Latest news with #stepmother
Daily Mail
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Katherine Schwarzenegger reveals why she hired a therapist before marrying Chris Pratt
Katherine Schwarzenegger revealed the surprising move she made right before marrying Chris Pratt. The 35-year-old author said that she prepared for her new role in their marriage prior to their 2019 nuptials by seeking help from a professional. When they got engaged over half a decade ago, the 46-year-old actor was already a father to one child as he shares his son Jack, now 12, with his ex Anna Faris. On Tuesday, she made a guest appearance on the latest episode of the Parenting & You with Dr. Shefali podcast, where she opened up about stepping into her new role as a first-time stepmother. Before walking down the aisle to marry Pratt, she said she sought out a step-parenting therapist to coach her in preparation to become a stepmother. This comes shortly after her husband celebrated his 46th birthday in June with a surprising act as he pontificated on being four years away from turning 50. The eldest child of journalist Maria Shriver and actor Arnold Schwarzenegger admitted that she immediately sought out professional help right when her now-husband popped the question. 'Number one thing I say is get a step parenting therapist or step parenting coach, because I got that right when we got engaged,' she revealed on the podcast. 'And it's been incredibly helpful for me and also just understanding my role as a step parent.' About co-parenting with her husband's ex, Schwarzenegger said she feels 'blessed' that they are able to handle the situation well. 'It takes a lot of work, but it works when everybody is willing to put in the work,' she said. 'And when it comes to ego, that definitely pops up for me, for sure, and I always go back to understanding that this isn't about me, it's about the child,' she recalled about when she was getting used to becoming a stepmother early in her and her husband's marriage. Pratt was previously married to Faris from 2009 to 2017, welcoming their son Jack in 2012. A year into his marriage to Schwarzenegger, the newlyweds welcomed their daughter Lyla Maria, now four. When they got engaged over half a decade ago, the 46-year-old actor was already a father to one child as he shares his son Jack, now 12, with his ex Anna Faris (not pictured); pictured September 2019 in Los Angeles On Tuesday, she made a guest appearance on the latest episode of the Parenting & You with Dr. Shefali podcast, where she opened up about stepping into her new role as a first-time stepmother The eldest child of journalist Maria Shriver and actor Arnold Schwarzenegger admitted that she immediately sought out professional help right when her now-husband popped the question They announced the arrival of their second child together, daughter Eloise Christina, three, shortly afterwards. Late last year, they welcomed their son Ford Fitzgerald in November 2024. When their daughters were still toddlers, Pratt gushed about how his son Jack is a 'great big brother' to his half-siblings. After welcoming his and Schwarzenegger's first daughter together, Pratt spoke about becoming a girl dad and their blended family in a conversation with ET in June 2021. 'Parent and child relationships are a big focus in this film, as well as redemption and second chances, and so all that stuff really, really resonated with me.' About his son Jack and the then-nine-year-old's relationship with his half-sister Lyla, the proud dad-of-four added: 'Their birthdays are in August, he's gonna be nine and she'll be a year old. He's really great with her. He just loves her. He's so gentle and sweet.' The Marvel star continued: 'She always wants to pull his glasses off his face and he's very patient with her. You know, he's a great big brother.'
CBS News
15-07-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Opening statements in Sen. Nicole Mitchell's burglary trial set to start Tuesday
Opening statements in the trial for a Democratic Minnesota state senator accused of burglarizing her stepmother's Detroit Lakes home are set for Tuesday. The jury in Sen. Nicole Mitchell's trial was seated on Monday. She is charged with felony first-degree burglary and possession of burglary or theft tools for the alleged break-in on April 22, 2024. Opening statements will begin at 9 a.m., with the first witness expected to take the stand half an hour later. According to a criminal complaint, Mitchell's stepmother called 911 to report a burglary, and responding officers found Mitchell, dressed in black, fleeing to the basement. She allegedly told police she was there to retrieve personal items belonging to her recently deceased father after her stepmother cut off contact with her and other family members. Charges say officers found a backpack with two laptops inside, a cellphone, Tupperware, items identifying Mitchell and a sock-covered flashlight. "Clearly I'm not good at this," Mitchell allegedly told officers, according to court documents. "I know I did something bad." Mitchell pleaded not guilty and issued a statement following the arrest that she was helping a loved one with Alzheimer's. The trial was scheduled to begin in January, but Mitchell successfully petitioned for a delay until after the legislative session wrapped. It was then delayed again after two Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses were targeted in what authorities called politically motivated shootings. Mitchell's attorneys asked the judge in May to dismiss the burglary tool charge, which came via an amended complaint in February. Her defense argued the charge was retaliatory for the delay and violated her right to due process. Two attorneys unaffiliated with the case said they expect Mitchell to take the stand during her trial. Twin Cities lawyer Mike Bryant said he expects the trial to wrap by the end of the week. Criminal defense attorney Joe Tamburino said "it's going to be very difficult [for Mitchell] to win." Mitchell has survived multiple expulsion attempts by her Republican Senate colleagues, but the body's DFL Caucus did remove her from committee assignments and caucus meetings days after her arrest.
