The Grief of Wanting a Child of Your Own: Infertility as a Stepmom | Jen Powell

Can you love your stepkids and still grieve the child you may never have? It's one of those complicated feelings that can be incredibly hard to admit, even to yourself. Infertility as a stepmom brings a unique kind of grief. You're already part of a family, helping raise children, and watching your partner experience parenthood while wondering if you'll ever have a child of your own. And the guilt, resentment, and heartbreak that can come with those feelings? They're not always easy to talk about. In this episode, Cameron sits down with Jen Powell, founder of The Sober Stepmom, a coach who supports childless stepmothers navigating identity, belonging, grief, and the emotional complexities of stepfamily life. Together, they open up about their personal experiences with IVF, including Cameron's five unsuccessful rounds of treatment and Jen's heartbreaking decision to cancel an embryo transfer. But this conversation goes beyond infertility. They explore what happens when the family you're already part of makes it harder to pursue the family you imagined, and why those feelings can bring an entirely different layer of guilt and grief. ### In this episode, you'll learn: - Why infertility as a stepmom can feel especially isolating when you're already helping raise someone else's children. - The complicated emotions childless stepmoms often struggle to admit, including guilt, resentment, and grief. - What led Jen to cancel her embryo transfer and why that decision was both heartbreaking and necessary. - Why putting yourself first during infertility doesn't make you a bad stepmom, even when other people don't understand your decisions. Loving your stepfamily and grieving the child you hoped to have can both be true, and you deserve the space to feel both. ### Resources Mentioned in This Episode - Connect with Jen Powell, founder of The Sober Stepmom: - Instagram: @the\sober\stepmom - Facebook: The Sober Stepmom - Grab our FREE "10 Essential Scripts for Stepmoms": https://stepfamilycertification.com/stepmom-scripts ### Love The Stepmom Diaries? Please consider rating and reviewing The Stepmom Diaries on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps the show grow and reach more blended families who need honest conversations like this one.