Some NTL Stationery Show fun!

Day three! We made some booth design changes to better showcase of our cardline today - this is the third day - tonight we have our supplyside party and we are looking foward to a great afternoon. The sun is finally shinning in New York! Wish us luck!

thestepcardcollection is a website revolving around families and their issues. Lately I’ve been thinking and talking a lot about my family in Cuba. Everyone I come across is talking about the change in the US policy regarding travel to Cuba. Because I’m a Cuban born American Citizen they think I have the answers. There are many here that think a trip to Cuba is putting money in the hands of that government, there are also many that have always felt that keeping Cuban born Americans that have immigrated to the US over the past 50 years from being able to visit their loved ones in their homeland punishes the families in both countries rather than the Cuban government, in truth it is a bit of both. Though I’ve been here most of my life I still have close family in Cuba that I haven’t seen in over 40 years and barely know. I’ve always wanted to visit but fear of the Cuban government and what could happen to me there has kept me from going. It may be time, what do you think?

The Elections are finally over!

Regardless of how you voted in these elections or how you feel about the outcome I bet you are glad it’s over! I am very politically active, very involved in women’s issues and very passionate and vocal about my opinions in these areas…much more than my other half--Dr. Rick. (The picture above is from the Miami County Commission for Women.)

This year in particular the election cycle has been hard. My family has been divided on the candidates and some of the issues as have some of my friends so this has put an unusual amount of stress on many of our relationships. Dealing with these issues is hard for all of us but in the case of step families where we combine families that may not have the same opinions on political issues it can be a real challenge. It takes a lot of patience, communication, compromise and love to work through it all but with a little effort it can be done. Luckily for our stepfamily we share similar views on most things in our little unit (or at least I think we do) but the extended family is a different story and it’s been tough…I for one am glad that this election is over, we’ve survived it and now we can all move forward.
I hope this change is a positive one and that our country and families will be unified under this new leadership. Step or not it is family that is most important, it’s time to get over our differences and look forward to better times and a brighter future!

How did this election impact your life?

Have a great day,

Carmen (aka the better half)

Meet the Mom that started it all..Part 2

Hi everyone! Here is the rest of the story I started last week.... My situation: I had been a “single-mom” for 10 years. My children and I had created a very close and special family unit. We basically grew up together. We did everything together, shared everything, we were as close as close can be (my claim to fame is that I coached my son’s little league baseball team, yes I was that kind of mom!). To bring someone else into our lives was quite a challenge, not to mention that the kids “real dad” was always very involved in their lives. If you have read any of the stepcards on our site you can tell it was very difficult and emotional for Rick as well as it was for us and not the easiest time in our lives but we are all better for the experience.

We’ve had our challenges, but we’ve made it through and come out on the other side of this adventure with two great kids we’re very proud of, a decent marriage and a great idea we hope will help others in our situation. I hope you agree. We hope you find this blog and our website helpful, and we hope to hear from you soon! Thanks so much for all of your comments and support!!!

Carmen Elias-Levenson, the mom

Speaking of Mother's Day - Meet the Mom that started it all!

Hi, I’m Carmen, the better half of Dr. Rick. I brought the kids that created the stepfamily you are reading about on this website…

Ten years ago when Rick & I decided to marry we asked “my kids” (then 14 & 17) for their approval, though they said they were ok with it, the real response I got when Rick wasn’t present was “do we really have a choice?” So we went from there…As hard as it may be for a stepdad (or stepmom I imagine) to walk into a “ready-made family”, it is equally hard for the mom & kids that make up that readymade family to get used to someone new intruding on their space and their lives.

The relationship between us had become the only thing they knew, they were really too young to remember what it was like living with their dad and mom as a family so, we were it! Divorce is hard on everyone, it took a lot of time, love, tears and care to get to where we were at the point Rick came into the picture.

Well, this this is a good start, I look forward to blogging more and finishing this story later in the week. Be sure and check back! Nice to meet you, Carmen - the "Mom"

A Tribute to Mothers

May 11th is Mother’s Day this year. Let’s face it, most mothers deserve praise all year round, but rarely get it! Manytimes their deeds are taken for granted, and their family commitment and dedication is unmatched. In today’s society many mothers are part of the workforce outside the home as well as within it. Their jobs are usually extended way beyond the 9 to 5 timeframe. We do things to please our mothers and elicit their acknowledgement and recognition, but do we reciprocate?

Time is short and precious. Be sure to say and do what’s necessary to make the relationship with your mother a significant one. Now if you have a stepmother, too …....Happy Mother’s Day!

Dr. Rick