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Woman Wants to Leave Stepdaughter Out of Vacation Plans After Being Shut Out for Years
A stepmother turns to Reddit for advice about whether her stepdaughter should join an upcoming family vacation She opens up about years of tension and feeling rejected by her husband's teenage daughter As the summer trip approaches, the family's underlying issues threaten to overshadow their plansA woman seeks advice from the Reddit community after finding herself at a crossroads with her stepdaughter and husband over an upcoming family vacation. She shares in her post, 'I'd really appreciate an outside opinion on this one,' as she lays out the emotional complexities at play in her blended family. Married for four years to her husband, who has a 16-year-old daughter named Kayla from a previous marriage, the woman says, 'I don't have kids of my own, but I've always tried to be kind and supportive in my role as a stepmom.' Despite her efforts, she admits, 'Kayla has never warmed up to me,' noting that while she didn't expect instant love, the relationship has only grown more strained over time. The stepmom describes the teen's behavior as 'cold, sarcastic," and adds that Kayla "constantly undermines me.' She provides examples, explaining, 'She never says my name, just refers to me as 'her' or 'your wife.' ' The tension was further highlighted by comments Kayla makes to her father, such as, 'You were happier before you met her,' and, 'She's just pretending to care.' Even small gestures, she says, are met with resistance. 'Any time I plan something — dinner, a movie, even helping decorate for the holidays — she rolls her eyes, refuses to participate, or finds a reason to criticize it,' the woman reveals. The difficulties extend to Kayla's social circle, with the stepmom sharing, 'She tells her friends that I'm fake or that I 'insert myself where I don't belong.'' The woman notes a pattern where Kayla is 'perfectly polite when my husband is around, but the moment he leaves the room, she turns cold again.' Despite these challenges, she insists she's tried everything to bridge the gap. 'I've tried everything: being warm, giving her space, inviting her to things without pressure, even directly (and kindly) asking if we could talk about what's bothering her,' she says, but adds, 'She always shrugs me off or shuts it down.' The situation reached a breaking point when the family began planning a long-awaited summer vacation. 'We were planning a 10-day trip to the coast — our first real vacation in years,' she explains. Yet, she confesses, 'As much as it hurts to say, I don't want Kayla to come.' She struggled with guilt over her feelings, writing, 'I know that sounds horrible. But I feel like she'll spend the whole trip sulking, making snide comments, and icing me out.' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The emotional toll is evident as she admits, 'It's exhausting trying to be around someone who clearly doesn't want me there — and honestly, I'd rather this trip be something relaxing for once.' Her husband reacted with anger, accusing her of excluding his daughter and 'drawing a line in the sand.' She tried to offer alternatives, saying, 'He's welcome to take a separate trip with her, or we can all do something together later, but this one time, I want to go without the cold war energy.' However, the fallout was immediate, with her husband barely speaking to her and Kayla choosing to stay at her mother's house. Kayla expressed that she feels 'unwanted and unloved,' a sentiment that deeply hurt the stepmom, who insists, 'All I ever tried to is make her feel the opposite.' Now, the woman turns to Reddit, asking, 'AITA for not wanting my stepdaughter on this trip because she clearly hates me and I'm tired of pretending otherwise?' Read the original article on People
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
I wanted to be a young mom. I had my kids at 37 and 40, and I'm glad I waited.
