Stepparenting
The House Rules You Forgot to Explain
Knowing which cupboard holds the glasses is a small kind of belonging. A child arriving between homes should not have to guess their way through dinner.
A place to begin
You can start with one ordinary evening.
I'm Ian, a father and stepfather in a combined family of six children. I write about the things that make a home: the difficult conversations, the daily work, and the good moments we almost miss.
If something feels tangled tonight, choose a starting point below. There is room here for your family as it is.
Latest
Something to read with your coffee.
Recent essays on making a home together. Take a few minutes; see what stays with you.
Publishing rhythm
The essays in your inbox. A little more on Saturday.
New essays arrive by email as they publish, usually Sunday and Wednesday at 7:00 AM New York time, with occasional extra pieces. Saturday brings a note connecting the week's ideas, with something small to try at home.
And here are a few small discoveries from around the house. Open whichever catches your eye.
Why this exists
A family, a changing faith, and a lot still to learn.
This writing comes from divorce, remarriage, Alana, six children, and the everyday work of making a home together. Faith remains part of my life, though some of the questions have changed.
I try to bring those questions back to ordinary things: how I listen, how I apologize, how I make room for someone else's experience. You don't need to share my beliefs to feel at home here.