The old fairy tales are dead. The "wicked stepmother" trope was invented to scare women into servitude. In 2024, in Victoria, BC, the successful stepmom is not the one who sacrifices the most; she is the one who negotiates the best.
"Navigating the New Normal: Family Therapy for Step-Moms in Victoria" familytherapy victoria june step moms new deal work
One turning point came when Victoria and June had a breakthrough conversation. Victoria shared her fears and insecurities about being a step-mom, and June opened up about her own struggles to let go and trust Victoria with their children's care. They began to see each other as people, rather than adversaries, and a tentative understanding developed between them. The old fairy tales are dead
The therapist, a calm woman named Dr. Reeves, started simply. “No fixing today. Just listening.” "Navigating the New Normal: Family Therapy for Step-Moms
“I don’t care about the letter.”
June’s eyes glistened. She didn’t cry—she was too proud for that. But she nodded. “It was too dry. But… the garlic bread was good.”