“I Was Brainwashed to Hate My Dad” | A Daughter’s Journey Through Parental Alienation

“I Was Brainwashed to Hate My Dad” | A Daughter’s Journey Through Parental Alienation

What happens when the person you trust most shapes your entire reality and that reality isn’t true? In this deeply personal episode of Stepmom Side Chats, Alyssa & Becca sit down with Meghan, a woman who spent decades believing her father abandoned her. Raised in a high-conflict home, Meghan shares what it was like growing up caught in the middle of divorce, manipulation, fear, loyalty binds, and emotional survival. From walking on eggshells with her mother to feeling a deep longing for her dad she couldn’t explain, Meghan opens up about the painful reality of parental alienation from the child’s perspective. She shares how therapy helped her begin connecting the dots, what it felt like to finally reconnect with her father later in life, and the healing that came from learning her story was never what she had been told. This conversation is raw, validating, and eye-opening for stepmoms, dads, and anyone navigating alienation, high-conflict co-parenting, or the long-term effects of childhood trauma. If you’ve ever wondered what alienated kids are really feeling or what they wish the safe adults in their lives knew, this episode is one you won’t forget. Connect with Meghan: Instagram:@socalfitmama [https://www.instagram.com/socalfitmama?igsh=MXFhMWtxaWZ0c2pyNw==] ✨ Big Ass Candles | www.bigassluxuries.com and use the code STEPMOM for a discount ✨ COZY EARTH | ⁠www.cozyearth.com⁠ [https://cozyearth.com/] and use code STEPMOM ✨ Get Out | www.getout.com [https://getout.com/] and use code STEPMOM ✨ Pateron private stepmom membership: ⁠⁠https://patreon.com/Stepmomsidechats⁠⁠ [https://patreon.com/Stepmomsidechats?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink] ✨ Follow us on Instagram for more stepmom content and to stay connected for future episodes ⁠⁠@stepmomsidechats⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/stepmomsidechats?igsh=OXJsNm42dTBmZTRh&utm_source=qr] ✨ Leave us a review if this episode resonated with you, this helps us reach more stepmoms.

Emotional Neutrality: The Stepmom Skill Nobody Talks About

In high-conflict stepfamily dynamics, it can feel like every text, exchange, or disagreement pulls you into emotional chaos. In this episode, Alyssa and Becca unpack the hidden power of emotional neutrality and why learning not to emotionally enter every conflict can completely shift your experience as a stepmom. We dive into selective involvement, grey rocking, behavioral psychology, and the ABC model of conflict to explain why some family dynamics keep escalating and how stepmoms can begin protecting their peace without feeling cold, guilty, or disconnected. You’ll hear practical strategies for de-escalating conflict, regulating your nervous system, setting healthier boundaries, and learning the difference between supporting your family and becoming emotionally consumed by it. If you’ve ever felt exhausted from overthinking texts, carrying everyone’s emotions, or constantly trying to “keep the peace,” this episode is for you. ✨ Big Ass Candles | www.bigassluxuries.com and use the code STEPMOM for a discount ✨ COZY EARTH | ⁠www.cozyearth.com⁠ [https://cozyearth.com/] and use code STEPMOM ✨ Get Out | www.getout.com [https://getout.com/] and use code STEPMOM ✨ Pateron private stepmom membership: ⁠⁠https://patreon.com/Stepmomsidechats⁠⁠ [https://patreon.com/Stepmomsidechats?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink] ✨ Follow us on Instagram for more stepmom content and to stay connected for future episodes ⁠⁠@stepmomsidechats⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/stepmomsidechats?igsh=OXJsNm42dTBmZTRh&utm_source=qr] ✨ Leave us a review if this episode resonated with you, this helps us reach more stepmoms.