When I was younger, I told myself that if I didn't have kids by 25, I wouldn't have them. All the women in my life had been young moms, and I wanted to be a young mom, too. I ended up having my kids at 37 and 40, and I now see the benefits of being an older parent. From the time I started playing with dolls, I wanted to have babies of my own. By the time I was 15, I knew I wanted to be a young mom. I told myself that if I didn't have babies by the age of 25, I wouldn't have children. When I was born, my father was a few weeks shy of his 25th birthday. By then, he already had a Ph.D. and a steady job as a college professor. My mother was 20 and a stay-at-home mom. Having children young and the roles they played in our family, as well as my father's professional stability, were not uncommon for their generation. My parents divorced when I was 5, and my younger sister and I were raised by my dad. Eventually, my father remarried to a woman who was only 10 years older than I am, and they had two more children; my stepmother was also in her early 20s when she had my brother and sister. My grandmother, who helped raise me, had also been a young mother. So to me, it made sense to follow in all these women's footsteps. Back the, being 30 sounded ancient to me. I didn't want a big generational gap between my children and me. Through most of my 20s, I was in a long-term relationship with a man 11 years my senior who had two kids of his own. He wasn't partial to having more children, but I was young and naive and, of course, I was sure I could change his mind. Instead, we broke up. Suddenly, I found myself single and childless in my early 30s. I dated around and had a few short-term relationships, but the desire to have babies did not wane one bit. At one point, I told my grandmother that I didn't care whether I adopted, did IVF, or got pregnant inadvertently. I wanted babies, and I wanted them now. Then I met a guy four years younger than me who seemed like a breath of fresh air — no ex-wives, no kids, no bitterness. My biological clock was not just ticking; it was ringing the alarm! So, a year late, we got married, and a year after that, we decided to try to conceive. It took a while, but I finally had my first baby just a few months shy of my 38th birthday. My second came when I was almost 41. Although both pregnancies were considered geriatric, I didn't feel I was "too old" during either pregnancy, and I was perfectly happy chasing toddlers in my 40s. Though 25 was my initial cut-off to have kids, I wouldn't have been ready by then. I had been battling bulimia for 10 years and was also suffering from bouts of depression. It took me another decade to sort myself out through therapy, 12-step groups, and medication. When I started trying to conceive, I was in the best shape of my life, and I took excellent care of myself during both pregnancies. Looking back, I feel I was a much more responsible and aware parent than I would have been in my 20s. My parents' divorce affected me deeply throughout my life. When I had to make my own tough call of filing for divorce, I did it with the utmost care, keeping our children in mind. I'm 61 now, and my children are 24 and 21. Although I am much older than they are, I feel the generational gap between us is smaller than what my father and I had. I realize now that he never really had time to be young, while it took me a long time to become a mature, conscious adult. My only regret is that I may not be around for my children when they're my age, while I still have my dad. He and I now enjoy a close relationship: we talk several times a week and spend quality time together when I come to visit. Then again, my grandmother lived to be 102, so who knows? Read the original article on Business Insider
Daily Mail
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE New mum, who met her husband when she was 18 and he was 41, reveals the luxury items he buys her after she quit her became a stay-at-home stepmum to his teenage children
A woman in a 23-year age-gap relationship has revealed the benefits of being with an older man. Influencer Ellie Hillary, nee Liptrot, 22, from North Wales, met her husband Mark Hillary, 45, after a night out in December 2021. In the three short years since, her relationship has led her to quit her dental nursing job, uproot to Cheshire, become a stepmother to Mark's two children, and give birth to their first child, Marco. It's a set of circumstances that Ellie couldn't be more pleased about, but when she shared their romance online at 18 while Mark was 41, thousands of followers looked on in disgust. 'At the beginning, I'd say the hate was 70 per cent of all comments,' Mark said in conversation with Femail, recalling how people would call him 'horrific' names, including terms like 'grandpa', daily. However, looking past the critical eyes of strangers on the internet was worth it for Ellie, who believes she's found her forever partner. And unlike most men her age, who are typically working first time jobs, Mark, a business owner, has afforded Ellie luxuries including holidays and a surprise wedding in Ibiza - and she 'barely even notices' their age-gap, she said. Ellie's list of benefits also extends to the bedroom because she values Mark as 'more thoughtful, caring, and considerate' lover compared to men her age. Recalling the beginning of their love story, Ellie, then 19, explained how she was longing for food after a night out and asked her friend to get some in the early hours of the morning. As a 'prank', she said, that friend gave Ellie Mark's number, and so she ended up calling his phone late at night, requesting he drive them to get food. 'They rang me, and I ignored it first,' Mark recalled. 