https://familylifetodaypdfs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/fl2026-09-11.pdf

https://familylifetodaypdfs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/docs/fl2026-09-11.docx

You joined a family hoping to love your stepkids well. But what if they don’t exactly love you back? Cheryl Shumake, author of Waiting to Be Wanted, gets painfully practical about how to be a good stepparent without auditioning for acceptance—and maybe when those kids don't love you back. How do you stop competing for your place, love without keeping score, and know what’s actually yours to do when the blended-family dream gets decidedly less dreamy?

Show Notes and Resources


Weekend to Remember marriage getaway.
Get Cheryl Shumake’s book, Waiting to Be Wanted: A Stepmom’s Guide to Loving Before Being Loved. Find resources and audio from this podcast episode at familylifetoday.com
Learn more about Cheryl Shumake and Stepmom Sanity.
Leave FamilyLife Today a voice message
FamilyLife Today.
Thanks to the Christian Standard Bible for sponsoring this episode. Learn more at CSBible.com.
Follow us on all social platforms: Facebook | Instagram | YouTube
Find resources from our podcast at shop.familylife.com.
Download FamilyLife's app!
Help others find FamilyLife. Leave a review on Apple Podcast or Spotify.
Check out all the FamilyLife's podcasts on the FamilyLife Podcast Network

You joined a family hoping to love your stepkids well. But what if they don&rsquo;t exactly love you back? Cheryl Shumake, author of Waiting to Be Wanted, gets painfully practical about how to be a good stepparent without auditioning for acceptance&mdash;and maybe when those kids don't love you back. How do you stop competing for your place, love without keeping score, and know what&rsquo;s actually yours to do when the blended-family dream gets decidedly less dreamy?
Show Notes and Resources
<ul>
<li>
<a href="weekendtoremember.com">Weekend to Remember marriage getaway</a>.
</li>
<li>Get Cheryl Shumake&rsquo;s book, Waiting to Be Wanted: A Stepmom&rsquo;s Guide to Loving Before Being Loved. Find resources and audio from <a href="https://www.familylife.com/podcast/familylife-today/cheryl-shumake-waiting-to-be-wanted/">this podcast episode</a> at familylifetoday.com</li>
<li>Learn more about <a href="stepmomsanity.com">Cheryl Shumake and Stepmom Sanity</a>.</li>
<li>Leave <a href="https://www.speakpipe.com/familylifetoday">FamilyLife Today a voice message</a></li>
<li><a href="familylifetoday.com">FamilyLife Today</a>.</li>
</ul>
<hr>
<ul>
<li>Thanks to the Christian Standard Bible for sponsoring this episode. Learn more at <a href="https://CSBible.com">CSBible.com</a>.</li>
<li>Follow us on all social platforms: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/familylifeministry">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://www.instagram.com/familylife.today/">Instagram</a> | <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSzse1nmlqbLhDx5FpGVDgLmxy1rmQBau">YouTube</a></li>
<li>Find resources from our podcast at <a href="https://shop.familylife.com/product-category/radio-resources/">shop.familylife.com</a>.</li>
<li>Download <a href="https://www.familylife.com/app/">FamilyLife's app</a>!</li>
<li>Help others find FamilyLife. Leave a review on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/familylife-today/id212174303">Apple Podcast</a> or <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0j5UaKdQOHQCuo1bt0ebEm?si=d6dfa8d2415f4750">Spotify</a>.</li>
<li>Check out all the FamilyLife's podcasts on the <a href="https://www.familylife.com/familylife-podcast-network/">FamilyLife Podcast Network</a></li>
</ul>

FamilyLife Today® is a weekday podcast featuring fun, engaging conversations that help families grow together with Jesus while pursuing the relationships that matter most.

FamilyLife Today®

FamilyLife Today is an award-winning podcast featuring fun, engaging conversations that help families grow together with Jesus while pursuing the relationships that matter most. Hosted by Dave and Ann Wilson, new episodes air every Tuesday and Thursday.

FamilyLife Today is an award-winning podcast featuring fun, engaging conversations that help families grow together with Jesus while pursuing the relationships that matter most. Hosted by Dave and Ann Wilson, new episodes air every Tuesday and Thursday.

On FamilyLife Today with hosts Dave and Ann Wilson, Cheryl Shumake gets real about how to be a good stepparent without auditioning for acceptance.