<p>Becoming a stepmother is a life-altering event in any woman's life. The issues are extraordinarily complex and women are overwhelmingly unprepared. Yet concerns usually focus on the effect remarriage has on the children. <I>The Enlightened Stepmother</I> approaches the subject from a totally new perspective -- that of the stepmother. Based on information -- sometimes controversial -- from stepmoms of all ages, occupations and lifestyles, who know from experience what works, what doesn't and why -- <P><LI>What you need to know about your new family before you become part of it.<P></P><LI>How to get off to the right start. (It's hard to change a relationship once you've taken the path of least resistance.)<P></P><LI>How to prevent, rather than cure, the stepmom's classic pitfalls.<P></P><LI>What you need to recognize about your relationship with your husband's children.<P></P><LI>How to handle relationships between your kids and his.<P></P><LI>Why you need to give your marriage top priority.<P></P><LI>How to make sure others are aware that this is your life too.<P></P><LI>Why you need to develop a working relationship with your stepchildren's mother.<P></P><LI>How to understand the inevitable stages every stepfamily passes through.<P></P><LI>How to overcome the guilt of not loving -- or even liking -- your stepchildren.<P></P><LI>How to avoid feeling guilty in circumstances over which you have no control.<P></P><LI>Why a successful stepfamily is as unique as every stepmom.</p><h4 align="center">AND MUCH MORE</h4>