'Then, I was awake in the middle of the night at about 2am,' adding, 'I ended up ringing it back and it was Ellie.' Ellie, undeterred by Mark being a stranger, persisted in her pursuit of a late-night meal. Mark continued, 'She said, 'Can you take us for some food, and I want to go out.'' 'I was like, 'No, no, no'. But then in the end, they convinced me to go and do it. And then that was it. That's how we knew each other.' The relationship soon progressed, with Ellie and Mark spending more time together and with their mutual friends. By April the following year, Mark and Ellie officially became boyfriend and girlfriend, an event their friends and family saw coming, they said. When asked whether friends or family objected to their relationship, Ellie said, 'It wasn't a big shock, really, they knew that I'd go out with Mark.' Ellie added that people 'don't necessarily notice' their age gap because she's 'very mature' for her age while Mark is 'young for his age'. However, two people who perhaps didn't have the foresight about Ellie and Mark's relationship were his two children, Izzie and Marcus. Mark said, 'They were a little bit late to know... They thought we were friends for a little bit longer than we were. 'We said we were friends [until we knew] it was going to go somewhere. Then we told them that we were in a relationship.' After Izzie and Marcus learned of their father's new girlfriend, Ellie began sharing clips of their family life online, contributing to their combined follower count of over 300 thousand. One of the first videos Ellie recalled creating was a TikTok trend that asks users to show an old picture of their partner before they met, besides one of themselves at that time. She shared a photograph of Mark in his twenties besides an image of a sperm to represent herself as a joke because she wasn't yet alive when Mark was that age. Many viewers couldn't find humour in Ellie's post and shared hateful comments regarding their relationship. 'I did a couple trends, and it blew up very, very quickly,' Ellie recalled. People didn't just troll her about her relationship, but also her role as stepmother. Ellie said, 'I remember the second or third video I posted of me and my stepson doing peace and pouts with middle fingers [up], and people were saying, 'How dare you let your stepson do a middle finger. 'Then we took off. I think that got a million views and had thousands of comments from people with opinions. 'I think from that point on, we were like, 'Wow, there's real interest in our lives', and we went with it.' The couple were able to look past the haters because of their 'thick skin', said Mark, with Ellie adding, '[Hate] wouldn't bother me to my face, never mind online. 'The people sitting behind the screen are nine times [out of ten] people that you know that are on fake accounts. [It's] embarrassing.' However, in recent times, Ellie and Mark have noticed a transformation in their comment section - people now share supportive messages rather than hate. They believe that, through showing their personalities and loving family home, they've transformed their viewers from hateful to supportive. 'As soon as people saw our personalities, it sort of brought up the following,' Mark said, adding, 'Now it's people just invested in our lives and what we get up to on a day-to-day basis. And in October last year, the couple had a major update to share with their followers - they were expecting their first child together. Thinking back to discovering she was pregnant, which was unexpected, Ellie recalled, 'I was very nervous but super excited. It was a shock.' Once the nerves settled, the pair and their stepchildren were over the moon to be welcoming a new child into the world together. The surprises didn't stop there, because Mark later shocked Ellie by preparing a surprise wedding in Ibiza. Mark treated Ellie to a luxury stay in Ibiza's Ushuaia beach hotel, where prices range from £420 to £8,100 per night, and branded the stay as a baby moon. While the pair had discussed marriage before, they never set plans in stone, and so Mark took it upon himself to plan the special day before their baby Marco was born. '[I chose] Ibiza because it's quite a big part of us because I used to live there and it was our first holiday,' Mark said, who also packed a veil and other items for Ellie. The nuptials took place a few short weeks before they welcomed Marco into the world, and Ellie had no idea she was going to come home a wife. Ellie said her 'baby brain' meant she overlooked glaring clues that Mark had something up his sleeve. The pair shared clips from their special day, which took place in a small Spanish church. After they said their vows, Ellie and Mark went back to their hotel to celebrate with bubbles in a hot tub on their balcony. They waited until they posted online to tell friends and family because, 'We kind of just want to enjoy it and keep it to ourselves,' Mark said. One month later, the couple welcomed their son Marco, whose name is inspired by Mark's. Ellie and Mark already have more children on the brain, with Ellie joking that she'd happily have her next soon, who Mark said might be called 'Mark junior'. The father-of-three said his experience as a parent means he can help Ellie help bring Marco up in areas that she's still learning. 'I even taught Ellie how to change Marco,' he said. Reflecting on her whirlwind past few years, Ellie said that despite all the hate, she wouldn't change a thing, and urges others in age-gap relationships not to be put off by others' opinions. 'At the end of the day, it's your life. You're in control of your life, and you shouldn't live your life pleasing others, because you need to live your life and make yourself happy. She concluded, 'What other people think, and what everyone may want for you is not always what is going to make you happy.'
