, and surviving what you did for love....

What happens when the honeymoon comes to a screeching halt and you're faced with a houseful of rambunctious children, an ever-present ex-wife, and a new husband trying to balance the chaos?

This helpful guide includes advice on:

• The kids: Adjusting to suspicion, resentment, and biological-parent loyalties
• The ex-wife: Living calmly alongside her, whether she's a psycho or the perfect mother
• The holidays: Accommodating old family traditions and developing new ones
• The sex: Keeping love alive through the kids' bed-wettings and nightmares
• The finances: Building safety nets and avoiding financial disasters
• The urge to be evil: Accepting it, and then stopping yourself from saying something you'll regret—to him, the kids, or her
• Plus an invaluable list of resources, websites, publications, and organizations specifically for the new stepmother

“Praise for The Single Girl's Guide to Marrying a Man, His Kids, and His Ex-Wife "Written in a 'yo, girlfriend' insider tone and filled with tidbits called 'sassy stepmother straight scoop,' the book tells formerly free-wheeling single gals that they're in for the 'wildest ride of your life.'"-- Seattle Post-Intelligencer "If you're a new mother by marriage, this one's for you....[G]oes where no other stepmother advice book has gone before. With a sense of humor and sass, Bjornsen tackles taboo topics head-on."-- Orange County Register "Written in breezy chick-lit style, Seattle-based Sally Bjornsen dispenses advice based on interviews with other stepmoms and her experience as stepmother to two boys and biological mother to one."-- Chicago Tribune "Sally Bjornsen has tapped into a population that desperately needs a sassy, contemporary voice of reason: the new stepmother."--Lian Dolan, author of The Sweeney Sisters and Helen of Pasadena "If you have a friend making this transition, you owe her this book. It's the next best thing to Sally's home number."--Liz Dolan, co-author of You're the Best: A Celebration of Friendship "The perfect gift for the single girl turned wife and stepmother. It is the book I wish someone had given me when I decided to take the plunge into marriage and stepmotherhood. Sally's sassy voice, candid tone, and hilarious but helpful anecdotes reassure every stepmother that her feelings of insecurity are perfectly normal. She weaves together solid advice along with laugh out loud stories about blended families, ex-wives, and identity struggles and makes them relevant. The book is full of great advice and great fun. Sally has made being a stepmother...a second mom...something to strive for."--Nancy Monsarrat, former US Advertising Director at Nike”

Praise for The Single Girl's Guide to Marrying a Man, His Kids, and His Ex-Wife

“Written in a ‘yo, girlfriend’ insider tone and filled with tidbits called ‘sassy stepmother straight scoop,’ the book tells formerly free-wheeling single gals that they’re in for the ‘wildest ride of your life.’”—Seattle Post-Intelligencer
 
“If you’re a new mother by marriage, this one’s for you.…[G]oes where no other stepmother advice book has gone before. With a sense of humor and sass, Bjornsen tackles taboo topics head-on.”—Orange County Register
 
"Written in breezy chick-lit style, Seattle-based Sally Bjornsen dispenses advice based on interviews with other stepmoms and her experience as stepmother to two boys and biological mother to one.”—Chicago Tribune
 
“Sally Bjornsen has tapped into a population that desperately needs a sassy, contemporary voice of reason: the new stepmother.”—Lian Dolan, author of The Sweeney Sisters and Helen of Pasadena
 
“If you have a friend making this transition, you owe her this book. It’s the next best thing to Sally’s home number.”—Liz Dolan, co-author of You’re the Best: A Celebration of Friendship
 
“The perfect gift for the single girl turned wife and stepmother. It is the book I wish someone had given me when I decided to take the plunge into marriage and stepmotherhood. Sally’s sassy voice, candid tone, and hilarious but helpful anecdotes reassure every stepmother that her feelings of insecurity are perfectly normal. She weaves together solid advice along with laugh out loud stories about blended families, ex-wives, and identity struggles and makes them relevant. The book is full of great advice and great fun. Sally has made being a stepmother...a second mom...something to strive for.”—Nancy Monsarrat, former US Advertising Director at Nike

Sally Bjornsen is a commercial artist representative and author. Bjornsen has published one nonfiction book and various essays in anthologies. When Bjornsen is not writing or working, she is blogging and has her own internationally popular blog, thegreatamericanappareldiet.com. Bjornsen has been a stepmother guest expert on the ABC Radio Network's nationally broadcast Satellite Sisters. She lives in Seattle with her husband Mark, their son, and her two stepsons.

It's a Big Step. What happens when the honeymoon comes to a screeching halt and you're faced with a houseful of rambunctious children, an ever-present ex-wife-and a new husband trying to balance the chaos? Finally, here's a funny, honest, and empathetic resource for the novice stepmother on maintaining sanity, solving hair-raising identity issues, regaining a sense of humor, and surviving what you did for love.... The Kids: Adjusting to suspicion, resentment, and biological-parent loyalties The Ex-Wife: Living calmly alongside her, whether she's a psycho or the perfect mother The Holidays: Accommodating old family traditions and developing new ones The Sex: Keeping love alive despite kids' bed-wettings and nightmares The Finances: Building safety nets and avoiding financial disasters with a strapped hubby The Biological Blend: Deciding whether and when to have children together The Urge to be Evil: Accepting it, and then stopping yourself from saying something you'll regret-to him, the kids, or her Plus: An invaluable list of Web sites, publications, and organizations just for you.

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