The DHX: The Doughtie Houses Exchange

It’s okay to be sad, and it’s okay to let other people see you sad.

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If you’re in a stressful holiday situation, start imagining how you could retell it as a funny story or turn it into a funny blog post.

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Do something creative or generative that you enjoy. Paint a picture (even if you buy a set of kids’ water colors from the grocery store and don’t show the results to anyone), write a poem, write an essay, take a picture, make a sculpture, write a song, learn a new piece of music, make a [...]

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Holidays can be pretty challenging in stepfamilies. (Did I just win the understatement of the year award?) Here’s the deal though: if they’re hard for you, chances are they’re hard for other people in your immediate or extended stepfamily, too. Anyone could be feeling frustrated, awkward or sad: the kids, the kids’ other parent, your [...]

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Try watching a movie this holiday season that will remind you that living in an eclectic, eccentric, sometimes emotionally messy, all-over-the-place family can be pretty darn funny and beautiful.

My favorite wacky family feel-good movie is Little Miss Sunshine. I own it (in fact, Kathy and the kids gave it to me for my birthday) so [...]

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“Appreciate your family as a training ground for love.”
– “Blended family holidays don’t have to be difficult”, Garden City Telegram (by way of TheStepfamilyLife)

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Check out what Simplicity, her stepdaughter, and her stepdaughter’s mom all did together this year.
I love seeing pictures and hearing stories about moms and stepmoms getting along and being friends. I know a lot of women are in much more painful situations, and sometimes it’s good to know that we’re not alone in the difficulties [...]

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Kathy and the kids came to G’s and my place this year. (We usually refer to the houses by the numbers from our street addresses instead of saying “your house” and “my house”. It has a nicer ring to it somehow — kind of like talking to people with arms open instead of crossed across [...]

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What kind of women are we? We are bad women. Why does this delight us so? We’re not sure, but it does.
More pictures here.

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Kathy sent me flowers this week for my birthday.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
I’m thankful for Kathy, and for our relationship which makes my life richer and fuller and warmer.
I’m thankful G, who I love dearly and deeply.
I’m thankful for the kids, who make me laugh and who make me feel good just being around.
I’m thankful for the [...]

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