My name is Jeannie Kelly and I have been marriage for 12 years with 3 stepdaughters and two biological children.  Being a step-Mother has been an extremely difficult role in my life.  I sought out SMOMs IN 2000 at the very first meeting in Medford.  I was really struggling as a new Step-Mother of 3 girls and a new Mother to a 10 month old baby girl.   When I began to work with SMOMS I remember feeling like I had finally met people who could understand the range of emotions I lived with on a daily basis.  What I feel is so great my experience with Cathryn and SMOMS is how they helped me to change myself.  Cathryn's philosophy is based on how to make your life better.  How to bring more love into your home and how to take care of yourself when other people are not cooperating with the vision you may have.  It is very healing and empowering.  Cathryn is a wonderful person to work with and I believe she can inspire and help woman all over the world be the best person and step-mother they can be!!  


Jeannie Kelly
Stepmom to 3 since 1998, Mom to 2

I’ve known Cathryn Bond-Doyle since around 1999, when I first joined her newly formed support group for stepmothers.  That group quickly became a lifeline for so many of us who had been thrust into the demanding, difficult, and, at times, bewildering role of stepmother to children of our much loved husbands.  Lead by Cath, we navigated the rocky terrain of ex-spouses, vindictive bio-moms, guilty dads, and damaged kids.   This kind of group could have been all about whining and complaining and never really accomplishing much more than sharing our misery, but Cath transformed us all by her wisdom and love.  The group became all about finding the time to take care of ourselves and at the same time, take care of our marriages and lovingly connect to our stepchildren.  At the risk of sounding overly dramatic, Cath really saved my life. She helped me and all of us find creative solutions to the problems that repeatedly cropped up in the lives of our blended and sometimes stormy families.  Many of the methods I learned from Cath for transforming communication I still use today in my family and in the workplace.  Cath is a wise and beautiful soul who has helped a great many women find their voice in their role as stepmother and find their peace and power as women.    
 
Jackie, Stepmom since 1995 to 1 stepson, now 18

Before finding SMOMS, I felt very isolated; here I was a stepmom who worked incredibly hard for her stepchildren’s happiness and well being and had little to no appreciation from anyone.  To top it off, my stepchildren’s biomom was impossible to deal with on issues.  We tried the family psychologist route and that did help in certain areas but I was still in a very lonely, frustrated place.  There was no one I could talk to because no one would understand what I was contending with because none of my friends were stepmoms.  I looked desperately for a support group and even considered starting one myself because I could not find any groups.  Then, I found SMOMS on the web and it was nirvana. That was back in 2002.  I contacted Cathryn and we had a great conversation – she listened intently, offered advice and invited me to join the group in Medford.  I will never forget that first meeting. I met a bunch of wonderful woman all of whom I related to in one way or another.  I walked out of there on top of the world and felt so much better that I did not have to bear these issues on my own.
Cathryn has it set up so each woman speaks for a few moments and then the rest of us offer ideas of how to tackle that particular issue(s) and what has and has not worked for us. Ultimately, everyone leaves the meeting feeling much better with new strategies to try and each of us realizes that we are not alone.  It did not matter that I had to drive one hour to the meeting, I would have driven two hours or more if need be – SMOMS is truly that wonderful.  Cathryn also set up a wonderful bulletin board which has been a God send to me and so many others.  Before my own children, I had personally spent numerous hours a week on the board seeking help and also offering help to others.  It is a wonderful environment and has grown to something incredibly amazing.  I am so proud of Cathryn and all that she has accomplished with SMOMS.  I found her to be someone I did not only look up to and respect but someone I could relate to on so many levels.   She has been a wonderful mentor, confidant and most importantly friend.  Cathryn has such a passion for SMOMS and that passion has never died down.  It does not matter what she has going on in her personal life, she is utterly and completely dedicated to SMOMS and each and every member.  SMOMS is a fire inside her that never dies down.  Although I am unable to participate in SMOMS as much as I would like to because I now have two children, I do meet with Cathryn on a regular basis and we discuss the latest developments with SMOMS and she also listens to any issues I may have with my stepchildren and offers advice.  I know that SMOMS is always there for me 24/7 via the bulletin board and I take great comfort in that.  I cannot even bear to think where I would be now if I had not found SMOMS.  During my darkest days, Cathryn and the other SMOMS were there for me.  I truly believe SMOMS is something every stepmom can benefit from and my wish is that SMOMS continues to grow and grow.

Sue, Stepmom of 3 since 2001, Mom of 2