Stepmoms, Boundaries & High-Conflict Chaos with Naja Hall

In this powerful episode, Alyssa and Becca sit down with for one of the most honest conversations we’ve had about high-conflict co-parenting, loyalty binds, and what happens when being the “nice” stepmom stops working. Naja shares her own journey through parental alienation, conflict, and the emotional toll of loving children who may have been taught to keep their distance. Together, we unpack how chaos from another household can quietly impact your marriage, your identity, your peace, and even the way your stepkids show up in your home. This conversation is raw, funny, validating, and full of the hard truths many stepmoms need to hear, especially if you’ve ever felt misunderstood, pushed to your limits, or wondered how to love deeply while still protecting your peace. Connect with Naja Hall: Instagram:@vipstepmom [https://www.instagram.com/vipstepmom?igsh=MWhhdWY3bjA1c25mNg==]  Website: www.vipstepmom.com [https://www.vipstepmom.com/] ✨ Big Ass Candles | www.bigassluxuries.com and use the code STEPMOM for a discount ✨ COZY EARTH | ⁠www.cozyearth.com⁠ [https://cozyearth.com/] and use code STEPMOM ✨ Get Out | www.getout.com [https://getout.com/] and use code STEPMOM ✨ Pateron private stepmom membership: ⁠⁠https://patreon.com/Stepmomsidechats⁠⁠ [https://patreon.com/Stepmomsidechats?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink] ✨ Follow us on Instagram for more stepmom content and to stay connected for future episodes ⁠⁠@stepmomsidechats⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/stepmomsidechats?igsh=OXJsNm42dTBmZTRh&utm_source=qr] ✨ Leave us a review if this episode resonated with you, this helps us reach more stepmoms.

You’re Not the Cruise Director: Surviving Summer as a Stepmom

Summer always sounds magical… until the custody schedules change, the kids are home 24/7, your routines disappear, and suddenly your house feels louder, messier, and a lot less like your own. In this episode, Alyssa and Becca open up about what summer really feels like as a stepmom, the pressure to make memories, plan activities, keep everyone entertained, manage different parenting styles, and somehow not lose yourself in the process. From camp chaos and screen-time guilt to relationship stress and burnout, this is the conversation stepmoms need before summer officially begins. Because sometimes being a stepmom in the summer doesn’t feel like sunshine and family memories… it feels like emotional overtime. ✨ Big Ass Candles | www.bigassluxuries.com [https://www.bigassluxuries.com] and use the code STEPMOM for a discount ✨ COZY EARTH | ⁠www.cozyearth.com⁠ [https://cozyearth.com/] and use code STEPMOM ✨ Get Out | www.getout.com [https://www.getout.com] and use code STEPMOM ✨ Pateron private stepmom membership: ⁠⁠ [https://patreon.com/Stepmomsidechats?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink]https://patreon.com/Stepmomsidechats⁠⁠ [https://patreon.com/Stepmomsidechats⁠⁠] ✨ Follow us on Instagram for more stepmom content and to stay connected for future episodes ⁠⁠@stepmomsidechats⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/stepmomsidechats?igsh=OXJsNm42dTBmZTRh&utm_source=qr] ✨ Leave us a review if this episode resonated with you, this helps us reach more stepmoms.

Your Body Keeps the Score: Stress, Trauma & Why Stepmoms Are Burning Out

In this powerful episode of Stepmom Side Chats, Alyssa & Becca sit down with somatic healing coach Meggie, a mom of four, who shares how severe burnout, mysterious health symptoms, and nervous system dysregulation completely changed the course of her life. After losing her hair, gaining weight, battling unexplained physical symptoms, and feeling completely disconnected from herself, Meggie discovered that her body wasn’t betraying her, it was trying to protect her. Together, we unpack how stepmoms and women often carry stress in their shoulders, jaw, hips, and nervous system, why so many of us live in fight-or-flight without realizing it, and how chronic stress can silently impact everything from our relationships to our physical health. If you've ever felt touched out, emotionally numb, constantly overstimulated, or like your body is screaming for help… this episode may explain why. Connect with Meggie: Instagram: ⁠@meggie_m_martin [https://www.instagram.com/meggie_m_martin?igsh=bWVncnE3aWdodGxl]  Website: https://meggiemartin.com/ [https://meggiemartin.com/] Some of Meggie's amazing resources include: Somatic exercise in 5 bundle: https://meggiemartin.thrivecart.com/somaticsinfive/ [https://meggiemartin.thrivecart.com/somaticsinfive/] Free BodyBased workshop: https://meggiemartin.thrivecart.com/bodybased-workshop-2026/ [https://meggiemartin.thrivecart.com/bodybased-workshop-2026/] Use code STEPMOMSC for a discount ✨ Big Ass Candles | www.bigassluxuries.com and use the code STEPMOM for a discount ✨ Cozy Earth | ⁠www.cozyearth.com⁠ [https://cozyearth.com/] and use code STEPMOM ✨ Pateron private stepmom membership: ⁠⁠https://patreon.com/Stepmomsidechats⁠⁠ [https://patreon.com/Stepmomsidechats?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink] ✨ Follow us on Instagram for more stepmom content and to stay connected for future episodes ⁠⁠@stepmomsidechats⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/stepmomsidechats?igsh=OXJsNm42dTBmZTRh&utm_source=qr] ✨ Leave us a review if this episode resonated with you, this helps us reach more stepmoms.